We have been hosting a March Break mission experience called "something completely different" for high school students this week at The Freeway. Twenty students have slept in our basement, engaged in missional/kingdom teaching, worked on neighbourhood projects, created some artwork representing what they saw in our urban neighbourhood, and had some fun bowling, etc.
We have had one of my blogging hero's from the UK staying at our house this week (while speaking at "something completely different"), Gordon Cotterill. Gordon happens to be a Salvation Army pastor who until very recently pastored the oldest SA congregation in the world located in Poplar, UK. He is a great guy... and a bit of a soul mate. We have had some very inspiring conversations... especially late night... while enjoying tea.
Tomorrow is my birthday. I will be thirty-five years old. Holy smokes! I generally don't like my birthdays at all, but I am looking forward to tomorrow because I get to spend the morning speaking on Luke 10:1-12 to the high school students staying at The Freeway, the afternoon getting some work done on a new tattoo (I am getting a coy fish and some background work done on my right arm - yes, the arm that already has 10 tattoos on it), and the evening hanging out with some buddies. Good times.
His name is Mike, and every day he sets out to a new public venue (restaurants, churches, offices, City Hall, etc.) in Hamilton and surrounding area, sets up his video camera, dances by himself and posts his video on YouTube. He has been doing this for nearly a year now... every single day.
365 days. 365 songs. 365 spots in Hamilton.
I love this guy. He is quirky and very cool.
I wanted to share two of his videos below. The first video is of Mike dancing at The Freeway (near the beginning of his year-long dancing journey), and the second is of him dancing at the tattoo shop where I get tattooed, while I am being tattooed (watch closely at the beginning and you will see me).
My friend, Mike Todd, is considering getting a tattoo of Jesus. He mentioned on his blog how much he likes mine. In fact, he called me a "sexy beast". Thanks Mike, you didn't need to say that.
Robert, a regular commenter at Mike's blog, had this to say in the comments section:
"Jesus didn't assume human form to preach a message of universal love and brotherhood, die an excruciating torturous death and redeem all of humankind's sin going back to Adam and forevermore only to have the whole thing commemorated on your ass."
That is golden.
I would add that: Jesus also didn't do what he did so that his followers could sit around on their ass and do nothing, while quibbling about insignificant crap either. But what do I know?
I really love that Rob featured our new [CML] initiative in the short article. The piece is more about what we're doing at The Freeway, than who I am. His wife has apparently been to the coffee house and absolutely loves it, so he thought he should feature what we're doing in his column a little bit.
In the process of being interviewed by reporters as of late, I am learning how important it is to choose my words very carefully. I have a new respect for people who are constantly in the limelight, being interviewed. It is so easy for what you say to be misconstrued sometimes. Even what is chosen to be printed among all that you say, is quite interesting. It seems that reporters often have in mind what story they are looking for, and they shape the content to make you fit. And sometimes they don't even tell the truth... imagine that. This will all be a good learning process for me, I am sure. Part of me wants to never speak to the media again, but I know that our story at The Freeway is an important one that we need to tell, so I will simply need to learn this new skill.
I was featured in an article [along with a few others] written by Jennifer Hollett [of MuchMusic fame] in The Toronto Star today about religious tattoos. My mom will be so proud!
And even though I am misquoted a couple times, it's a pretty good article. It is funny though what - out of a two and a half hour interview - they decide to print. And even though I know I am likely opening up a can of worms with the fundies who frequent my blog... you can read the article here if you are interested.
Jennifer Hollett was very nice and a terrific interviewer. I used to really like her on MuchMusic too.
Busy with busy stuff: Life has been mundanely, insanely busy as of late for the most part. Not much to report though really. I have simply hunkered down and worked away at stuff for the past few weeks.
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February blues: I friggin' hate February. Blah. I can't wait for March. I don't why I am always sad in February, but I am.
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The new series at The Freeway: January was "Generosity" month, February is "Everyday Jesus."
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Too hip to be square: I went to The Tragically Hip concert with Dave this week. Good times. But I am getting too old for concerts.
*** You like that rock 'n' roll kids? I am playing drums in a brand spanking new band... and I am very excited about it. I will tell you more when we finish getting our website together [soon]. Needless to say "I need more cowbell."
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A work in progress: I got some more tattoo artwork done this week. A Celtic swirl [spirit] and a Celtic triquetra [trinity].
I have a couple more pieces to go on this arm, and then some background work. I hope to be done this arm by this summer.
The Old Bill has tagged me. What a guy. He says: "It's childish, I know, yet for some reason irresistible. Like passing notes in junior high." Well, if that's true, I can only assume that he's either sweet on me or helping me cheat on a test. In any case, in the spirit of continuing the note passing, here are five things you probably don't know about me and then five people I want to tag:
I got another tattoo yesterday. While some people around here know that, not many have seen it. It says "shalom". Here's a pic:
I have three more tattoos booked for January 3rd - two stars representing the two children we lost earlier this year, and my wifey's name.
When I was in theatre school [1990-1993], I auditioned for a part in a professional theatrical production in Toronto. I got the lead role, but never performed in the production. I chickened out.
I got lost in Algonquin Park when I was 19 years old. I was camping with a few friends, got lost, freaked out, found my way back after 9 hours of being lost. While wandering through the wilderness, I said the classic "God, get me out of this and I'll do whatever you want." Here I am a pastor. I am a man of my word, I guess.
When I went to my high school prom, I was dancing in my tux [people used to call me "elastic band boy" because of my unorthodox dancing style] and I split my pants in the crotchal region. It was no small tear either. Very embarrassing.
When I asked my wife to marry me [in the ravine beside Tyndale where we first kissed] I cried like a baby. I was shaking like a leaf, felt sick to my stomach, and super-emotional. She still said "yes" because... well, because she couldn't resist my charms obviously.
I am Pernell Goodyear. I live in a beautiful old house in downtown Hamilton, Ontario with my wife Margaret - who was my college sweetheart - and our three great kids: Samantha, Lucas, and Jacob... and our miniature schnauzer, "Bear."
I am a pastor at a church I started in 2002 called The Freeway. I am also a founding leader at Resonate, a director of a training centre for Allelon, and a member of the TrueCity network.
