Dancing With Dynamite

Tim J Huff

Description

The winner of the 2011 Grace Irwin Award for Best Christian Book of the Year. In the follow-up to his best-seller Bent Hope: A Street Journal, Tim Huff invites readers to join him on a soulful journey into a variety of worlds that most people would describe as painful, awkward, peculiar and sometimes even ugly; the very places where celebration happens least, but matters most. Dancing with Dynamite explores the unlikely triumph of the human condition when it’s realized for its splendor, rather than its frailties. Ultimately, it’s a book about the godly art of acceptance, the miraculous impact of kindness, and the joy of truly belonging

Informations

• Publié par: Castle Quay Books
• Date de parution: 15 juin 2008
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781894860666
• Langue: English

Extrait

Dancing With Dynamite: Celebrating Against the Odds
Copyright ©2010 Tim Huff
All rights reserved
Printed in Canada
International Standard Book Number: 978-1-894860-49-9 (paperback edition)
International Standard Book Number: 978-1-894860-66-6 (electronic edition)

Published by:
Castle Quay Books
1307 Wharf Street, Pickering, Ontario, L1W 1A5
Tel: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
www.castlequaybooks.com

All illustrations by Tim Huff
Copy edited by Janet Dimond
Cover design by THINKHOUSE COMMUNICATION DESIGN
Printed at Essence Publishing, Belleville, Ontario

Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are from the New King James Version of the Bible. Thomas Nelson Publishers ©1984, 1982, 1980, 1979 • Scriptures marked NIV are from The Holy Bible, New International Version . Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form without prior written permission of the publishers.

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Huff, Tim, 1964-
Dancing with dynamite : celebrating against the
odds / Tim Huff ; foreword by Jean Vanier ; benediction
by Sue Mosteller.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-1-894860-49-9
1. Social problems. 2. Social advocacy. 3. Social acceptance.
4. Compassion. 5. Kindness. 6. Hope Exchange (Toronto, Ont.).
7. Huff, Tim, 1964-. I. Title.
HN110.T6H83 2010 362'.042 C2010-906163-2
Author’s Acknowledgements

Having created author’s acknowledgements sections twice before (for two previous Castle Quay Books releases), I have come to recognize three very pertinent matters. First as far as I’m concerned, this is the most difficult part of the book to write. Second these sections are akin to a time capsule, one that identifies relationships, new and old, as they stand in the moment. This is both a very complex and intriguing matter. Third just as I ponder in one of this book’s chapters, for everything there is seemingly a proverbial “line in the sand” that must be drawn. To that end, for this book I have entered into this section of thanksgiving needing to draw that line at people who have inspired and encouraged me directly regarding, and for, this book project and over the season it unfolded. The list of those I love and admire surely transcends this.
There is no greater gift than the opportunity to thrive in a household of love and laughter. To my lovely wife, Diane, and my awesome children, Sarah Jane and Jake you are complete joy to me and cherished endlessly.
My earnest thanks to Larry Willard at Castle Quay Books Canada, not just for being an excellent publisher, but for being a true gentleman and a true friend. My heartfelt thanks to Janet Dimond, for both her professionalism and thoughtfulness with all of the material as the book’s editor and for her kind encouragement to me. Likewise to Marina Hoffman at Castle Quay Books Canada for her hard work and support.
As always, a very special thanks to my dear friend and associate Julia Beazley, for her excellent work, creativity and faithfulness to a myriad of ongoing endeavours and the entire Dancing With Dynamite project. And most of all for her wonderful friendship.
There are no words that do justice to what’s felt when Jean Vanier’s words grace your book. And that they do so generously is simply and outright overwhelming. Jean, I am so humbled.
The only honour grander than having the sweet words of Sister Sue Mosteller shared as your benediction is knowing her as a sacred friend, advisor and confidante. Thank you, my very dear friend.
Once again, my very humble thanks to Terri and Miller Alloway and family and the Maranatha Foundation and Lightworks, for standing with me and supporting me in so many ways, professionally and personally and always so thoughtfully over many years and throughout many projects, including the writing and release of this book.
I could write on and on about how much Lori and John McAuley’s friendship and support have meant to me personally and to my entire family. Individually, and as a couple, Lori and John have blessed me with unlimited friendship, care and grace. “Thank you” is far from enough.
My deepest gratitude to Debbie and Don Morrison for sharing incredible measures of generosity by way of support, hospitality, counsel, encouragement, laughter and friendship.
Great thanks to my dear friends Joanne and Gary Scullion for all the ways you have shared your kindness, enthusiasm and imagination for new and exciting things to come.
To Laura Jane and Gord Brew: Together you (and Thinkhouse Design) are a creative force that is unmatched, and individually you are uniquely to be celebrated. And that I do. Thank you for the countless ways you stay with me.
I would be remiss not to mention my great thanksgiving for the kindness, friendship and generosity of The Honourable Hilary M. Weston over a great many years. Such an honour.
Always, I’m so thankful for the many years of excellent leadership and visioning I have known serving with John Wilkinson, the executive director of Youth Unlimited (Toronto YFC). Beyond that great honour, John and Trish have also been faithful and dear friends and encouragers.
Along with the aforementioned Lori McAuley, Sister Sue Mosteller and John Wilkinson, five others round out an eight-person group that faithfully stands by me as a personal wellness and advocacy team praying for me, listening to me, advising me and graciously cheering me on. These extraordinary brothers and sisters are Steve Bell, Annie Brandner, Alan Davey, Sharon Gernon and Greg Paul. I’m endlessly thankful to, and for, each one.
To my mom and dad (Arlene and Liv) I never get over wanting to make you proud of me, because I’m always so proud of you. Likewise, I’m blessed with the love and support of my brothers (Liv Jr. and Dan) and their very dear families, as well as Diane’s family (Keith Johnson, Linda Revie and the boys, and Barbara Ward and kids).
It’s an anxious thing to allow your raw written words into the hands of others at any time, but even more so just as you are first processing them. The sounding board provided by these exceptional friends as they received first drafts of the unedited manuscript was vital for me. To these people, whom I trust implicitly, admire and love, know that each of you is so uniquely and greatly appreciated by me: Cheryl Bear-Barnetson and Randy Barnetson, Nanci Bell, Karen Clausen-Dockrill, Cathy Dienesch, Michael Frost, Adrienne Grant, Alan Hirsch, Mike and Jodi Janzen, Sarah Lester, Angela Porter, Bill and Shanan Rice, Sherri Spence and Brenda Tennant.
It’s not simple, especially in a book that is ultimately about coming together, to succinctly list the communities that have shaped me personally. Any and all that you find mentioned in the chapters you read have my utmost respect and admiration. But again, there are special communities filled with very personal friendships that are impossible for me to miss mentioning here: Bob Rumball Associations for the Deaf, Daily Bread Food Bank, Frontlines, Hockey for the Homeless, Impact Romania, L’Arche Daybreak, the National Roundtable on Poverty and Homelessness and the many Street Level agencies and associates across Canada, Weston Park Baptist Church, World Vision, and YFC chapters across Canada, the US and worldwide.
Thank you to the incredibly devoted Light Patrol staff and volunteer team, the entire Youth Unlimited (Toronto YFC) staff and board, as well as the many supporters individuals, families, churches and businesses who have stood with me in countless ways for so many years.
One of the great honours that has been mine has been to share in bridging partnerships that some people would not anticipate. The Muskoka Woods leadership team and staff have been an extraordinary encouragement and inspiration to me and my entire family, and to many of my co-workers and colleagues. A wonderful gift!
It is virtually impossible to travel the road I have chosen (or found myself wandering on) without the refuge of supportive voices. Thank you to those who very specifically and faithfully chose to encourage me during the hectic season of my life running parallel to the writing of this book: Brett Andrews, Keith Bagg, Tina and Mike Barlow, Cynthia Barlow-Odorizzi, Sue and Dave Bolender, Paul Brandner, Carol Brown, John Cassells, Karen Chambers, Dale Cheslock, Colleen Clarke, Lydia Clinton, David Collison, Alison Cooper, Natalie Davey, Rebecca Davey, Marianne Deeks, Jocelyn Durston, Andrea Earl, Teres Edmonds, Cheryl and John Frogley-Rawson, Mieke and Dave Geldart, Kristy Grisdale-Opoku, Sandra Groves, Bob and Jan Fukumoto, Pamela and Brian Hanford, Mel Hems, Suzi Higgins, Julie and Steve Hill, Denise Holland, Lori Holtam-Weedon, Annette Jones, Sue and Mark Kocaurek, Clark Kostik, Andy Levy and my friends at Mastermind Educational, Jennine and Bruce Loewen, Gail and Bill Masson, Ron Melanson, Sarah McKenzie, Dawn Curnew-Millar, John Mohan, Allison and Jacob Moon, Carl Nash, Pat Nixon, Scott Oake, Madolyn and Mark Osborne, Dion Oxford, Dorothy Patterson, Shannon Peck, Pauline and Ron Peneycad, Heather Ploeg, Gino Reda, Paul Robertson, Mary-Jean and Bob Rumball, Shelley and Derek Rumball, Diana Schwenk, Fay and Don Simmonds, Ingrid Smith, Iona and Rob Snair, Scott Snider, Glen Soderholm, Carolyn Solby, Rick Tobias, Lori Ward, Donna-Lee and John Waymann, Haidee and David White, Linda Wisz, Collette and Lino Zecca, and my band buddies in Outrider (Pete Bowman, Steve Kennedy and John Russell).
Finally, this book is dedicate