We are running the Sarnia Short Film Festival here in Sarnia this year on October 6th. 7 minute maximum films need to be submitted by MiniDV or DVD by Sept 24. Submissions from any city will be accepted. A lot of the details are still being figured out, but we wanted to give everyone a head start in getting their film together. There was a press release on Friday in the Sarnia Observer getting the word out and we've already had a few submissions as it is.

I remember the first time I experienced a beggar on the street. It was in Toronto and he looked right at me and my friends, I was around 14 years old and he asked me for money. My first reaction was to give him whatever I had. He looked awful and smelled as bad. I think I remember giving him a buck or two and then walking away in awe that people actually live like that. Since then, I’ve seen, talked to and been around a large amount of those without homes. The amount of beggars that I saw in Europe was mind boggling; from four year old children that didn’t know any English words except “please” to an eighty year old women hovering at the entrance of Notre Dame shaking and crying for anything that anyone could spare. Seeing the amount of people like I did forces one to rethink everything. Yet at the same time it doesn’t take long until you are completely desensitized to those that beg for your money on the street. In fact if you’re like me you probably already have a list of reasons and justifications of why you don’t give to those that beg for money on the streets. The reasons are plentiful like

- they have more money than you do
- once someone saw someone beg for money and then jump in their BMW
- they don’t want to get a job
- they will just buy drugs or booze
- they will waste it
- it doesn’t help them and you are only making the problem worse
- they don’t need money, they need help of some other kind

I am sure you could add more to the list if you’ve spent any time thinking about it at all. I basically have had one of those views listed above as my dominant view to the homeless for the past 8 years or so. This usually caused me to respond to such begging by asking them if they would prefer a burger or some food instead, where I got a positive response half the time and would buy them something to eat or just to walk away from them and try to shake them from my memory. Other times they would only accept money which would just go to prove everything I thought. I say all this until probably the past year. This last year has been one of stretching for me when it comes to the homeless and those who are more economically challenged than myself. Part of it comes from these sets of posts where I thought a lot about the poor and what it means to be with them and among them. I think I’ve done a complete overhaul on my theology of the poor over the past year and more specifically my theology of the poor beggar on the side of the road.

My thinking of the beggar on the street was the most challenged by Dan Oudshoorn and his post on giving to all beggars. He said:

I would encourage Christians to give to all beggars, and I would encourage Christians who donate to charities to refuse the offer of tax receipts.

At first this sounded utterly ridiculous. It sounded irresponsible, being a bad steward, idealistic and unintelligent. Yes I thought all those negative words at one simple sentence. However now I think it reflects a kingdom mentality better than I thought. So hopefully this post can expand a bit on his post here to why I think this is the way of Christ.

Keeping all those reasons that I listed above in mind, there are typically for most people two things that happen when you see a beggar on a street. You either throw some coins their way or you walk past them. Some of us, sometimes but rarely, offer to buy them food, sit to talk to them, build relationships with them, or give them some clothes or a place to sleep that night. But typically the average person (Christian or not) usually does one of those two things. So really what we need to ask ourselves is if you’re not actually going to do what we are supposed to do by giving them clothes or a roof then what is the better option? To walk away or to give them what they are asking for. Because most of us are unwilling to actually work alongside of the poor in any sort of way then I think breaking it down to those two options is probably accurate for us. So the question remains is it better to walk away or to give them what they are asking for. Dan quoted this passage in Luke.

Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again... If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same? If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return... Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
~ Lk 6.30, 32-35a, 36.

So really if they ask we should give. Bottom line, I don’t really see any way out. We constantly put our made up fruits of the spirit of responsibility, being a good steward, being wise in front of our duty to be those that give of ourselves. Our money saturated culture tells us that it is only “good” to give if there are tangible results. I think Christ tells us to give without any results. In fact maybe that’s the only way that the kingdom actually moves forward, giving without expecting or mandating a return of any sort. If we are all giving expecting something to happen or else we stop giving then I can't see us getting very far. The more I understand Jesus the more I understand him to be nonsensical and irresponsible to what we have standardized today.

Now I hear the objections arise, all the same ones that were flying through my own head. But what if they just go buy drugs, aren’t we encouraging the problem? What if they are just lazy and don’t want a job? I think however with every excuse it comes down to us simply not judging ANYONE and giving to EVERYONE. As soon as we assume that someone is doing something (like buying drugs) for whatever reason we have put them in a box and we’ve made our giving conditional on who we think they are. If you are just going to walk away because you think they will be irresponsible in whatever way, this means that you have chosen to judge that person on the street and based on your judgment of someone you’ve never talked to refuse to give them what they are asking for.

With all this said, I don’t think the answer to those that beg on the streets to throw money at them all day long. I don’t think the answer is walking away either. The answer lies in doing what Christ asks us to do by taking care of them and making them part of our lives and relationships. However, if you, like me, aren’t going to do that at any specific moment and you’re going to do one of two things then I suggest you give them what they ask for.

This will be my last post about the trip. We start our trek back to London, England today, sleep at the airport, and then fly out tomorrow morning. It's been a good ride so far but we are both exhausted and missing everyone back home. Especially now since Darryl is engaged!! Paris has been good. We did all the touristy things like see the Eiffel tower, go the the Louvre Museum, see the Notre Dame, other churches and famous buildings. We got really lucky throughout the trip. We saw the Eiffel Tower except it was their version of Independance Day here so there was a half hour long fireworks showed synced with music behind the Eiffel Tower along with probably 120,000 people or so. We got to Notre Dame except there was mass going on so we got to experience mass in French at one of the most famous churches and beautiful churches in the world. Things like this happened our entire trip. Like getting into the Collessium for free because it was some gladiators birthday. Just happen to be going past Pamplona during the one week festival of running with the bulls. Being in Ireland during the one day festival of World Class street performers (post to come later about that). Being in Munich during their big festival called TollWood. I felt like it never stopped working out all trip long. Couldn't have asked or planned a better turnout when its all over. Rachel and I get home tomorrow night and then head off for one or two weeks (yet to be decided) to some cottages up north with her family and then this blog will be back to its regular scheduled programming.

Rachel posted about our 29th day, so I won't. I will post a few pictures of the Eiffel Tower fireworks and such if they turned out later. Rachel also told a story of my Q-tip scandal, which she still hasn't forgiven me for. Mostly because I'm not sorry apparently. Read her post here.

Yesturday I ran with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain. Check out what happened there the day before I did it (just to show you what I was up against.) I didn't find out until after though. We arrived in Pamplona around 5:30 in the morning, and I ran around 8:00. At 7:00 there was still a hardcore show going on at a local bar and the street were full of people, urine, puke and filth. It was quite disgusting so it was good we only spent the day there. This week in Pamplona everyone is dressed in all white with a red bandana tied around their neck. I thought this meant everyone was running, so that gave me some more courage to go. I was wrong. Probably only 200 people or so did it, and me with all my ignorance was one of them. You start in one big mass of people and then they spread you out over the course of the run. The gun sounds and they let the big bull go, then a few seconds later they let the other 6 bulls go. People were running franticly in every direction. The few brave ones were hitting them with newspapers and everyone ran toward the stadium. You are only advised to run a part of the track so that's all I did. Once the bulls passed safely I stopped, walked back to Rachel and then we walked over to the stadium. In the stadium, anyone can go into the area and taunt, wrestle or get gored by the bull. They let out each bull, one by one, and then it precedes to run around chasing whoever can annoy it the most. I didn't get hurt mostly because I had no clue what was going on and I just stayed near a side and jogged happily beside the bulls, but far enough away that I had time to react. until I was tired. If I was to do it again I would have done it a bit different, but either way it was still a lot of fun. The one picture is of me, I'm rockin out the white t-shirt looking through the fence that separated the bulls and me from Rachel and the camera. See the guy between the police and the paramedics on duty. The other picture is the stadium where the crowds taunt the bull and then the bull attacks the, and hurts them. Quite hilarious actually.

You can tell I'm getting frustrated with the foreign keyboards because the letters are all in different places, my posts are a lot shorter. I'm missing my laptop more than ever know. Rachel and I spent two days in Barcelona and tried to keep it chill as possible to avoid any more sickness. We saw the Sagrada Familia, Les Rambles and at to put to rest all curiousity for Rachel we saw the new Harry Potter movie. That was about it. I am getting tired of taking pictures of buildings with construction going on all over it. I know its necessary but basically every main site has cranes, bright orange and workers surrounding it. It was impossible to find good food in Barcelona, it is nothing like the rest of the cities/countries we've been to where we have found restaurants, mini-marts or grocery stores on every street. For this reason alone, I had no problem leaving Barcelona. We did find one good restaurant though thqt was all-you-can-eat, so that helped even it out. Then we were off to Pamplona for the Running With the Bulls.

Yesterday we spent the day in Nice, sitting on the beach (getting a wicked sunburn). We also got bored later at night so we went to see Ocean's 13 in the small little theatre close to the beach. Great and comfortable seats, bad sound but only sat 50 people so it was more like your home. Today we went to Monaco, home of the rich. I thought I was cool because my Dad has a big boat; "fastest boat in Sarnia" he'd tell you. Then I saw these boats and some of these people have their own personal cruise ships. I'd post some pictures but it seems as if my 4gb memory card got some sort of virus on it from one of these Internet cafes, good thing I backed up all the pictures yesterday. They use boats like my Dad's as a lifeboat :) We couldn't get into the main casino cause my attire wasn't approproate. Tie, coat and pants only. So we went to a less famous one and played a little blackjack. We doubled up, then bought lunch and then left. Always good to leave one up on them. Tonight we are off to Barcelona.

There was a change of plans since last post. After I posted Rachl was feeling even worse to we went to the hospital there and got her checked out. They kept her overnight there and ran tests. After everything they think it was an infection of some sort: She had an extremly high fever, pain in her side and chills. They gave her a prescription, but recommended that she stay a few more nights. Not even that will stop Rachel from experiencing her dream trip, especially Paris. So I slept at the train station, and Rachel got the bed. We left last night instead and arrived in Nice this morning. We walked around for a few hours and then went back to our hotel and crashed all afternoon. Woke up, ate some food, then Rachel went back to bed. The beaches here are all rock and no sand, I can't tell if I like it or hate it. Tomorrow we are going to try and go to Monte-Carlo and pay for our entire trip through gambling. Then off to Barcelonia, with a side trip to Pampelona to participate (if I don't chicken out) with the running of the bulls. Then off to Paris before we head back to England to fly home. Rachel is feeling a lot better now and just needs to catch up on her sleep, just so you all know. Thanks for your prayers.

Since the last post Rachel and I have gone to Rome and Florence. Rome was beautiful. It's hard to describe how history that goes back that far makes you feel. The sisteen chapel is beautiful, and the Vatican is one hell of a place. We walked forever to get to the sisteen chapel and probably walked through 20 rooms to get there. Your way there is overloaded with art. Entire rooms from floors to ceilings just covered in beautiful paintings, murals, mosaics. It really makes you wonder where the modern day equivalent of good art is. Why is all famous art like this hundreds of years old? Have we lost our love for art? Here are some thoughts that I had randomlly throughout my days in Rome.

* With the line up going for well over a kilometer. How much does that Vatican make a day in ticket sales. My guess was around a million dollars.

* I really want to see Gladiator again

* I wonder if the Vatican is the modern day 'Den of Theives'

* If I see one more stone statue...

* I wish Italian was English

* I want to eat at an old Italian lady's house

* I feel like a cow (this is because wherever we went, we were herded from room to room, line to line just like cattle would be)

We went from Rome to Florence, dropped off our stuff and took a little trip to Pisa to see the leaning tower. Saw it, took the picture, ate some food and left. Today we spent the day in Florence and saw the David (which I had to sneak the picture)..crazy statue, and probably my favorite museum yet, just because it was small and percise and great explanations of all the art. Rachel has been really sick the last few days, so say a prayer for her if you can. She is currently currled up at the back of the internet cafe taking a nap. Tonight we head off to Nice for a day or two on the beach.

The last two days have been pure travel. Santorini's beach will be missed, here is a picture below. We left Santorini at 10pm on Sunday night and its now 2pm on Tuesday, we don't arrive in Rome until 9pm tonight meaning we have been travelling for the last 48 hours. Ferry from Santorini to Athens, Metro to train station, Train from Athens to Corinth to Patras, ferry from Patras to Bari Italy (where we are now) and then train from Bari to Rome. We slept on the ferry deck twice. I tell you its been one heck of a romantic honeymoon :) It also means I don't have a whole lot of pictures.

The views on the ferry have been spetacular though. We weave our way in and out of random islands to our destination. The island are usually massive clifs lined with homes. The sunsets are beautiful (I tried to capture it on camera, it was difficult) on the boat also and our last boat had a pool on deck, so that was nice. So its sort of a boring post. But I figure were half way through our trip so I may as well post now for everyday.

Rachel and I have been in Santorini, Greece for the past three days.
Santorini is beautiful. The houses are built into the thousand foot cliffs that the island is made up and it is supposed to be home to one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world. We have been relaxing a lot, reading, eating lots of gyros, swimming and enjoying the black sand beaches. We rented a moped yesturday to drive around the island and enjoy the views. We drive along the mountain tops on roads that lie on the edge of the cliffs. Its beautiful. One thing we've noticed about Greece is the abnormal amount of stray dogs. We probably see anywhere between 10-20 a day. They are usually half-dead in some allyway sleeping or scrounging for food. Our hotel here is right on the beach and has been nice to not have to to take an hour of city transportation to get to where we are staying. We went last night to see the all-so-famous sunset, but I think it was a downer of a night because I've seen much better in Sarnia, but I think most of the people there that were crammed in the peak of the island to watch the sunset were equally dissappointed. I've written this post three times now because this internet cafe sucks. It's a nice break in between all of the fast paced travelling we've been doing. Tonight we are back on the ferry and on our way back to Italy. This time its Rome.