Rob & Martine Karch

Switching to a New Blog Home

2009-01-19T19:52:00Z

We've decided to switch blog homes. Our new blog can be found here : http://movementquebec.wordpress.com/ Why did we decide to switch? Wordpress is a lot easier to use Commenting on this blog can be difficult (with the exception of one genius... Cam). So instead of someone commenting on the blog, I recieved e-mails stating how frustrated they were in not being able to comment. To jump out of a blogging sidestream into the blogging mainstream We hope to see you over there soon! -Rob, Martine,...(read more)

A New Look?

2009-01-12T20:06:00Z

Martine and I try to frequent the same places, both individually and as a couple… in order to build long-term relationships with eternity in mind. As I sat down at Prêsse Café not far from our place the owner came up to me and asked “So, a new look for 2009?”, referring to my beard. His name is Kevin, his brother’s name is Jimmy (they are co-owners and both from Cambodia). It’s pretty cool that even though we are not here all the time, we have enough of a relationship with the owner that he would...(read more)

Howell Harris' Conversion

2009-01-11T05:09:00Z

Here's a look into his personal diary as he recounts his conversion (from the book George Whitefield , by Arnold Dallimore) What fascinated me is the fact that his assurance of forgiveness of sins came from his conversion experience and not from any kind teaching: I was receiving pardon on account of that blood. I lost my burden; I went home leaping for joy! I knew that my sins were forgiven: Oh blessed day! Would that I might remember it gratefully evermore! ... All thoughts of human applause...(read more)

Video: Wingsuit Base-jumping (this is insane)

2009-01-09T13:19:00Z

I've just added this as one of my pointless but fun life-goals: Hit: Justin Buzzard wingsuit base jumping from Ali on Vimeo ....(read more)

Charles Wesley: the most emotionally arduous personal conversion story I have ever read

2009-01-08T15:37:00Z

I have never met anyone who sought Christ as ardently as Charles Wesley did prior to his conversion. From the pen of Arnold Dallimore in his phenomenal biography of George Whitefield : The Wesleys were not men to do anything by half-way measures, and, spurred on by their fear of being eternally lost, they made their search for faith the passion of their lives. Charles, grasping for any straw of help, refused the comfortable surroundings of the reverend John Hutton's home in Westminster, and went...(read more)

Adopting Orphanages for Christmas

2009-01-06T21:17:00Z

This Christmas our church in St Jérôme adopted two orphanages that our good friends Titus and Stephanie Folden work with. We placed names and photos of each child on a table and each child was "adopted" by someone. In all, around 60 gifts were sent to Guayaquil, Ecuador from Quebec. Here is the result as the children opened their gifts (clicking will open a new window): Is that amazing or what?...(read more)

2008 in Photos

2008-12-31T20:59:00Z

Every corner of the globe endured events of historic proportions, even as soccer, surfing, and polar bears served to arouse smiles. I ran into this breathtaking 120 photo anthology of 2008 over at the Boston Globe (via Steve McCoy ). Here are a few samples: Lightning bolts appear above and around the Chaiten volcano as seen from Chana, some 30 kms (19 miles) north of the volcano, as it began its first eruption in thousands of years, in southern Chile May 2, 2008. Cases of electrical storms breaking...(read more)

Videos: Declaring the Glory of God in HD

2008-12-27T13:37:00Z

I recently ran into the somewhat new Vimeo HD . There are some amazing videos of artistic depictions of nature, the changing of the seasons, and other things. Sure, you've gotta use discernment, but check out these and see if the heavens do indeed declare the Glory of God: Eclectic 2.0: Earth, Water, Sky from Ross Ching on Vimeo . When the Snows Fall from Paul Frederick on Vimeo ....(read more)

Merry Christmas from Québec!

2008-12-24T13:30:00Z

Within the next few days I'll post photos from our church's Christmas banquet where around 110 people attended... 15-20 who do not yet know Jesus Christ! But for now, Merry Christmas from the Karch family and our two official spokespeople! We pray that your Christmas is joyous and centered on the birth of our Savior as He took the first steps toward Golgatha. in Christ, Rob, Martine, Caleb, Constance...(read more)

Photo: Over a Foot of Snow Sunday

2008-12-22T16:15:00Z

Over a foot of snow fell Sunday afternoon. Here's a photo from La Presse near the Old Port of Montreal. This must have been taken during the storm as we don't see a whole lot of accumulation yet:...(read more)

Video: Matthew's Begats to Music

2008-12-22T15:47:00Z

Hit: Justin Taylor...(read more)

Video: Sunday morning in St Jérôme

2008-12-19T12:29:00Z

Here's an inside look at the end of one of our Sunday morning services in St Jérôme. Jacob is finishing up one of his sermons, and we have a great view of the congregation, as well as the room we are renting. If you are ever up visiting Montreal, you are more than welcome to visit us at 10am on Sunday, at 712 rue St Georges!...(read more)

Intoxicating Addictiveness

2008-12-18T16:56:00Z

No, this is about being distracted, fleeing peace, constant noise. Here's Don Carson's (who was born and raised in Québec) take: D. A. Carson : Scarcely less important than speed of access is the Internet's sheer intoxicating addictiveness–or, more broadly, we might be better to think of the intoxicating addictiveness of the entire digital world. Many are those who are never quiet, alone, and reflective, who never read material that demands reflection and imagination. The iPods provide...(read more)

They're Everywhere...

2008-12-10T13:31:00Z

I ran into a "King-James-Only" French-speaking quebecker last week. He aspires to begin an English-speaking church in St Jérôme aimed at French-speakers... thereby allowing them to use the "Authorized Version" (that's right, converts will have to learn English in order to participate in this church). This particular fellow became a Christian as he sojourned near the U.S.-Mexican border. His crusade now is to bring the "real" Bible to Quebec. Somehow, I doubt that...(read more)

Broken Hearts and Tear-Filled Eyes

2008-12-06T12:28:00Z

I am beginning the two-volume biography of George Whitfield by Arnold Dallimore. His intention expressed: Yea, this book is written in the desire--perhaps in a measure of inner certainty--that we shall see the great Head of the Church once more bring into being His special instruments of revival, that He will again raise up unto Himself certain young men whom He may use in this glorious employ. And what manner of men will they be? Men mighty in the Scriptures, their lives dominated by a sense of...(read more)