My Spiritual Suitcase

"Quick! Bring the best robe  and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger  and sandals on his feet.   Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate." This is the parable of the lost son, when a son left his father and his family to pursue his own wants, only to find that nothing satisfies. He finally comes to himself and turns back to go home as his father anxiously waits and greets him upon his return, preparing only the best for him. This parable popped in my head yesterday when I got home from school. Although I hadn't sinned against my family, or done anything wrong, every time I come home, they prepare me my favourite food, they prepare all the best things for me, excited for my return. I don't expect or ask for any of it, but yet every time it happens. It reminds me of how blessed I am, and the endless love my family showers on me. It only gets better because it parallels exactly with our heavenly Father's love, how he loved us

Over the past 24 hours, I had the opportunity to go down to Hamilton, Ontario and attend the Act Like Men Conference with a group of ACF Men who I really admired. Their spirituality, their strength and maturity and their love of God has captivated me since I walked in last September as a first year. Coming to this conference, I really didn't have any thoughts about it until we got to the stadium, hearing the roar, and seeing the gathering of thousands of men who love God; that's when it really sank in. This conference was jam-packed, with six sessions from five different speakers in less than 24 hours with worship in between, there was a lot I experienced and a lot I learned. First was worship. Something about the worship at the conference was so different. It was transforming and it was so freeing. I found Vertical Church Band's music to be very simple, from easy to follow melody-wise, to the straight-forwardness in the lyrics. "glory glory hallelujah you threw