Dude perfection; 3 Movie quotes for Carney; BC is MAiD crazy

3 Things this week and a poem from my recent contest

Happy August long weekend, fellow Canadians! I hope you're enjoying some rest. Thanks for spending some time with Things I Wrote Down.

Here's this week's link round up and a poem from my recent poetry contest that received an honourable mention.

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Dude perfection

They have over 60 million YouTube subscribers. Close to 20 billion video views. More fans and sponsor deals than you can count. But the thing that matters to them most? Jesus.

It was wild to see thousands of kids and their parents have a night of fun in Grand Rapids for a stop on the Dude Perfect Hero Tour.

The stunts, dry ice ray gun, and Rage Monster were a blast! What was truly inspiring was witnessing the Dudes pray for kids and families. During their encore, they shared the best thing they ever did, the thing that makes it all work: Him.

It was special to be there in person to see how Compassion International showed up on the tour with the Dudes and to hear all five of them share why they support Compassion's mission to release children from poverty.

Same reason: Jesus.

I know that next time I watch one of their viral videos, whether they moonwalk on the actual moon or sink a basketball from a helicopter that's on fire, it'll be with even more respect.

BC is MAiD crazy

Fast food restaurants face more oversight and repercussions for poor service than BC's MAiD regime.

You can't make this stuff up!

We're talking about doctors literally ending patients' lives and the BC medical system would rather not deal with real, systemic problems because it could discourage more killing and dying.

A new report by BC Catholic news reveals truly shocking details of the lack of oversight of euthanasia providers and their live and let die approach to governance.

The shocking, damning revelations reveal the lax nature of Canada's euthanasia regime.

If you think it's all about dignity, safety, and care, think twice about the procedure, especially in British Columbia.

Outtakes from the BC Catholic report

🚨 Read this report 👇🏻

3 Movie quotes for Carney

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney made a late night X post this week to respond to the tariffs imposed by the US on Canada after failing to reach any sort of agreement.

When I read the statement, the first thing that came to mind was a quote from one of my favourite films, The Interpreter:

Disappointed? That's a lover's word. What about rage?

~ Sean Penn as Tobin Keller, The Interpreter

Here are three movie quotes that could help Carney up the ante of his messaging and take it to another level.

1. Matt Damon's "Insane Courage" quote from We Bought a Zoo.

Quote: "Sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage, twenty seconds of embarrassing bravery."

Why it works: Carney could demonstrate his passion for his country, with a risk. It could be a defining moment in his political life and the future of Canada. It would signal he doesn't just sit on the sidelines and passively watch every other nation dance with the tariff king, but knows how to make a move.

2. Ian McKellen's famous moment confronting the Balrog on the Bridge of Khazad-dum in LOTR.

Quote: "You shall not pass!"

Why it works: It would show that Carney cares for the little people (the Hobbits of the world who face high taxes, job loss, high grocery prices, etc), and that he'd go to the gates of hell to do something about it, even putting his own political life on the line to face a foe. Don't be "disappointed," get lit.

3. Hugh Grant's famous "News Conference" quote in Notting Hill.

Quote: "What if, uh, Mr. Thacker realized that he had been a daft prick and got down on his knees and begged you to reconsider if you would... indeed... reconsider."

Why it works: Carney could admit he made mistakes and embrace that being right is sometimes second to getting along. He has legit reasons to spurn the affections of his best friends, the star-powered Americans. But letting the bigger personality be the bigger star, and riding shot gun on this wild ride can give him all the things he ever wanted anyway.

Not much else is working, so why not try the wisdom of the movies?

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Poem

Each week I share a poem with my link round up, and I've been enjoying sharing entrants to my recent poetry contest. Here's an Honourable Mention from the First Ever TIWD Poetry Contest

Suppose
…encourage one another and build each other up … 
-1 Thess. 5:11

Suppose a house upon a hill
Has stood through many a storm.
Suppose its clapboards are battered
Its shutters crooked and worn.
The yard is littered with shingles,
The chimney missing a brick.
You can't even see one window is cracked
The dust on the glass is so thick.

And suppose the One who built that shack
Has sent you just this way
With hammer, nails, shingles, bricks
To be His hands today.
          To straighten a shutter
                     Paint a door
Fit a brick in place.
          Gather up shingles
                  Sweep the floor
And be His means of grace.

If encouragement was a hammer
Kind words a nail or two,
Could you say “no” to such as He
Who gave His life for you?

About Karina Herbel

Karina Herbel is daughter to parents who led her to her Savior, sister to her nine best friends, and aunt to a growing number of nieces and nephews. She thinks way more than she speaks, and those thoughts most often find expression on the written page. She tries to capture a portion of her Creator's beauty through every form of art she can, while enjoying His love and the relationships and adventures He sends along the way. Her desire is to ignite a passion in others to pursue Him for themselves through the skill He’s given her fingers. Follow her on Substack.