Seasons for Harvest (Sept/Oct 2018)

SEVEN PROMISE KEEPERS CANADA

MEN / GOD / LIFE

FORGING CHRISTIAN LEADERS

CREATING A BEACHHEAD IN QUEBEC AND THE WORKPLACE

Seasons of

Harvest SEPT/ OCT 2018 ISSUE 62 NEWSSTAND PRICE CDN $4.95

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2 SEVEN SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018

CONTENTS

07

COLUMNS 6 // PK Podium Greater Visiony 27 // Sports Scene Finding strength in the struggle 32 // Out of My Depth A Bride’s Worst Nightmare

FEATURES 07 LED BY THE SPIRIT

33 // Lives Worth Leading Tenacious Resiliency

Join us for a look back on a year following the Spirit’s nudging, from seeing men empowered at the All In conferences to reaching 100,000 youth online and hear what men like you are saying: “Never realized so many other men came together to celebrate God. Amazing!”

16 FORGING CHRISTIAN LEADERS Blueprint offers churches a basic framework for growing and maturing men in three foundational areas: capturing their hearts, renewing their minds, and engaging their hands, while PK@Work transforms Christian businesses around the country.

20

20 TESTIFY

DEPARTMENTS 14 // Music Reviews Cinematic, Love Song for a City, When a Heart Wakes Up 34 // Power Play Toys. Tools. Technology.

Longtime PK Canada attendees share their stories of transformation and renewal after attending local PKC conferences. “I really needed to know that I wasn’t the only man facing the challenges this world throws at us.”

24 NEXT GEN

24

Promise Keepers Canada has found connecting with young men comes down to speaking their language in an honest, authentic way. Together the online series This Is Me TV and PKC’s Youth Breakout Sessions are capturing the hearts and minds of the next generation.

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018 SEVEN 3

ON THE COVER

SEVEN is a Christian magazine for Canadian men that exists to help men lead more fulfilling lives and leave enduring legacies.

SEASONS OF HARVEST Like fields heavy with golden grain, we’ve seen God working through the ministry of Promise Keepers Canada, restoring men’s lives, marriages and careers across the country. As we look back, we celebrate an exhilarating year of the Kingdom of Heaven advancing in Canada.

The name reflects the seven promises that form the basis of the Promise Keepers organization, which works with churches to minister to men across Canada.

1 // A promise keeper is committed to honouring Jesus Christ through worship, prayer, and obedience to God’s Word in the power of the Spirit.

2 // A promise keeper is committed to pursuing Christ-centred friendships with a few other men, connecting regularly, understanding that he needs brothers to help him keep his promises.

3 // A promise keeper is committed to practicing biblical integrity: spiritually, morally, ethically and sexually.

4 // A promise keeper is committed to strengthening families and marriages through love, honour, protection, and biblical values.

5 // A promise keeper is committed to supporting the mission of his church by honouring and praying for his pastor, and by actively giving his time and resources.

6 // A promise keeper is committed to reaching beyond racial, social, economic, generational, and denominational barriers to demonstrate that power of biblical unity.

7 // A promise keeper is committed to influencing the world by his fervent love for God while loving his neighbour, seeking justice for the poor and oppressed, and making disciples of Jesus Christ.

Publisher PROMISE KEEPERS CANADA

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

EDITORIAL

PROMISE KEEPERS CANADA

Editorial Director JEFF STEARNS

KIRK GILES

Questions and comments

Box 20099 RPO Brant Hills

Managing Editor STEVEN SUKKAU

Promise Keepers Canada

regarding editorial can be sent

Burlington, ON L7P 0A4

to ssukkau@promisekeepers.ca,

(905) 331-1830 info@promisekeepers.ca

ADVERTISING

JEFF STEARNS

or mailed to Promise Keepers

RICK VERKERK

Promise Keepers Canada

Canada at the address provided.

rick@promisekeepers.ca MATT BREIMER

1-888-901-9700

Postmaster, please send DESIGN

address changes to:

DEVON WAGENAAR

Box 20099 RPO Brant Hills,

STEVEN SUKKAU

Devon J Andrew Design Inc.

Burlington, ON L7P 0A4

Promise Keepers Canada

djadesign.ca

ISSN 1916-8403

Promise Keepers Canada

The PK Canada logo features a maple leaf, indicating our dedication to serve the men of Canada.

An arrow breaks into the maple leaf symbolizing the impact we believe God wants to see Promise Keepers and men making in our nation. A special thank-you to all the pastors who continually encourage us to communicate God’s truth with grace and love.

4 SEVEN SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018

THE FAITHLIFE FINANCIAL DIFFERENCE

Money, Faith & You You believe faith and finances go together. So do we.

Let’s start a new conversation about being wise with money and how generosity is an expression of your faith.

To learn more about blending faith and finances and to receive a FREE copy of YOUR NEW MONEY MINDSET VISIT

faithlifefinancial.ca (while quantities last)

FaithLife Financial is a financial services organization that helps Christians blend faith and finances to be wise with money and live generously – serving God, families and communities.

PROTECTI NG FINANCIAL FUTURES

•

LIVING CHRISTIAN VALUES

•

BUILDING A BETTER WORLD

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018 SEVEN 5

PK PODIUM

GREATER VISION SEEING GOD’S POWER AT WORK

BY KIRK GILES

“I WILL GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD WITH MY WHOLE HEART; I WILL RECOUNT ALL OF YOUR WONDERFUL DEEDS.” PSALM 9:1

M

y heart is so overwhelmed as I write this. The last twelve months have been filled with the incredible and powerful work of God in the lives of men. He has worked to create one of the most significant years in the history of Promise Keepers Canada.

I have been humbled as men at many events have lined up to share with me how God has used this ministry to impact their lives. We have seen God’s power at work to transform the lives of men of all ages. He has rescued hundreds of men from sin and adopted them into His family. Men are growing as husbands and fathers and are taking action to serve the needs of the poor and oppressed.

For the first time in our history, we have had over 500,000 ministry interactions with men! Our efforts to reach younger men have grown significantly through This Is Me TV and youth breakouts at all our conferences.

Attendance increased at our conferences and workshops held across the nation. We facilitated three mission trips instead of our usual one.

Most importantly, men are growing closer to Jesus. The feedback for the content of our new daily devotional has been outstanding. Thousands of men who attended the “All In” conferences learned how to invite the Holy Spirit to fill them and guide their every thought and action.

I give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart. I give thanks for His gracious work in the lives of men through this ministry. I give thanks to Him for you.

Your prayers, service, and financial support are all critical, and God is blessing your faithfulness.

In the last year, there has been a rise of public awareness for godly men.

We are living in a time of gender confusion, and a time where men’s abusive actions toward women are being brought to the public focus. These and many other stories remind me that there is still so much work to be done.

While we celebrate the past twelve months together, I also urge us all to not become complacent. The stakes are high – we need godly men in every corner of society. The vision is great – to see every man becoming, growing, and living as disciples of Jesus Christ.

Together with you in the vision to Leave No Man Behind!

6 SEVEN SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018

KIRK GILES is the president of Promise Keepers Canada.

However, his most important roles as a man are husband to Shannon and father to Carter, Joshua, Sydney and Samuel.

IGNITE – EQUIP – IMPACT

LED BY

The Spirit

PURSUING GOD'S PRESENCE AND EXPERIENCING HIS GRACE

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018 SEVEN 7

/ AT ALL IN CONFERENCES THIS PAST YEAR, At ALL IN conferences this past year, men were encouraged to leave their “kingdom of me” and step forward into the plans God has for them for His kingdom purposes. A pivotal moment for many guys came when they were called to invite the Holy Spirit into their lives to guide them and empower them.

Andrew Thompson led a youth breakout session on Love, Sex and Dating.

“With the struggles going on in my life, the timing of this event and the contents talked about was God sent! Loved every moment.”

“My 16 year old son made a recommitment to Christ. “ “First time ever, and I was amazed. Never realized so many other men came together to celebrate God! Amazing!”

“Gift from my wife. Came reluctantly.

Pleasantly surprised.”

“I am a pastor. Thank you for all you do at the PK conferences! Very grateful for PK.” “I have been challenged again to lean not on my own understanding or power but commit to being taught and guided by the Spirit.”

“I have been to an event at least 6 times. I never leave thinking that I wasn’t uplifted or encouraged. These events are extremely important to the growth of Godly men.

Thank you.”

“I look forward to this event every year. It has been great that my sons have been coming to PK and also look forward to it.”

“I really appreciate your support of the local church and calling men to be leaders in the local church. This is so important.

Thank you!”

“Very eye opening. Never knew so many Christian men existed.”

8 SEVEN SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018

/ THE POWER OF GOD’S GRACE IS DISRUPTIVE. Jesus wants to break us out of our routines and give us lives of significance. He graciously never gives up on us.

What would it look like to be a Godly disruption? To be a disruption of grace, offering real hope and change? That’s the question we’ll be exploring in 2018– 2019. And, for the first time ever we will be hosting a conference in Prince Edward Island.

CITIES INCLUDE: Cornwall, PEI

Oct. 13

Grande Prairie, AB

Oct. 27

Calgary, AB

Nov. 3

Toronto, ON

Nov. 16-17

SIMULCAST

Nov. 16-17

Surrey, BC

Nov. 24

Ottawa, ON

Mar. 1-2

Winnipeg, MB

Mar. 8-9

Edmonton, AB

Mar. 15-16

Saskatoon, SK

Mar. 23

Regina, SK

Mar. 30

Windsor, ON

Apr. 6

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018 SEVEN 9

Hip Hop artist Trip Lee learned how to rely on the Holy Spirit to help him in his weakness, as shared in the mini doc from This Is Me TV. Within weeks of launching the episode, it received over 100,000 views — more than any episode to date.

“[This] is fuel for my soul.

Thanks for all your work! Very inspiring to see the background story. Blessings from Germany.”

- This is Me TV Viewer

“The daily devotionals are amazing! I read them almost every morning first thing I do when I get to work.”

- Stephen

After many years, our partnership with Christianity Today came to a close as they made the decision to discontinue the Men of Integrity Devotional. At the beginning of 2018, we launched a brand new online devotional, published inhouse. The feedback has been extremely positive, and we’re now looking into creating a subscription-based print version.

10 SEVEN SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018

THE SEASONS OF FATHERHOOD / KIRK GILES’ NEW BOOK, The Seasons of Fatherhood, explores how to thrive as a dad in every season of life. Each season sees a different role for us in which to operate. This book looks at some key practices to help us succeed in our role for that season. The lessons in this book are what God has been teaching Kirk about fathering four remarkable people.

NEARLY 10,000 COPIES OF THE SEASONS OF FATHERHOOD WERE SOLD TO CHURCHES TO GIVE TO THE DADS IN THEIR CONGREGATIONS THIS FATHER’S DAY.

“Wow! As a new dad, I appreciate the wisdom you’ve shared, and I hope to start right as leader, coach and mentor. Thank you for being obedient and writing a book. I’m hoping to revisit it at each stage...glad I’ve added it to my ‘dad’ tool bag...(I) literally couldn’t put it down once I started!”

- Facebook Message

“This short book will make a long impression on each one of us who engage with it. Please read this book and be the best father you can be.”

- Neil Josephson, Director of FamilyLife Canada

“Whether you’ve blown it, feel overwhelmed or want to be more intentional, The Seasons of Fatherhood is a quick read filled with hope, encouragement and very practical wisdom for dads at all stages of parenting.”

- Dr. Steve Brown, President of Arrow Leadership

“An empowering guidebook for men who want to succeed as a dad. Kirk’s sage advice helps fathers recalibrate their thoughts to focus on what matters most. It is inspiring and a book every dad should read more than once.”

- Terence Rolston, President of Focus on the Family Canada

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018 SEVEN 11

WORKSHOPS / THIS PAST YEAR WE INTRODUCED NEW WORKSHOPS, including a workshop on Finding Success, as well as another one on God’s Vision for Men. In an age of confusion in both of these areas, these workshops help equip men with clarity and purpose. We are also in the process of creating two new online workshops that will be available later this year.

IMPACT OPPORTUNITIES / MISSION TRIPS were held in Belize, Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua.

A team hopes to return to Dominican Republic in April 2019.

12 SEVEN SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018

PROMISE KEEPERS CANADA NATIONAL MEN’S CONFERENCE

OCT 13, 2018 Charlottetown, PEI OCT 27, 2018 Grande Prairie, AB NOV 3, 2018 Calgary, AB NOV 16-17, 2018 Toronto, ON NOV 16-17, 2018 SIMULCAST NOV 24, 2018 Surrey, BC MAR 1-2, 2019 Ottawa, ON MAR 8-9, 2019 Winnipeg, MB MAR 15-16, 2019 Edmonton, AB MAR 23, 2019 Saskatoon, SK MAR 30, 2019 Regina, SK APR 6, 2019 Windsor, ON

YOUTH BREAKOUT SESSION

REGISTER NOW AND SAVE!

promisekeepers.ca/disruptive disruptivemensconf

#

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018 SEVEN 13

MUSIC REVIEWS

BY STEVEN SUKKAU

CINEMATIC

LOVE SONG FOR A CITY

WHEN A HEART WAKES UP

OWL CITY

MARTIN SMITH (Gloworks Limited)

ADAM WATTS (Broken City Artists)

/ SINCE 2009’S Ocean Eyes, Owl City has captured listeners’ imaginations with his quirky, upbeat synthetic symphonies.

Paired with his earnest, almost child-like wonder with the world, Adam Young has gone on to find success scoring music for films such as Wreck-it-Ralph, The Croods and animated owl epic, Legends of the Guardians.

Now Young has turned his gaze back on his own journey. Cinematic is essentially a soundtrack of his own life, putting to music his own pivotal moments, from being courted by music executives to memories of his friends.

‘Not All Heroes Wear Capes’ is a moving tribute to a stoic dad that didn’t often verbalize affection, but expressed it through other tangible ways. It’s a situation many can relate to and the grace and understanding Young expresses resonates deeply.

Cinematic is a love letter to Young’s childhood. The nostalgia is so strong here it’s no surprise Young never really let the wonder of being a kid go.

As he sings on ‘Lucid Dream’, “Such is the path of a dreamer, I find my way by moonlight.”

Overall, the album is filled with hopeful, quirky, dreamy electronica. If you want to relive the freedom and fun of being a kid in a big magical world, definitely give Cinematic a whirl.

/ THERE ARE few albums that have brought me into a state of worship as powerfully as Martin Smith during his tenure with Delirious?. Now, after nearly ten years after disbanding, Smith does it again, returning to his worship roots with the live album, Love Song for a City, 13 tracks recorded live from around the world.

Each song brings with it a different energy and urgency; heightened knowing a crowd of worshippers from across the world including San Diego, Brazil, South Africa and Singapore, are drawing into the throne room of Heaven at the same time of the recording. It’s intoxicating.

Musically the album is at turns mystical (Come Holy Spirit), joyous (God’s Great Dance Floor) and even mournful (Song of Solomon).

The album speaks to the soul, I think, because of this collection of moods. It speaks to the psalms in their entirety; showcasing every mood from joyful, despondent, hopeful and at the heights of despair. Throughout it all the authors are reaching through the mess, calling out to God and waiting for an answer.

As Smith sings with his soaring voice on ‘Waiting Here For You’ “Only You can save me now… How I need Your voice whispering me name.” “I will sing through the morning/When your mercy comes again.”

/ WHILE THE name Adam Watts may not carry star power, his music does.

The list of artists he’s helped launch with his songwriting is long and eclectic, from Jeremy Camp to regulars on the Disney Channel, American Idol finalists and theme songs for Hollywood movies.

His latest work as a solo artist is this year’s immersive 'When a Heart Wakes Up’.

The folk singer/songwriter’s collection of 11 tracks is nuanced and multi-faceted, showcasing Watt’s impressive creative experience, at times stripped down and wistful, elsewhere bombastic and symphonic.

His full power of creativity is aimed at the feeling of the familiar ritual of realizing the world has nothing to fill the void in our souls, and turning, slowly and painfully, around to face God again.

On ‘Where to Begin’, Watt describes the lengths we’ll go to avoid God, “I’ll say anything to get out of the way of You… Adding sugar to poison, ‘till I’m loving the taste.”

In the end, Watts sings on ‘Love You More’ “I want to love you more than I do… I’d hate to lose more time than I have to/So I’ll try to.”

His descriptions of the Christian life are not pretty, they’re painful, messy and, in the end, honest.

/ STEVEN SUKKAU works in radio on the prairies of Southern Manitoba.

14 SEVEN SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018

NEW FROM KIRK GILES

THE SEASONS OF FATHERHOOD WHY DADS MATTER AT EVERY STAGE OF LIFE

“...an empowering guidebook for men who want to succeed as a dad. Kirk’s sage advice helps fathers recalibrate their thoughts to focus on what matters most.

It is inspiring and a book every dad should read more than once.”

TERENCE ROLSTON, PRESIDENT OF FOCUS ON THE FAMILY CANADA

“...so helpful and easy to read, every dad should read it. Written from his perspective as both a father and a leader of men, Kirk shares a wealth of wisdom, anecdotes and guidance for dads and grandads. This short book will make a long impression on each one of us who engage with it.”

NEIL JOSEPHSON, NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF FAMILYLIFE CANADA

“...a readable, practical manual for dads of all ages and stages. I’d pass this book on to any father I know.”

DR. RICK REED, PRESIDENT OF HERITAGE COLLEGE & SEMINARY

ORDER NOW

promisekeepers.ca/fathers

FEATURE

Forging Christian Leaders PK@WORK, BLUEPRINT CREATING A BEACHHEAD IN QUEBEC AND THE WORKPLACE

BY FRANK STIRK

T

wo years after being launched, the French-language version of Blueprint is slowly catching on as a tool for local churches to disciple their men and equip them to become disciple-makers.

“I was saying to myself, ‘If I had a tool like that twenty years ago, I probably would have saved myself a lot of headaches,” says Jean-Louis Larabie, a long-time men’s ministry leader in western Quebec’s Outaouais region. “I thought it was a very, very good tool to help local churches at least start up and build on something solid for their men’s ministry.”

Larabie is part of a six-member committee that is working to introduce Blueprint — or Plan de Match, as it’s called in French — to the fifty or so francophone churches in The Outaouais, which includes Hull, Gatineau and Maniwaki, on the north side of the Ottawa River opposite Ottawa.

“The last eighteen months,” he says, “we have started to connect with pastors and leaders from local churches. Right now, we have a network of twenty-five churches that we’ve introduced Plan de Match to, we’ve already presented a full training to the leaders of five churches, and we’re actually planning our first Frenchlanguage event this September.”

“It’s on the way up and we’re hoping to have more presentations,” fellow committee member and Gatineau resident Luc Angers adds. “We’re now trying to establish another chapter in the Laurentians which is a little bit north of Montreal.”

Promise Keepers Canada unveiled Blueprint in June 2014. It offers churches a basic framework for growing and maturing men in three foundational areas: capture their hearts, renew their minds, engage their hands.

“It’s not a formula,” says PK Community Relations Manager Ian Nairn. “The real challenge for a church is taking the framework, identifying your men — where they’re at and what their needs are across the generations — and coming up with a unique and creative strategic plan to connect with your men and begin to see them discipled and then facilitating them making disciples.”

Larabie describes Plan de Match as a “very, very simple way” to move men to a deeper level, where they actually connect with one another and build friendships.

“We can organize all sorts of events to get men together,” he says, “but when they’re purpose-driven, it’s easier to create a culture in which men can grow inside a church and have an impact on their own families and all around them.”

“And it’s community-based,” says Angers. “The outreach is not just to encourage men in their local churches, but it is to create eventually a missions focus, something that the men could get involved in outside the church.”

Blueprint recommends one event per year on each of the three basic focuses. This September’s first-ever French-language event will present two workshops on renewing the mind.

But it’s not just in The Outaouais that Blueprint is finding resonance among local churches. On a Monday night in April, Christian Life Church in Winnipeg hosted a training event led by Nairn that attracted about fifty men from around fifteen to twenty churches. “I was really blown away by the response and I think Ian was too,” says lead pastor Jim Poirier. “It sure showed me that there’s a hunger out there for this kind of ministry.”

Poirier had never before met most of the men who showed up. “There was even a guy that didn’t know the Lord,” he says.

“He had just seen the event on the website or something like that. He says, ‘I don’t go to church. This looked really good and I thought I should come.’ It was incredible.”

Based on what he saw and heard afterwards, Poirier feels certain the men left excited and enthused. For its part, CLC plans to use the Blueprint framework going forward to ramp up their entire men’s ministry.

“We’re looking at how do we seriously go about building small groups, specific nights of ministry on some of the things that are really locking guys up — addictions, pornography — and integrate relationshipbuilding, a sense of fellowship and a sense of fun,” he says. “I mean, guys don’t want

WHEN THEY’RE PURPOSE-DRIVEN, IT’S EASIER TO CREATE A CULTURE IN WHICH MEN CAN GROW INSIDE A CHURCH AND HAVE AN IMPACT ON THEIR OWN FAMILIES AND ALL AROUND THEM.

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018 SEVEN 17

THERE’S ALWAYS BEEN A NEED FOR STRONG CHRISTIAN LEADERS IN THE WORKPLACE, NOW MORE THAN EVER.

18 SEVEN SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018

to just sit there and spill their guts. They need the relationship as well.”

One of the most “critical issues” in ensuring effective outcomes for the men, Nairn says, is raising up leaders.

“Ideally you want to have one guy who is the leader who is well-respected by the leaders and by men generally. When he speaks, men listen,” he says. “And you want one guy facilitating either the events or the follow-up.”

Poirier, however, cautions pastors not to designate leaders too quickly.

“You’ve got to know that your potential leader is exemplary, he’s got a good attitude, a good heart, he’s consistent, he’s respected. If you’ve got that going for you, great. Go for it,” he says. “If you don’t, develop it, find it, look for it, pray for it. And if there’s nobody to fill that need, then do it yourself.”

But while it’s possible or perhaps even likely that no two churches will put Blueprint to good use in exactly the same way, the passion behind it remains the same.

“We’re praying for renewal for our province of Quebec,” says Larabie.

“But right now, our aim is to get men going and become faithful disciples that can make disciples. Blueprint is a good steppingstone to throw them a challenge: ‘Let’s serve the Lord, guys.’”

Promise Keepers Canada is also helping transform Christian businesses around the country through the PK@ Work resources.

Doug Robertson explains staff at Robertson Implements in Swift Current, SK, meets every Monday morning for prayer time and study. While he says they’ve wanted to start a prayer time for a while, PK@Work helped them get started and helped them become more intentional about building up Christian men in the workplace.

“And why reinvent the wheel?”

Robertson asks. “PK@Work has the resources and the understanding of the challenges facing men.”

In their company vision statement,

leadership has included the line “All to the glory of God”.

“We don’t hide who we are as a company,” he says. However, the struggle has been moving their faith from the boardroom to the factory floor.

“Some people think we ‘can’t go there’ but the more you open up about faith the easier it gets,” he says.

As people come to know you as a man of faith, they start coming to you, Robertson explains. While in the past the perception has been that being a good person would point people to Christ, Robertson says there’s more to it, simply being a good person “is not good enough.”

“There’s always been a need for strong Christian leaders in the workplace, now more than ever,” he says.

Time remains their biggest challenge, “you’re driving the business 24/7, but that’s an excuse,” he says. “We talk a lot about fear, you’re not supposed to talk about God in the workplace.”

Others may wonder how a Christian business leader can fire someone. When it does come to letting someone go, Robertson says their faith and resources like PK@Work keep them focused on “are we doing it in a loving, honouring way? It makes us more aware.”

In the day-to-day, he notes they often see God moving through their business.

They weigh decisions with the help of the Holy Spirit, they even pray through the buildings they erect, that they would house God-honouring practices and, as their vision statement declares, all the glory goes to God. “This is God’s business, why wouldn’t He be involved?”

Even as they face the future, no matter what happens, Robertson says, “Like Job, we praise Him everyday.”

/ FRANK STIRK has forty years experience as a print, radio and Internet journalist and editor, he continually seeks new horizons as a writer and copy editor.

All of life is ministry “I think every believer is called to be in fulltime ministry whatever their life situation.”

Caleb Courtney [MTS] is a husband, father of four, high school teacher, worship leader and just completed the Master of Theological Studies program. He knew he could only afford a one-year leave to complete his masters, so he began planning a few years ago. Caleb has seen God open every door along the way. A percentage of Caleb’s salary was saved to fund a leave from his teaching job, and he received scholarships and awards. He also took advantage of flexible course modes such as online, evening and one-week intensives. This made it possible for him to still put his family time first.

Caleb is now returning to work and plans to take on more of a teaching role at his church.

“People have this idea of full-time ministry as being full-time in a church,” he says.

“I think every believer is called to be in fulltime ministry whatever their life situation.”

Tyndale offers flexible full-time and part-time study options to meet your needs.

Learn more. Visit Tyndale.ca or call 1.877.TYNDALE. SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018 SEVEN 19

FEATURE

testify

BY CRAIG MACARTNEY

STORIES OF TRANSFORMATION

E

very year we hear moving stories of how God is reaching men through Promise Keepers Canada events and resources. Henry approached staff this year, explaining how he first came to a Promise Keepers Canada event as a teen, and kept coming back. Henry says so much of what he’s learned about being a man of God has come from Promise Keepers Canada conferences.

Likewise, Danny shares his story of attending a Promise Keepers Canada event as a teen, becoming a Christian just months earlier. Now he travels the world sharing the Gospel with I Am Second, and has come full circle as a speaker at a Promise Keepers Canada conference.

20 SEVEN SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018

tasting heaven and fulfilling destiny DANNY MACKAY’S STORY

L

ooking down over the stadium, Danny MacKay was in awe. At 17, he had only become a Christian a few months earlier. Yet standing there, with 10,000 men all worshiping God, MacKay knew two things: that he would spend the rest of his life pointing people to Jesus and that one day he would stand and preach on a Promise Keepers’ stage.

“To be in a stadium, like that, where everyone is singing — it was powerful,” he says. “I remember the hair standing up on my arms, goosebumps, and looking around thinking, ‘Wow, this is incredible.’ I had a huge sense of what it is going to be like in heaven. That was my first experience.”

Today, MacKay is part of the global team with I Am Second, living out what he felt that day at Promise Keepers, more than 20 years ago. MacKay leads teams around the world on mission trips to share the gospel with unreached people groups. He is also preparing to speak at a Promise Keepers event this fall.

“Whenever I see a Promise Keepers event, I still remember that [first one]. So being invited to speak at one, after all these years, is really special to me. I get the session where they call guys to put their faith in Christ or re-surrender if they need to do that. I get to do that part, which, to me, is the best one.”

In fact, MacKay will be speaking at four of the DISRUPTIVE National Men’s Conferences: Toronto in November, then Ottawa, Winnipeg and Edmonton in March.

“It’s interesting, back then I really had a sense of calling on my life. I had no idea it would look like this. As I think about all those things that shaped me to be who I am, Promise Keepers was part of that — especially right there at those beginning moments. To have conferences, like

Promise Keepers, where men stand up and challenge us to be men of integrity, to live for God, to make an impact in our communities — it’s been those light posts along the way that have really helped shape me.”

MacKay attended a few more Promise Keepers events over the years. One powerful moment he remembers is when a speaker led the men in attendance through a time of confession. He says it lifted a weight off his chest and receiving prayer that day really instilled that as a value in his life.

That first event, however, still stands out as the one that impacted him the most.

“Seeing, with my eyes, massive amounts of people getting together to focus on God and worship Him; that made me realize how important it is to be a godly man. I remember feeling that I am not just wading into this, I’m diving in. I’m going to serve Him with everything I have.”

MacKay walked away from the event with a deep joy, peace, and sense of belonging.

“I had never felt like that before. I had never felt so connected to something so much bigger than myself.”

As he prepares to join the leaders of Promise Keepers Canada on stage, MacKay says, “I’m so thankful for how consistent Promise Keepers has been. I really appreciate the faithfulness of the organizers and leaders, that they’re still doing it. They are serving the Kingdom, and it matters.

I’m super excited to be part of it this year.”

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018 SEVEN 21

rekindling the fire HENRY ABRAMS’ STORY

G

rowing up in a Mennonite community in Manitoba, Henry Abrams had a solid faith foundation. The young man had a loving wife and mentored youth at his church, but every man needs help, now and then, staying on the straight and narrow.

One night, Abrams woke up from a terrible dream. It shook him to the core and left him questioning some of his faith foundation.

“I knew in that moment how little I actually knew my Saviour,” he says. “I had been walking a superficial Christian walk, trying to do Christian things, but not actually living it out of a desire to know and love God more.”

Abrams’ wife and family were a huge support as he wrestled with fear and anxiety, learning to trust God and

let God renew his mind. At the end of four long years, a friend invited him to a Promise Keepers event, in Winnipeg.

“The idea of joining a group of guys facing the same challenges, in an atmosphere of authentic worship and teaching, is what inspired me to go,” Abrams states. “We went together and ended up taking two other guys with us.

I really needed to know that I wasn’t the only man facing the challenges this world throws at us. It spurred a new drive for me to live out my freedom in Christ and to help others do the same.”

The conference was so impacting that the group made it an annual staple.

“The Promise Keepers events have become a yearly checkpoint for me. It’s the time where I evaluate what God has taught me and how He’s moved me forward in my walk with Him the prior year. Promise Keepers is that weekend of refreshment, reflection, call to action, and motivation for me.”

One of the biggest impacts Promise Keepers contributed to in Abrams’ life was helping him learn to live and act from a baseline of knowing God’s love for him. Now, he says he lives from a place of “making good choices because God loves me, not so that He will love me. That is the difference between an abundant life in Jesus and struggling with never-ending guilt. I learned that I first have to come to terms with how much God loves me and, demonstrates that love for me, before I can love Him.” Kenny Siemens has known Abrams for 13 years and has watched him grow over the years. He says Promise Keepers led Abrams to become more involved in his church and more invested in ministry.

“It is always so cool to see the renewal and how the fire within Henry is rekindled every year after Promise Keepers.

It’s like a shot of adrenaline to his soul.”

Through the equipping and encouragement at Promise Keepers, Siemens says, “Jesus has consumed Henry’s heart and he wants to share the love and freedom he received. It’s all he talks about, really.”

Abrams says Promise Keepers has inspired him to help with the mission of leaving no man behind.

“Though the pressures still pop up every now and again, as God renews my mind, I am no longer wavering in fear and I am back to allowing God to lead as I go all in with Him. Obviously Promise Keepers hasn't been the only influence in my journey to freedom, but I know this theme of a reckless love and grace is something they have done a good job of portraying and it has impacted me.”

/ CRAIG MCCARTNEY is a freelance writer who lives in Ottawa, and is the former Eastern Correspondent for ChristianWeek.

22 SEVEN SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018

Make Your Home Safe Today Filtering Set your house rules for which parts of the Internet your kids (and their guests) can visit. Then add exceptions for specific devices to restrict young kids or give older kids more freedom.

Protect your kids online with KidsWifi.

Monitoring Check on the sites your kids are visiting. Look at the whole network or specific devices. Do it from anywhere with Internet access using any browser.

Time Limits Limit screen time by pausing the Internet. Set bedtimes to prevent late-night browsing. All managed from your phone or any other Internet browser.

Connectivity Keeping your kids safe is as simple as connecting to a Wi-Fi network. Using any wireless device—from computers to tablets to game consoles—you can protect your kids (and their friends) simply by connecting them to your KidsWifi network.

Plug in and Protect. It’s that simple.

promisekeepers.ca/wifi

FEATURE

Next 24 SEVEN SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018

REACHING MILLENNIALS WITH AUTHENTIC STORYTELLING

Gen

BY STEVEN SUKKAU

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018 SEVEN 25

R

eaching the next generation has never been more difficult or more important.

The consequence of technology’s accelerated advancement, the gap between generations is widening.

More teens and youth are growing up with vastly different questions and challenges when it comes to how they see the world and faith.

With the passion to reach the increasingly disenfranchised youth leaving church and God behind, Promise Keepers Canada has found connecting with young men comes down to speaking their language in an honest, authentic way.

“Every two years there’s a generational gap, men 2-3 years younger than me consider me old,” explains Dave McSporran of Bottled Media and the creator of This Is Me TV. “We’re all very different.”

Despite the gap, the online series through PK Canada is finding a growing audience of young men, encouraged and empowered to live unashamed for God through interviews and testimonies of popular artists and athletes who have found tremendous success while living a life for Christ.

However, the millennial generation has adapted to the unending stream of online content and honed the sharpest ears and eyes for advertising and inauthenticity.

“The only way we can connect with people is when we’re honest,” McSporran says. “When we’re real and not fake, when we truly look at our lives and recognize we’re not perfect and we admit that… it’s through the struggle, we’re real about the struggle.”

Every single episode, he explains, gets real at some point and stops candy-coating faith.

26 SEVEN SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018

“We’re way more attractive as broken people because we’re relatable,” he says.

Seeing the success of This Is Me TV, PK Canada created the Youth Breakout sessions at the National Conference to likewise provide a place for teens and 20-year-olds.

While many are eager to write millennials off as lazy or entitled, Jeff Stearns of PK Canada explains they see the phenomenal untapped potential.

“Equipped with information and communication technology beyond the imagination of past generations, the opportunity to influence the world for the gospel is greater than ever before. Passionate about social justice issues they can drive change for justice and the hope of Jesus. “ One dad shared the story of trying to invite his teenage son to the conference. There was no interest at all.

However, as the dad looked through the event brochure he told his son about the youth session featuring “some guy named Manafest”.

“The son jumped up, grabbed the brochure and said, “Let me see that!” His son was a fan of Manafest’s music and came to the event to for the youth session,” Stearns explains. “The dad excitedly told us how great it was to go to the conference as a father and son. That experience was replicated over and over.”

Together, the sessions create a unique multigenerational experience for fathers and sons, even grandparents.

“We need to be equipping the next generation to live in grace and truth. The breakout sessions give us an opportunity to do that,” Stearns explains. “We need to see generations learning from each other and worshiping together. The breakout sessions provide men with an

opportunity to invite younger men to join them. “ The sessions, inspired by This Is Me TV, feature speakers who’ve appeared in the video series. The first year included Manafest and graffiti artist Jeff Goring.

This past year the youth breakout sessions explored love, sex and dating.

Andrew Thompson, National Music Leader, walked the youth through a discussion of what biblical purity and godly relationships look like. In an age of confusion and promiscuity, Stearns says it was a topic that was greatly needed.

“We weren’t sure how it would go without the celebrity speakers. We know the topic was relevant and engaging but would guys still come if they didn’t know the speaker? Turnout was excellent and when you sat in on the sessions you could see the guys engaged,” he explains.

“We need to be equipping the next generation to live in grace and truth. The breakout sessions give us an opportunity to do that.”

Meanwhile, between conferences This Is Me TV continues to find viewers.

The Trip Lee “My Joy Cannot Be Stolen” episode has reached 105,000 views.

Since the age of 15, McSporran has been making films. Now at 32, he says finding an audience revolves around compelling interviews and the craft of filmmaking.

“Great content, great interviews, told in a transparent way, with the production of today’s video content platforms,” he explains. “Whether you’re a Christian or not you’re going to appreciate what you see.”

However, it’s through God’s Spirit at work that connection happens.

Continually they see comments, people taking the time to share how they’ve been impacted.

McSporran says he’s struck by how people are taking the time not only to watch the video but reach out to the creators to say thank-you and explain how they’ve been inspired.

“It shows we have connected."

“How many times have you or I watched a YouTube video and never commented or gave a thumbs up? When someone goes out of their way to be open about it and share their thoughts we’ve made a connection and that’s invaluable.”

McSporran and his team also make sure to respond back and be available to viewers who comment and ask questions or want to know more.

“It’s just by quality, the content, the intentionality, God and really working at this craft. We love this, we love telling stories.”

It’s why he wanted to start this series.

He says there was no way to see behind the scenes of people that are successful and call themselves Christian.

“Someone like Lacrae is put on a pedestal, everyone sees his success but don’t see what he’s going through with God, he struggled with his parents splitting up, it’s affecting him to this day.”

“These are digital mentors… people can say I’ve screwed up but I’ve made it to this point only by the grace of Jesus.”

And youth today have big questions; “How can I be a Christian in this world?

How am I supposed to do this? There is so much temptation out there, I don’t see anyone living it.”

While they see their parents living their faith, McSporran says, “they haven’t seen Christianity done by someone like them. There is a generational divide; they haven’t seen someone they can relate to doing Christianity well.”

He says the deeper question is, why Christianity? Why God? How will this affect my friendships? And is it ok to lose friendships over my faith?

“They need to be told everything will be ok even if they lose friends, even if they aren’t as popular because it’s worth it.”

/ STEVEN SUKKAU works in radio on the prairies of Southern Manitoba.

Equipped with information and communication technology beyond the imagination of past generations, the opportunity to influence the world for the gospel is greater than ever before.

August 9-10 | October 18-19 | growingleadership.com/summit

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“At the time I had just finished a body of professional development with United Way at Harvard and at the Centre for Creative Leadership, so I was in a good mindset for this kind of professional development, and one that was available right at home was compelling so I thought ‘I’ll give this a try’.

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GLS is hosted by a Canadian Not-For-Profit organization, with a goal of providing high calibre leadership development opportunities at an affordable cost. Attendees benefit from networking opportunities with leaders from their community – and spend less time and cost on travel.

28 SEVEN MAY / JUNE SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018 2018

Here’s just a sneak peek: Here’s just a sneak peek:

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Author, Futurist, Author, Futurist, Filmmaker and Filmmaker and Pastor Pastor

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Since this is being held Since is being in a this church, is it aheld inreligious a church,event? is it a religious event?

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Why do you hold the Why do you hold the Global Leadership Global Leadership Summit in churches?

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As a non-profit organization, we know the necessity of making every dollar count. Sometimes, Asconveniently a non-profit located organization, know the necessity of making every dollar count.

Sometimes, larger we churches in the community can provide a valuable resource of both conveniently larger the community canthe provide a valuable resource of both committed located volunteers andchurches spaciousinfacilities for viewing conference, while providing committed volunteers and spacious facilities for viewing the conference, while providing breakout areas and networking space. breakout areas and networking space.

We’re known for providing a world-class experience. Our state-of-the-art equipment, We’re known for providing a world-class experience. state-of-the-art equipment, and professional staff produce each event, and our Our site volunteers are trained and and professional staff produce each event, and our site volunteers are trained and engaged to serve. engaged to serve.

The Global Leadership Summit grows out of a Christian desire to improve the effectiveness The Leadership Summit grows out of a Christian to improve thefrom effectiveness of Global leaders.

The Summit is designed to reach 445,000desire people worldwide the pews to ofthe leaders.

The Summit is designed reach people worldwide fromof the pews marketplace because we believetowe can 445,000 learn from each other, regardless our faithto the marketplaceSpeakers because are we believe can learn other, regardless of ourfrom faith perspective. chosen we each year tofrom bringeach fresh, actionable insights perspective.

Speakers are chosen each year bring fresh, actionable insights from their own area of expertise – dealing with thetomost pressing issues people their area expertise – dealing thechurch most pressing issues people are own facing – atofwork, in their homes,with in the and in the community. are facing – at work, in their homes, in the church and in the community.

Elements of the Christian faith are celebrated, as we open with prayer Elements of the faith are celebrated, as we open with prayer and several of Christian the leadership talks will be presented by pastors who and several of the leadership talks will be presented who share leadership insight from their context but theyby allpastors stand alongside share leadershipfaculty insight from from business, their context but theyetc. all stand non-Christian education, If youalongside are not a non-Christian faculty from business, education,inetc.

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If you have additional questions, please call us at 800.804.0777, or email us at office@growingleadership.com If you have additional questions, please call us at 800.804.0777, or email us at office@growingleadership.com SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018 SEVEN 29

SPORTS SCENE

FINDING STRENGTH IN THE STRUGGLE

THE BARRY TROTZ STORY

BY CARTER BROOKS

T

he Washington Capitals are not Stanley Cup Champions by accident.

Led by generational talent and prolific goal-scorer Alexander Ovechkin, rock solid netminder and Vezina Trophy winner Braden Holtby, and blue chip offensive defenceman and former World Junior champ John Carlson, the Capitals collected their first Stanley Cup in team history in mid-June of 2018.

For Washington, the talent has always been there. However, the daunting task of finding a way to properly harness and utilize that dynamic offence once again fell squarely on the shoulders of longtime National Hockey League Head Coach Barry Trotz.

Trotz — a 56-year-old product of Dauphin, MB — is no stranger to

30 SEVEN SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018

winning, and is certainly no stranger to the Word. After spending 15 seasons at the helm of the Nashville Predators, the veteran coach picked up shop in D.C. where he saw exceptional levels of success with the Capitals — twice leading Washington to the Presidents’ Trophy (2015-16, 2016-17), while picking up the NHL’s Jack Adams Award as Coach of the Year following the 2015-16 season, and ultimately collecting Lord Stanley’s Mug this past spring.

However, winning hockey’s greatest prize wasn’t all Trotz’s doing. It was the coming together of the team at the perfect time. A team built on hard work and dedication, and an expressed devotion to the Word.

As a big believer in the NHL’s chapel programs, Trotz stands firmly in the fact that “attending chapel is

extremely beneficial for both the player and the person”. Trotz — who demands the very best from his players night in and night out — understands that there sometimes is some ambiguity and uncertainty when hockey players think about attending chapel.

In an interview with Stu Grimson — formerly an NHL enforcer and currently serving with Hockey Ministries International — Trotz reflected upon some of the misunderstandings surrounding chapel programs within the hockey community.

“A chapel program is essential for a player,” Trotz said. “We are in a sport where you have to show strength. And a lot of times, people think that if you go to a chapel program — where we spend a lot of time talking about failures and weaknesses — that in doing so, it is looked upon as a weakness.”

A CHAPEL PROGRAM IS ESSENTIAL FOR A PLAYER. “Talking about your failures or things that you’re struggling with is actually not a weakness at all,” Trotz added. “It is a strength, and it gives you something to lean on. The chapel program is very important for the National Hockey League for the players because with our schedules and playing Saturdays and Sundays, you just don’t get much opportunity (for worship and discussion). We need the chapel programs; we need support. The players deal with a lot of different things — but they’re just human like all of us, and that gives us strength.”

Trotz has experienced a multitude of instances in his lifetime that have required some serious strength — including a significant neck injury he sustained that forced the one-time budding NHL prospect into a decision to begin coaching. Later in life, Trotz and his wife Lisa were blessed with a baby boy — Nolan. He was diagnosed with Down Syndrome just hours after his birth – something Trotz refers to as a blessing in disguise.

"It was a little bit of a shock," Trotz said in a 2001 interview with BP Sports. "We got over it. We could have had the amniocentesis to find that out, but we didn't do it because it wouldn't have mattered one way or the other.

Whatever God gave us as a child, that's what we were happy to have."

Raising a child with Down’s Syndrome has certainly been much more work for Barry and Kim, however that additional work comes with a significantly higher reward.

In 2008 Trotz helped fundraise an initiative within the Nashville, TN. area, Best Buddies, that provided

children with disabilities volunteer partners/friends. Due to Trotz’s commitment and the involvement of the players on the Nashville Predators, Best Buddies was forced to relocate from the Bridgestone Arena to a larger venue, as the 20,000 seat capacity inside the downtown area was no longer sufficient.

This past June, Nolan Trotz — now 17 years old — stood present on the ice of T-Mobile Arena in Vegas alongside his big siblings Tiana, Shalan and Tyson (via FaceTime call) to watch his father fulfill his lifelong dream of raising the Stanley Cup high over his head in victory.

"Nolan has been a blessing for us," Trotz reflected. "It would be hard to think of life without him. I couldn't think of life without him right now. He's sort of the apple of our family's eye."

/ CARTER BROOKS is a news writer and sports columnist situated in Winnipeg, Manitoba. On top of reading and writing, coaching hockey is his favourite pastime. Carter can be reached at carterbrooks1994@gmail.com.

Photos left by Bruce Bennett. Photo top courtesy NHL PA. Photo bottom courtesy of James Carey Lauder.

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018 SEVEN 31

OUT OF MY DEPTH

A BRIDE’S WORST NIGHTMARE

AND HOW FAITH, LOVE AND COSTCO SAVED THE DAY

BY PAUL CARTER

O

ver 24 years of pastoral ministry I have seen and conducted an awful lot of weddings, but I have never seen anything like what I witnessed on Saturday July 7th of this year.

I had been out to the venue the night before to conduct the rehearsal.

Everything seemed to be well in hand.

The wedding was at a farm belonging to friends of the family, and the ceremony went off without a hitch.

They laughed, they vowed, they kissed, they signed and we cheered — just as it’s supposed to be.

Shortly after the ceremony however, while the bride and groom were having their pictures taken the bride received a text from the coordinator indicating that she was terminating the contract, packing up the food and going home.

As a pastor I always assume that there is more to the story, and I believe that must have been the case here. Nobody torpedoes their own business and throws a hand grenade into a wedding without a very good reason indeed. Who knows what happened to this poor lady?

What matters is that two hours before the reception was supposed to happen, she packed up her van and went home.

The bride, understandably, was devastated.

What happened next was nothing less than a miracle of God — and simultaneously a testimony to the power of love, community and friendship.

32 SEVEN SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018

The family of the bride immediately came together in a circle of prayer.

A few friends from the church huddled around as well. One lady in particular stepped up to the plate.

Despite being several months pregnant she wrapped her arms around the devastated young lady bride, looked her in the face and said: “I’ve got this. You go get your pictures done. Don’t even think about this. I have it covered”.

The bride went off with her man and did as she had been told. She had her pictures taken, and they are absolutely lovely. How she managed to smile like that with everything going on, I will never know.

And while she did it, a group of people from our church and from her new extended family rallied together to save the day — with a little help from Costco.

Calls were made, and people started showing up with strange and marvellous things. A man from our church arrived with a bar-b-q that had to be towed behind a pick up truck. It was a home-made job that appeared to have been designed for the cooking and grilling of dinosaurs.

Shortly thereafter, another truck arrived with 100 pounds of charcoal.

A van departed to the church to get coffee urns, silverware and who knows what else.

And that pregnant lady and the bride’s new father-in-law went to Costco to purchase whatever could be found.

When they arrived (for the second time that day) and explained to the staff what had happened, everyone sprang into action. A new till was opened to by-pass the enormous summer lines; a team was assembled to help them identify the best cuts of meat and all the buns and salad they could carry.

Only 60 minutes late — 120 people were served a perfectly cooked meal of steak and salad in a barn on precisely 2 hours notice.

It was undeniably a gift from God. “Thank God for Costco” was the phrase I heard second most that day after “what an incredibly beautiful bride”.

I went home freshly impressed with the importance of doing life in community. It matters that you get married in the church you grew up in.

It matters that people feel invested in your life and happiness. It matters that your best friends are also your brothers and sisters in Christ. It matters that you pray as a family.

And it doesn’t hurt to have a Costco.

N.B. A version of this article was published on the TGC Canada website.

/ PAUL CARTER To listen to Paul’s Into The Word devotional podcast visit the TGC Canada website or find it on iTunes.

LIVES WORTH LEADING

TENACIOUS RESILIENCY

LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM THE NBA

BY COLIN MCCARTNEY

I

t was early in the morning when I first heard about “The Trade”.

The Toronto Raptors sent all-star DeMar DeRozan and some spare parts to the San Antonio Spurs for super-star Kawi Leonard and Danny Green. Upon hearing of “The Trade”, the majority of Raptor fans were indignant with this move.

DeMar DeRozan was an athlete who was loyal to the city he represented on and off the court. He had spent his entire career with the Raptors and was loved in Toronto as both a great player and a fine young man. All throughout the city, people were wearing their DeRozan Number 10 jerseys as a sign of grieving over the news of the trade, as their hero had endeared himself to a city that loved him immensely. In response to the trade, DeRozan was heartbroken, saddened to leave and upset that a team he thought promised he would never be traded, dealt him to San Antonio.

General Manager Masai Ujiri exhibited great courage in making this trade. He fully understood the fallout that would accompany trading the popular DeRozan, but something had to happen. It was clear that his team that performed so well during the regular season, could not get the job done under the pressure of the playoffs. Changes had to take place, and Ujiri already began the process by boldly firing their coach (who just won “Coach of the Year”). Now he had to change the current core of the team as they visibly lacked the inner

fortitude to win a championship. If this issue wasn’t addressed, Toronto would never have a chance of even making it to an NBA Final. So Masai Ujiri made an unpopular decision to replace DeMar DeRozan with 2014 NBA Finals MVP — Kawai Leonard.

If this trade works or doesn’t work for the Raptors, one thing must be said about Masai Ujiri — love him or loathe him — he is not the kind of man who is satisfied with mediocrity.

He has the courage to make changes in order to win no matter how unpopular they might be. Ujiri did what he thought was the best thing for his team and by doing this he has risked his reputation and job in order to win a championship for the city of Toronto at great personal risk.

Masai Ujiri is a great leader exhibiting the strong fortitude that his team lacks. His inner strength was developed through life experiences.

Originally from Nigeria, he has had to work hard to overcome obstacles to get to where he is at in his stage of life.

His work ethic and mental toughness is legendary. He even spent time as an unpaid scout for the NBA's Orlando Magic, paying his own way and sharing rooms with scouts or players when he had to. He knows from personal experience that progress cannot occur without a price to be paid and that true greatness cannot be achieved without great risk. His leadership trait of tenacious resilience has made him a great leader and might just win him an NBA championship ring.

Tenacious resilience. It is a key characteristic of great leaders and a distinctive trait that we as men must have. In 2 Timothy 4: 6 – 8 we read Paul’s words to Timothy while awaiting his execution. This leader, who suffered torture, beatings, jailings and abandonment for the Lord, reveals his tenacious resiliency when he shares.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day...

Men, be tenacious and resilient in following the Lord no matter what the cost or risk it entails, for when it comes to leading your life and family and impacting the world for Jesus, never forget the prize awaiting you. As for me, I’ll take the crown of righteousness over a silly NBA Championship ring any day of the week.

/ COLIN MCCARTNEY is an ordained minister, speaker, and a bestselling author. He is also the founder of UrbanPromise Toronto and now leads Connect Ministries in Toronto where he, his wife Judith, and their two children reside. For information in booking Colin as a speaker, please visit www.connectministries.org.

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018 SEVEN 33

POWER PLAY

TOYS / TOOLS / TECHNOLOGY FROM HERE TO THERE AND FUN ALONG THE WAY

BY SANDY MCMURRAY

BURGER MACHINE

// creator.rest

Creator is a unique restaurant that just opened in San Francisco. There is just one item on the menu: a perfect hamburger, made while you wait, in a giant machine.

Before the process begins, you make some selections to personalize your burger. Choose your seasonings — chipotle sea salt, alderwood smoked salt, adobo, persian lime pepper — then choose your cheeses, which will be grated and melted to order.

As the machine does its work, a freshly baked and buttered brioche bun is loaded with your choices of fresh toppings. In addition to the traditional ketchup and mustard, Creator offers local produce (tomatoes, yellow onions, butter lettuce) and your choice of 15 sauces, made fresh daily.

Creator isn't the machine so much as it is the chefs and designers who built it. Their obsession and focus resulted in a restaurant experience that is more than the sum of its parts.

Each Creator burger goes for about $6. You will also need an appointment to buy one, and transportation to San Francisco.

Visit the web site for details.

34 SEVEN SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018

DAD BAG

// thedadbag.com Avert your eyes children! That guy needs a longer shirt, or a few more buttons. Or a diet. He has a big fat hairy belly.

But wait, what's this? It's not real! It's a photo on a fanny pack - a horrible, horrible photo.

The Dad Bag is a strange joke, designed for people who don't actually have a big belly. In fact, the adjustable strap only fits waists that are 26-38 inches around.

That's like putting on a bald skin cap or a wig of nose hair - who would wear that just to get a reaction? This seems a gag gift. The kind that makes you gag a little.

The Dad Bag sells for about $15.

HOME BASKETBALL

// popashot.net Video games? Sure, they're fun. But back in the day, we made our own fun by throwing things and hitting things and jumping on things. REAL things.

When the modern arcades came, some classic games moved indoors. Tennis became Pong, skeet shooting became Duck Hunt, hiking became Frogger.

And basketball became Pop-A-Shot.

Now, after decades in loud arcades, the classic is finally coming home. It's called the Home Dual Shot - the Man Cave version of Pop-A-Shot. The scoreboard is bigger, the sound effects are better, and there are now ten games to choose from. Play the classic 1-on-1 or test your skill with individual challenges. The audio now has three different music selections, sound effects (crowd noise and basket “swishes”) and an announcer who calls the game for you.

The Pop-A-Shot Home Dual Shot sells for about $300.

FLIPSIDE DISHWASHER SIGN

// amazon.ca

If you open the dishwasher right now, will you find clean or dirty dishes inside? It could be empty, or it could be full. How can you tell?

Flipside makes it clear. If the sign says Dirty, you can put your coffee cup inside. If the sign says Clean, you need to put away the dishes (or circle back to the living room until you hear someone else do it).

The sign is reversible and magnetic. Stick it on the dishwasher door with Dirty showing to start.

Flip when you start a cleaning cycle. All this can be yours for about $15.

If you don't have a dishwasher, congratulations!

You're one step ahead. You can just look in the sink.

NEBULA CAPSULE PROJECTOR

// seenebula.com

How much would you pay for a video projector that fits in the palm of your hand? What if that projector could deliver a bright, vivid picture up to 100 inches wide?

Don't answer yet. There's more! The Nebula Capsule projector comes equipped with a powerful speaker, a battery that's good for 4 hours of video or 36 hours of music, and connectivity options including HDMI, USB, Airplay and Miracast.

All this in a package the size of a pop can? Cool.

Made by Anker and sold by Amazon, the Nebula Capsule goes for about $500.

HEXA ROBOT

// vincross.com/en/hexa Hexa is a remote control robot with personality. From a distance it looks like a crab or a friendly spider. Six independent legs allow it to move in a strange and almost lifelike way. Hexa is equipped with a night vision video camera, infrared transmitter, distance measuring sensor, and an accelerometer that helps it balance. You can control its legs and head by remote control.

Vincross, the company behind Hexa, has developed a software platform for simple robots that can be used to develop and build new actions and new robots.

The Vincross "robotics ecosystem" includes a store where you can share your robot skills with other robot enthusiasts.

If this sounds like your kind of fun, you can order a Hexa today for about $1,000.

36 SEVEN SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018

NOBE CAR

// mynobe.com The Nobe 100 is a new type of light electric vehicle. Its designers set out to make a car that was stylish, timeless, and playful. There have been 3-wheel vehicles before, but nothing quite like this.

Designed for city life and exploring, the Nobe 100 has room for three passengers, some luggage, and a lot of whimsy. It manages somehow to look retro and futuristic at the same time.

The design phase is done, and the funding campaign exceeded its goal. Now they just have to build them. This is where the rubber meets the road. If you've always wanted to own half a gorgeous car, this is your chance. Find out more at mynobe.com.

PERSONAL HYDROFOIL

// fliteboard.com

The Fliteboard is a personal hydrofoil that gives the sensation of flying over water. Riding a Fliteboard is a little like surfing or snowboarding, but with the freedom to ride any time, without wind or waves.

The battery-powered eFoil propulsion system lets you glide quietly above the water for up to 60 minutes per charge, at speeds of up to 40km per hour. Interchangeable wings let you customize your ride for speed or stability, and the waterproof controller gives you real-time performance feedback as you ride.

The makers of Fliteboard have three basic board models in a range of finishes. You can customize your ride with a variety of options - there are 56 different combinations available.

The Fliteboard sells for about $15,000.

/ SANDY MCMURRAY writes about games, toys, and gadgets at funspot.ca.

NEXT ISSUE

Marriage When marriage is more

than staying together for

the kids. This issue we turn our focus to the covenant

of marriage and how dying to ourselves can create something even greater to bless our families and community.

38 SEVEN SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2018

PROMISE KEEPERS CANADA NATIONAL MEN’S CONFERENCE

OCT 13, 2018 Charlottetown, PEI OCT 27, 2018 Grande Prairie, AB NOV 3, 2018 Calgary, AB NOV 16-17, 2018 Toronto, ON NOV 16-17, 2018 SIMULCAST NOV 24, 2018 Surrey, BC MAR 1-2, 2019 Ottawa, ON MAR 8-9, 2019 Winnipeg, MB MAR 15-16, 2019 Edmonton, AB MAR 23, 2019 Saskatoon, SK MAR 30, 2019 Regina, SK APR 6, 2019 Windsor, ON

YOUTH BREAKOUT SESSION

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