My grandparents George and Harriette Irwin lived a live of servanthood, demonstrating the best that we all could be. They lived a life devoted to God and to the commission of preaching His name unto the ends of the Earth. George and Harriette were missionaries in Vietnam where they worked and lived for most of there lives. They preached the Gospel to all kinds of tribes that lived in that area of Vietnam and there is where they loved to be. i did not personally know my Grandparents that close but their lives have always inspired me to reach for the best that is out there. The stories that I was told about there lives and the pictures that they had, ignited a passion in me to see the lost reached even if it meant losing my own life. I could see in them even in their retirement that their one goal in life was to do what the Lord called to them to do. My Grandpa never stopped even if he seemed to not be able to move or in a lot of pain he stilled pressed on to see God's kingdom spread to the Vietnamese and Chinese people that live in Toronto (the city that he retired in). I am grateful to my grandparents that they never gave up and that they continued to preach, it has inspired me to preach the Gospel no matter what the cost is. I'm grateful to God that he gave them that call, that He protected, provided and gave them a compassion for all people. I only hope that I can be even half of what they were. Their lives were filled with adventures everything I from off-roading to preaching to a tribe that believed in human sacrifice. They though all this that they experienced I'm sure must have leaned and fully trusted in God. I'm saddened but also extremely joyed to hear that they have passes on. I am saddened because they are no longer here on this earth, but I am joyed that they have left here to be in heaven with God. Their lives will forever live on in my memory and I'm sure they memories of many others. This is written to honor the lives of the faithful in Christ Jesus. The people that have inspired me to be better. but most of all in memory of my Grandparents:
George Irwin passed away on January 27, 2007
Harriette Irwin passed away on March 12, 2007
Yours truly,
Aimee R.M. Condon
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Friday, April 20, 2007
Untitled
You are my dancing musical.
You make my heart beat once again,
With the running rhyme that carries my soul,
And the miraculous melody that heals my pain.
You are my life long story.
Can you hear me crying in the street,
Telling treacherous tails of failure and glory,
And numerous novels that bring wind to my feet.
You are my brilliant painting.
You make my hand reach out to touch,
The terrific texture of life slowly fading,
And the creative colors cause my blood to rush.
You are my memorise drama.
You break the mask that hides my face,
From the horrific horror of life's long trauma,
To the carousing comedy that keeps me in pace.
You are my spontaneous dance.
You break the chains that bind my expression,
From the freely flowing form that allows me to prance,
And the ranting rhythm wanting interpretation.
By Aimee R.M. Condon
You make my heart beat once again,
With the running rhyme that carries my soul,
And the miraculous melody that heals my pain.
You are my life long story.
Can you hear me crying in the street,
Telling treacherous tails of failure and glory,
And numerous novels that bring wind to my feet.
You are my brilliant painting.
You make my hand reach out to touch,
The terrific texture of life slowly fading,
And the creative colors cause my blood to rush.
You are my memorise drama.
You break the mask that hides my face,
From the horrific horror of life's long trauma,
To the carousing comedy that keeps me in pace.
You are my spontaneous dance.
You break the chains that bind my expression,
From the freely flowing form that allows me to prance,
And the ranting rhythm wanting interpretation.
By Aimee R.M. Condon
Saturday, April 14, 2007
A Night to Forget
A short story
by Aimee R.M. Condon
On a cold wet dreary day I sat awake in my study, trying to get a little work finished. It was probably ten or eleven at night, I'm not to sure, I was not paying to much attention to the time that ticked above my head. Why you ask, well I was submersed in the reading of a very exciting book... although by my drifting in and out of sleep it might of confused you a little. My study was cold and damp anything could put me asleep in an atmosphere like that. Every word though of that book was written firmly within my memory, by the event that unfolded that night. An event that even to this day scares me to talk about or even read within the pages of a novel of lies spun to scar even the heartless. It is not a story for the faint at heart but a story for only the brave! I was at this time probably in between one world and the other. I knew that I could not hold on very much longer the book was dragging out and the words seemed to get longer. I decided that I was going to head off to bed, once I was done the chapter that my professor told me was due tomorrow at class. I was studying English, I wanted to be the greatest novelist of all time. Although Dickens classics were not totally thrilling I knew that I must read the book. I was almost finished the chapter, a couple of pages away from the end, when I heard a subtle beat like someone was running in the distance. I thought nothing of it, after all I did live in a pretty busy place. As the fire crackled, and the seconds grew into minutes I heard this faint beat grow stronger, and bolder. I peered out my window to see what the commotion was about, when a hand covered in mud and blood dragged across my nice clean window. I ran outside with a mission. Was this man to die on the steps of my house when I knew that I had the ability to save his life? I cried out "Hello!... who's out here? You need any help?" but all I heard was the faint cry of boy not yet 13. A small child that was mangled beyond recognition. I ran and gathered the small mess within my arms and turned to see two red eyes staring back at me. I tell you now It felt like my heart was about to leap from my chest. My feet grew wings and I stumbled in my door just in time... Thud! I heard a small whimper but not a whimper of a dog but that of something that was out to get whatever it could. The whimper shook me a bit but not as much as what came next. A roar, a growl as though this beast emerged from the pit of hell. I could no longer tell if it was but a wolf, or something beyond the grave. I could hear the faint heart beat of this child who's blood now stained my carpet. Life was fleeting from his veins and I no longer knew if I could save his life. He was was more alive then ever, but yet the smell of his death lingered in my nose. Outside the beast was scratching at my door wanting only to devour the life left within this young boy. A chill rolled down my back at the thought for he would surly devour us all if he could.
I took the boy into my study, there was more light so to properly treat this boys wounds. As he lay tiredly upon my desk I knew only what I could not do for this life. I had not the power or knowledge to save this young lad from dying, but I knew of someone who did. So I woke my uncle that slept a floor above and told him of this young man's wounds. He told me to bring him directly upstairs and that is what I did. Now all I could do is pray that this young man recovers his strength and that this beast does not get in. I went to the door and the sound of claws and growling had ceased so I thought that the beast must have returned from whence it came. Hopefully that is what happened. As I began to clean up the mess that surrounded my house now. I heard this gentle tap upon my window. Maybe it was rock, maybe a bird I'm not sure but the tapping did not stop. I crept slowly to my window still shaken from the incident before and as drew the blinds away I saw only darkness... my nerves settled and let out a laugh "For sure the beast is gone now!" The mistake that I made was waiting at that window just staring into the darkness, for without warning something hit my window blood dripped from its fangs and pure hate stung me through his eyes. He was mad! His black fur matted, clumped with mud and the blood of all those that crossed his path. The red that beamed through his eyes struck my heart with fear. I slowly stepped away. The beast stared at me as though to tell me that I got in the way of his prise and now I must die. The hate that beamed through his eyes was nothing compared to the pure evil and death that spewed from his mouth. I could not believe that such an animal existed in this world, but then again I did not know where this beast came from. He began to claw slowly at my window his sharp, curved claws that still held the skin of his previous victims. I backed away even faster, but I did not leave so as to give him a chance to find a way in. I grabbed a book from my shelf a I decided to read it out loud. I did not know what the book was that I snatched form the 500 books that were on that shelf but I tell you know that the one that was in my hand was worth more to me that day then I could have ever imagined. I opened it and began to read hoping that it would possibly calm me down. "Resist the devil and he shall flee draw near to God and He shall draw near to you." The Bible! Out of 500 books I had to grab the book that could help me the least... well that's what I thought. As I read verse by verse this beast slowly backed off not losing contact with my eyes but I could see a sense of fear struck his countenance. I knew now that this beast was a demon sent on an assignment to kill this child before God could make him into a great man. So I continued to read but along with the reading I prayed. I have never prayed so earnestly in my life as I did that night. the sun rose early that morning but I had not closed my eyes all night I stared that demon down until he retreated completely. I prayed and spoke the scripture to pass with every breath that passed my lips that night. I know that the dusty Bible that sat upon my shelf had never been touched in years. until that night and I had never read so much until that scare came my way. Now I know that God is real! and that he helped me that night. The boy not yet 13 survived that tragic incident, his name is Isaiah. I still talk to him occasionally and pray for him everyday. He is now 20 years of age, out of high school, and doing better then ever. I see so much potential in that child's life. I finished my degree, I didn't become a very good novelist, but I do get to mold young minds. I teach grad 12 English, in the high school that I attended all those years ago. As for the beast that came to destroy us that one fateful night, well I have never seen him since. Praise the Lord! That night is forever printed in my head and I'm sure it is also forever on the mind, spirit and body of young Isaiah. He is a survivor and he continues to spread the joy that God has given him. I learned that night that God is forever faithful, and that no matter how I feel I must always wake up and thank God for another day.
A short story
by Aimee R.M. Condon
On a cold wet dreary day I sat awake in my study, trying to get a little work finished. It was probably ten or eleven at night, I'm not to sure, I was not paying to much attention to the time that ticked above my head. Why you ask, well I was submersed in the reading of a very exciting book... although by my drifting in and out of sleep it might of confused you a little. My study was cold and damp anything could put me asleep in an atmosphere like that. Every word though of that book was written firmly within my memory, by the event that unfolded that night. An event that even to this day scares me to talk about or even read within the pages of a novel of lies spun to scar even the heartless. It is not a story for the faint at heart but a story for only the brave! I was at this time probably in between one world and the other. I knew that I could not hold on very much longer the book was dragging out and the words seemed to get longer. I decided that I was going to head off to bed, once I was done the chapter that my professor told me was due tomorrow at class. I was studying English, I wanted to be the greatest novelist of all time. Although Dickens classics were not totally thrilling I knew that I must read the book. I was almost finished the chapter, a couple of pages away from the end, when I heard a subtle beat like someone was running in the distance. I thought nothing of it, after all I did live in a pretty busy place. As the fire crackled, and the seconds grew into minutes I heard this faint beat grow stronger, and bolder. I peered out my window to see what the commotion was about, when a hand covered in mud and blood dragged across my nice clean window. I ran outside with a mission. Was this man to die on the steps of my house when I knew that I had the ability to save his life? I cried out "Hello!... who's out here? You need any help?" but all I heard was the faint cry of boy not yet 13. A small child that was mangled beyond recognition. I ran and gathered the small mess within my arms and turned to see two red eyes staring back at me. I tell you now It felt like my heart was about to leap from my chest. My feet grew wings and I stumbled in my door just in time... Thud! I heard a small whimper but not a whimper of a dog but that of something that was out to get whatever it could. The whimper shook me a bit but not as much as what came next. A roar, a growl as though this beast emerged from the pit of hell. I could no longer tell if it was but a wolf, or something beyond the grave. I could hear the faint heart beat of this child who's blood now stained my carpet. Life was fleeting from his veins and I no longer knew if I could save his life. He was was more alive then ever, but yet the smell of his death lingered in my nose. Outside the beast was scratching at my door wanting only to devour the life left within this young boy. A chill rolled down my back at the thought for he would surly devour us all if he could.
I took the boy into my study, there was more light so to properly treat this boys wounds. As he lay tiredly upon my desk I knew only what I could not do for this life. I had not the power or knowledge to save this young lad from dying, but I knew of someone who did. So I woke my uncle that slept a floor above and told him of this young man's wounds. He told me to bring him directly upstairs and that is what I did. Now all I could do is pray that this young man recovers his strength and that this beast does not get in. I went to the door and the sound of claws and growling had ceased so I thought that the beast must have returned from whence it came. Hopefully that is what happened. As I began to clean up the mess that surrounded my house now. I heard this gentle tap upon my window. Maybe it was rock, maybe a bird I'm not sure but the tapping did not stop. I crept slowly to my window still shaken from the incident before and as drew the blinds away I saw only darkness... my nerves settled and let out a laugh "For sure the beast is gone now!" The mistake that I made was waiting at that window just staring into the darkness, for without warning something hit my window blood dripped from its fangs and pure hate stung me through his eyes. He was mad! His black fur matted, clumped with mud and the blood of all those that crossed his path. The red that beamed through his eyes struck my heart with fear. I slowly stepped away. The beast stared at me as though to tell me that I got in the way of his prise and now I must die. The hate that beamed through his eyes was nothing compared to the pure evil and death that spewed from his mouth. I could not believe that such an animal existed in this world, but then again I did not know where this beast came from. He began to claw slowly at my window his sharp, curved claws that still held the skin of his previous victims. I backed away even faster, but I did not leave so as to give him a chance to find a way in. I grabbed a book from my shelf a I decided to read it out loud. I did not know what the book was that I snatched form the 500 books that were on that shelf but I tell you know that the one that was in my hand was worth more to me that day then I could have ever imagined. I opened it and began to read hoping that it would possibly calm me down. "Resist the devil and he shall flee draw near to God and He shall draw near to you." The Bible! Out of 500 books I had to grab the book that could help me the least... well that's what I thought. As I read verse by verse this beast slowly backed off not losing contact with my eyes but I could see a sense of fear struck his countenance. I knew now that this beast was a demon sent on an assignment to kill this child before God could make him into a great man. So I continued to read but along with the reading I prayed. I have never prayed so earnestly in my life as I did that night. the sun rose early that morning but I had not closed my eyes all night I stared that demon down until he retreated completely. I prayed and spoke the scripture to pass with every breath that passed my lips that night. I know that the dusty Bible that sat upon my shelf had never been touched in years. until that night and I had never read so much until that scare came my way. Now I know that God is real! and that he helped me that night. The boy not yet 13 survived that tragic incident, his name is Isaiah. I still talk to him occasionally and pray for him everyday. He is now 20 years of age, out of high school, and doing better then ever. I see so much potential in that child's life. I finished my degree, I didn't become a very good novelist, but I do get to mold young minds. I teach grad 12 English, in the high school that I attended all those years ago. As for the beast that came to destroy us that one fateful night, well I have never seen him since. Praise the Lord! That night is forever printed in my head and I'm sure it is also forever on the mind, spirit and body of young Isaiah. He is a survivor and he continues to spread the joy that God has given him. I learned that night that God is forever faithful, and that no matter how I feel I must always wake up and thank God for another day.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Spring!!!
The birds do sing a song to summon the rise.
As flowers slowly reach their peddles to the prise,
Of a bright sunny morning caressing the land.
Clouds come alive!
To dance above the blueish Sky's.
Bubbling, Babbling, laughing among rocks beneath,
Rivers slowly sneaking along the cliffs chattering teeth.
Deer meandering to drink of the mischievous water,
While trees delicately shade the many wonders,
Diving, swimming, flying while the river slowly squanders.
Hope has returned to this God forsaken land.
To see the brilliant colors that dance on the sand,
Life is now here calling the forest to flourish.
The Cold dead hand of the winter's passing,
Life has warmed the heart and cold ceasing.
By Aimee R.M. Condon
As flowers slowly reach their peddles to the prise,
Of a bright sunny morning caressing the land.
Clouds come alive!
To dance above the blueish Sky's.
Bubbling, Babbling, laughing among rocks beneath,
Rivers slowly sneaking along the cliffs chattering teeth.
Deer meandering to drink of the mischievous water,
While trees delicately shade the many wonders,
Diving, swimming, flying while the river slowly squanders.
Hope has returned to this God forsaken land.
To see the brilliant colors that dance on the sand,
Life is now here calling the forest to flourish.
The Cold dead hand of the winter's passing,
Life has warmed the heart and cold ceasing.
By Aimee R.M. Condon
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Happy Easter
"There was no one thing the Apostles were more concerned to produce substantial proof then the resurrection of their master: 1)Because it was that which He Himself appealed to as the last and most cogent proof of His being the Messiah: 2)Because it was upon this that the performance of His undertaking of our redemption and salvation did depend."-Matthew Henry
Today the life of Jesus Christ is probably the most debated and under the most scrutiny then ever before. No event in Jesus Christ is more debated then the fact that He raised from the dead. Christianity, and our salvation as we know it hangs upon whether Jesus rose from the dead. The freedom from sin is not merely the act of death, but ultimately of the conquering of death. The fact that Jesus rose from the dead is what separates us from all other religions. We have a God, the God who is alive. This essay that I am writing is to prove to you that the resurrection really happened and that Jesus is truly the Messiah. "and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins" (1Corinthians 15:17)
First, I would like to start off with the empty tomb. throughout the ages people have been trying to prove that there is no empty tomb even to go as far back as to say that the disciples went to the wrong tomb and that there is another one somewhere that holds the body of Jesus. Which makes you think that if the pharisees were so hard at trying to prove that Jesus never rose that they would point out to everyone to the actual tomb of Jesus Christ. Now, another theory was that the disciples stole the body. This actually began right after the resurrection the soldiers were bribed to say that so that people would not believe the true story. It says in the Bible that the tomb was sealed by a large stone, these stones were often rolled down and inclined track the stones were large, and difficult to move, in order to protect the tomb. Seeing that these stones probably weighed around 2000 pounds, I would like to see the disciples move that stone and not wake the soldiers were even sleeping in the first place. These soldiers were highly trained and conditioned, falling to sleep was punishable by death that's enough to keep anyone awake. This brings me to another point that if we were to say that the disciples were to have taken the body of Jesus we are accusing them of being complete lunatics. Wouldn't the idea of the disciples possessing the non-resurrected body of Jesus put a damper on everyone of them preaching a lie that would eventually cost them their lives and the lives of many friends and family? Somebody would have eventually cracked and admitted that it was all and elaborate hoax. Considering that all the disciples except John were killed for preaching the resurrected Jesus, and Johns adventure on Patmos Island was no vacation either. Along with this the tomb was secured with a Roman seal. Anyone who moved the stone would break the seal which was punishable by death, do you think that any of these men were ready to go through what there master had just gone through? So the tomb must have been empty seeing how we have never been able to find the body let alone any DNA. So if the Empty tomb is not proof enough then we will look t the eye witness accounts. The Bible speaks of Jesus appearing before Mary, as well as the disciples on many occasions, but none are remarkable as the fact that he appeared before five hundred people at one time as is spoken of in 1Corinthians 15:6. Today if there was an event that big we would make sure that it was recorded, and the likeliness of five hundred people seeing the same illusionist the same time is outrageous. There is another encounter of Jesus after His resurrection and its found in Luke 24:32-35 it is the story of the two men on Emmause Road. Jesus traveled for miles with these men speaking of scriptural and spiritual things and then when they found out who He was. He disappeared before their eyes. So as you see there actual recorded events of Jesus appearing after His resurrection. They were not just to the disciples but also to crowds and to weary travelers.
Now that we have talked a little about the resurrection of Jesus and some factors that prove the resurrection we are going to look at the statistical side of it. In the 1950's a statistician named Peter Stoner wrote a book called "Science speaks". In this book he exclaimed the odds of one man fulfilling just 8 of the Messianic prophecies and yet not being the Messiah. Prophecies such as: Messiah is to be born in Bethlehem: Messiah is to proceeded by a messenger: Messiah is to enter Jerusalem on a donkey: Messiah is to be silent before his accusers: and four other documented events prophesied in the Old Testament and completely fulfilled by Jesus Christ. He puts it like this the probability of one man fulfilling 8 of the prophecies and yet not being the Messiah is 1 in 10 to the 17th power.
In conclusion, the world can have their theories as to why Christ did not raise from the dead and we can have our evidences as to why we know that Jesus rose from he dead. When it comes down to it the real proof of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is in followers. The fact that 2,000 years after the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ that same power that delivered men from demons, opened blind eyes and rose our saviour from the dead is still working to this day. It is bringing sinners to life;healing sickness; setting captives free; and inspiring us to preach the message of the Messiah. The power that motivated Peter to say Christ and Him Crucified forty days after denying him. The power that caused Paul to turn from killing to saving. As well as millions of Christians world wide proclaiming His resurrection for the last 2,000 years even if it meant death. God has given us the power to preform miracles and to see the dead raised. Celebrate the day that Christ conquered death. Celebrate the act every day. Be ready to give and answer to everyman that Jesus is risen!
Yours truly
Aimee R.M. Condon
Today the life of Jesus Christ is probably the most debated and under the most scrutiny then ever before. No event in Jesus Christ is more debated then the fact that He raised from the dead. Christianity, and our salvation as we know it hangs upon whether Jesus rose from the dead. The freedom from sin is not merely the act of death, but ultimately of the conquering of death. The fact that Jesus rose from the dead is what separates us from all other religions. We have a God, the God who is alive. This essay that I am writing is to prove to you that the resurrection really happened and that Jesus is truly the Messiah. "and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins" (1Corinthians 15:17)
First, I would like to start off with the empty tomb. throughout the ages people have been trying to prove that there is no empty tomb even to go as far back as to say that the disciples went to the wrong tomb and that there is another one somewhere that holds the body of Jesus. Which makes you think that if the pharisees were so hard at trying to prove that Jesus never rose that they would point out to everyone to the actual tomb of Jesus Christ. Now, another theory was that the disciples stole the body. This actually began right after the resurrection the soldiers were bribed to say that so that people would not believe the true story. It says in the Bible that the tomb was sealed by a large stone, these stones were often rolled down and inclined track the stones were large, and difficult to move, in order to protect the tomb. Seeing that these stones probably weighed around 2000 pounds, I would like to see the disciples move that stone and not wake the soldiers were even sleeping in the first place. These soldiers were highly trained and conditioned, falling to sleep was punishable by death that's enough to keep anyone awake. This brings me to another point that if we were to say that the disciples were to have taken the body of Jesus we are accusing them of being complete lunatics. Wouldn't the idea of the disciples possessing the non-resurrected body of Jesus put a damper on everyone of them preaching a lie that would eventually cost them their lives and the lives of many friends and family? Somebody would have eventually cracked and admitted that it was all and elaborate hoax. Considering that all the disciples except John were killed for preaching the resurrected Jesus, and Johns adventure on Patmos Island was no vacation either. Along with this the tomb was secured with a Roman seal. Anyone who moved the stone would break the seal which was punishable by death, do you think that any of these men were ready to go through what there master had just gone through? So the tomb must have been empty seeing how we have never been able to find the body let alone any DNA. So if the Empty tomb is not proof enough then we will look t the eye witness accounts. The Bible speaks of Jesus appearing before Mary, as well as the disciples on many occasions, but none are remarkable as the fact that he appeared before five hundred people at one time as is spoken of in 1Corinthians 15:6. Today if there was an event that big we would make sure that it was recorded, and the likeliness of five hundred people seeing the same illusionist the same time is outrageous. There is another encounter of Jesus after His resurrection and its found in Luke 24:32-35 it is the story of the two men on Emmause Road. Jesus traveled for miles with these men speaking of scriptural and spiritual things and then when they found out who He was. He disappeared before their eyes. So as you see there actual recorded events of Jesus appearing after His resurrection. They were not just to the disciples but also to crowds and to weary travelers.
Now that we have talked a little about the resurrection of Jesus and some factors that prove the resurrection we are going to look at the statistical side of it. In the 1950's a statistician named Peter Stoner wrote a book called "Science speaks". In this book he exclaimed the odds of one man fulfilling just 8 of the Messianic prophecies and yet not being the Messiah. Prophecies such as: Messiah is to be born in Bethlehem: Messiah is to proceeded by a messenger: Messiah is to enter Jerusalem on a donkey: Messiah is to be silent before his accusers: and four other documented events prophesied in the Old Testament and completely fulfilled by Jesus Christ. He puts it like this the probability of one man fulfilling 8 of the prophecies and yet not being the Messiah is 1 in 10 to the 17th power.
In conclusion, the world can have their theories as to why Christ did not raise from the dead and we can have our evidences as to why we know that Jesus rose from he dead. When it comes down to it the real proof of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is in followers. The fact that 2,000 years after the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ that same power that delivered men from demons, opened blind eyes and rose our saviour from the dead is still working to this day. It is bringing sinners to life;healing sickness; setting captives free; and inspiring us to preach the message of the Messiah. The power that motivated Peter to say Christ and Him Crucified forty days after denying him. The power that caused Paul to turn from killing to saving. As well as millions of Christians world wide proclaiming His resurrection for the last 2,000 years even if it meant death. God has given us the power to preform miracles and to see the dead raised. Celebrate the day that Christ conquered death. Celebrate the act every day. Be ready to give and answer to everyman that Jesus is risen!
Yours truly
Aimee R.M. Condon
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