Lucy opens the scene by saying philosophically: "Life is like a deck chair. Some face theirs backwards and look at where they've been; some face forward so they can see where they are going; and some put theirs sideways so … Read more

Lucy and Linus are home alone and Lucy is looking out the widow, musing that life is a drag. "I'm completely fed up. I've never felt so low in my life". Linus suggests that when you're in a mood like … Read more

One day Charlie Brown is reflecting to Lucy on what a disgrace it is the way she and Linus, her brother, fight all the time. "You're really lucky to have each other. Brothers and sisters should learn to love each … Read more

Do you read Charlie Brown comics? You should. There is more theology in them than in most of the sermons I hear. Lucy, in one Peanuts comic strip for example says: "I love humanity. It's people I can't stand.'" I … Read more

How do we put our religious beliefs into everyday living? How do we practice what we preach? Part of an answer may be found in two paraphrases from the book, How, Then, Shall We Live?, by Wayne Muller. The heart … Read more

Several times throughout the year, our town's ecumenical group of Christians – Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodists, Episcopalians, Baptists, and Catholics – gather for a joint worship service. The hosting church usually provides the liturgy and choir, and a visiting preacher or … Read more

A young woman asks if I have signed up for an upcoming 5K "Fun Run." "Oh, Karen, I'm not a racer; I just chug along for my health." "But how do you know until you try? How can you improve … Read more

Some days are very frustrating. Well, not exactly. It's not so much the day that is frustrating, as it is the development of circumstances. For example: Maybe there is a project you've been wanting to work on for some time. … Read more

Even raised the modern way, sheep seem to be an awfully messy, labour-intensive bother, and I can't imagine why anyone would choose to raise them as an occupation. Indeed, shepherds themselves are at a loss to explain their calling: Now … Read more

In her book, Raising Sheep the Modern Way, British Columbian Paula Simmons presents a nuts-and-bolts explanation of the vocation, including such topics as fences, feeds, lambing positions, parasites, hoof care, shearing, and mutton recipes. Yet even in such a secular … Read more

In his book The Shepherd Psalm, F.B. Meyer refers to "goodness and lovingkindness" as our "celestial escort". Charles Swindoll suggests that these are "God's sheepdogs", ever near His flock, nipping at our heels to keep us in line, on guard … Read more

A shepherd who comes to a new field uproots poisonous plants, searches for evidence of predators, and "prepares" it by pouring thick oil around the viper holes he finds, producing a surface too slick for the vipers to pass over. … Read more

Two things attracted people to Jesus; what he did and who he was. His teaching, healing and miraculous works amazed them beyond measure. At the same time his self-sacrificing love and compassion drew them to himself and held them as … Read more

At a critical time during World War II, Sir Winston Churchill made this urgent appeal to the people of the United States of America, "Give us the tools and we will finish the job." These famous words can be used … Read more

Many thought it was impossible. A committed and dedicated little group believed that with God nothing is impossible. So they prayed and listened. They listened and they prayed. Months went by. Ideas emerged. At last a clear word came from … Read more

The Red River, or "Red Sea" as it is now called, with its flooding of a large portion of Southern Manitoba, Canada, has dominated the news in Canada for the past few weeks. This flood is of particular interest to … Read more

Sheep are virtually defenceless. While most animals have some effective means of defence — sharp claws; teeth; speed; ability to hide; keenness of smell, sight, or hearing; great strength; ferocity — sheep are awkward, weak, and ignorant; their spindly legs … Read more

As teen-age rebellions go, I suppose this one is relatively mild: my daughter finds "our" church boring and prefers to attend worship service at quite a different church. Despite membership and active participation in our town's Ecumenical Council, despite reinforcing … Read more

When joints or muscles ache from too much weekend exercise, I'm fairly quick to realize that my body's trying to tell me something and encourage healing along with the appropriate dose of Ibuprophen, an ice pack or heating pad, rest, … Read more

Oh, but I do want! I want sparkling, riveting words to appear on the computer screen as my fingers press the keys. I want to approach "parent-teacher conferences" with smug confidence rather than fearful apprehension. I want more time to … Read more

Jeanne wrote our own wedding song and it contained the promises we wished to make to bind our lives in life-long commitment. The vows were for husband and wife but grew to include a wider family that has developed over … Read more

I just read an article about the youth of today and the terrible state of their lives. The article lamented that most youth were addicted to computer and T.V. monitors at the least, and to cocaine and marijuana at the … Read more

A hundred years ago people were different. We were raised on the stories of how hard our grandparents worked, especially as children, and we were told to follow in their footsteps. In the Pictou Advocate of November 1895, an editorial … Read more

My first call to the ministry was as assistant pastor to a large suburban congregation. It was not uncommon for us to have 500 people in church on a Sunday morning. Even the gallery was packed. Our Senior Pastor was … Read more

While in Newfoundland with the Atlantic Ecumenical Council, I had opportunity to visit a hermitage which had a resident potter. He displayed for us the creative process that transformed a lump of clay into a wonderful new creation. Just when … Read more

In her book, Look Better, Feel Better, Bess M. Mensendieck, M.D., tells how, in ten minutes a day, to achieve a youthful body and increased vitality – without tiring exercises! To most people their own body is a stranger to … Read more

It is this God revealed in Jesus Christ that invites you today to choose what you will do with this gift called life, and with the time and talent and treasure entrusted to you. This God invites you into an … Read more

It is here, in the Christ, that I come closest to knowing the Creator God, the source of all life and love in the universe, eternal, unchanging, all-powerful. And I am left knowing that the only biographical picture I ever … Read more

The only glimpse ever given of God, except that curious passage when Moses is granted a discrete view of God's back (Exodus 33:18-23), is in the person of Jesus Christ. Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and … Read more

The church has dug deep looking at the why and the wherefore and all the rest regarding God, though I don't think we have ever attempted a biography, such as that of Jack Miles in his book God: A Biography. … Read more

In membership classes we share a prayer which expresses how little we can say about God, a prayer from the St. Andrew's Press, which goes like this: Lord, we are ill at ease in a world we cannot regulate with … Read more