Ode to the Broken is a groundbreaking combination of personal testimony and soul-stirring artistry. Soli Deo Gloria Ballet welcomes Mercy Hope as the speaker for this production. Mercy speaks from her background of poverty and domestic abuse to the incredible healing power of God. The dance portion of the production features the dramatic choreography of Soli Deo Gloria Ballet’s Carolyn Currey, along with readings by Rachel Starr Thomson. Ode to the Broken is a truly life-changing production that delves deep into brokenness and, especially, the healing that is found in the love of God. This production is uniquely suited for community outreach, ladies events, and parachurch ministry of various kinds.

• “Ode to the Broken” Tour. This February, we are teaming up with inspirational speaker Mercy Hope to explore the themes of human brokenness and redemption. We’re expecting “Ode” to be one of our most powerful ministry tours. The production will be touring Ontario and the southern U.S. during the Lent season, February-March. We are currently taking bookings and finishing choreography. Please keep this tour covered in your prayers–for impact, safety for the performers, and smooth logistics for performing in the U.S.

• Summer Camp! Yes, we know, it’s not nearly summer yet. But we are in the beginning stages of planning for this year’s SDG Arts Camp, including lining up speakers and workshop presenters and booking a beautiful new venue (if possible). The camp will be open to dancers of all levels from beginner to advanced, ages 9-18, and will run for the week of August 6. If you would like promo materials to give out at your church, homeschool group, school, etc., let us know!

This morning I read John 15:9-12

As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept the Father’s commandments, and abide in his love . . . This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

This isn’t works-based favour with God. It’s about living within a relationship instead of running away from it. The Prodigal Son didn’t lose his father’s love when he left home, but he certainly didn’t abide (dwell) in it. In the same way, if we want to dwell in Jesus’ love, living in close communion with Him and experiencing daily relationship with all its benefits, we need to keep His commandments.

What commandments, specifically? He pinpoints one: “Love one another, as I have loved you.” Elsewhere Jesus calls this commandment a “new commandment.” And it is, because it is not quite the old commandment from the law that we remember — “Love thy neighbour as thyself.” No, this is different. This is a call to love each other as, in the same way, with the same passion Jesus does.  Self-love is no longer our reference point; Jesus is.

In the very next verse He defines this kind of love in a way that leaves no room for watering down:

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Jesus’ call to relationship goes two ways. He calls us to abiding relationship with Him by way of relationship with each other — and to relationship with each other by way of His love.

I think it’s also significant that the verse doesn’t say “a man lay down his life for his wife,” or his children, or his parents, his nation, his cause, his master or king. In all of those relationships there’s a sense of duty and obligation, and in some cases of instinctive devotion (like that of a mother for a child). A secret service agent may lay down his life for the president, but love isn’t necessarily the driving force. But friendship is completely voluntary. There is no obligation in it — it’s love we freely choose. To lay down one’s life for a friend shows real love. And that’s the love Jesus is calling us to live by.

Yesterday a parcel was dropped off for us… the shipment of 2012 calendars has arrived!

We’ll have them at our table during the Christmas 2011 tour, but if you want to order one early (just in case they all sell out at the first venue…), you can stop at our Online Store and pick one up now.

We had a fabulous time shooting these pictures – some of them are from performances from this past year: (Easter – Ottawa tour), but most of them are by Deborah Thomson of Figgie Photography. Whether she’s photographing families or weddings or dancers or shoes, she always does a tremendous job. Check out her blog here - you’ll be in for a treat!

To all our hosts and new friends, thank you so much! We’ve loved getting to know you and hope to see you again soon!

To all our family, friends, and prayer warriors back home… we’re on our way! Can’t wait to see you!

God with me protecting
The Lord with me directing
Spirit with me strengthening
Forever and evermore
Ever and evermore
Amen
Chief of Chiefs
Amen

In New Minas, after we performed, an African gentleman came up to me and asked, “Why did you use the words ‘Chief of Chiefs’”?

I explained that in a Scottish context, it was another way of saying “Lord of Lords.” He told me that the words had brought a surge of joy to him when he heard them, because in Africa, God is also called “Chief of Chiefs.” For a few minutes when he heard those words, he felt like he was at home again.

To me, our brief conversation was a picture of God’s ideal for His church: one of unity in diversity. In Christ, all of the God-created diversity in our world is brought together in one faith, one truth, one Spirit. In a way, I think the coat Jacob gave to his favoured son Joseph–a coat of “many colours”–was a picture of the church.

And it is a beautiful thing to see .

We just received an email to let us know a former venue (Kings Presbyterian, New Minas, NS) uploaded our performance onto youtube. So here it is live: A Celtic Prayer.

After the service we headed down to Windsor, Nova Scotia to visit relatives and somehow ended up in an impromptu performance at a local seniors complex. Also a blessing and we got to sit in on a great sermon: you’re never too old to do the Lord’s work. If He hasn’t called you home yet, you’re still here to be used by Him. So no sitting around!

Charlottetown, PEI is our next venue but for the next four days we get a little bit of a break to roam the Atlantic coasts. Pictures soon…

We had some crazy, crazy rain on the backwoods highways of Halifax. The ruts in the road were full of water and our car started to hydroplane a bit, which never makes the driver (Carolyn) very happy. God is watching over us though: we prayed that the rain would stop and it went from a downpour to a slight mist within 30 seconds. So we made it safely to Peggy’s Cove…

And the ocean:

Loving the warm welcome from the Maritimers! You people have truly mastered the art of hospitality. 

Bonus today – we drove past the Moncton hospital and lo! The prayer group with 40 Days For Life was out there on the sidewalk. It was like seeing old friends. We’re praying for and with you!