Our God is awesome. Consider for a moment the infinite power of our Lord. To partly grasp the issue of the infinite, I am reminded of a Bob Newhart spot about the subject. I'm not sure if it was to … Read more
Archive for September, 1997
A Trail Of Blood
(From my Journal August 28th, 1997) I followed a trail of blood this morning. It took me through the streets of Pictou, each step a horror of whatever had happened during the darkness. I saw the broken window and knew … Read more
I Rejoice In Following Your Statutes
On my first assignment as a supply teacher, I spent the hour before the start of school looking over the various mathematics lessons that I would teach that day. What clever examples I had devised for illustrating the commutative, associative, … Read more
It Makes A Difference
Malcolm Muggeridge had a life changing experience with Mother Theresa. Following her daily routine, Muggeridge asked what difference it made to the world that she was looking after the particular young and dying girl they were looking at. Mother Theresa … Read more
Bonhoeffer Exonerated… What A Pity
If you keep up with the news you'll have noticed that Dietrich Bonhoeffer has been exonerated from the charge of high treason. What a pity! His story of defiance and opposition and finally plotting against Hitler has always been a … Read more
Letter To The Editor
Dear Sir: Times change and so too do community newspapers. I was looking at an old paper from over one hundred years ago. Among all the other items was the sermon from the Kirk Church that week written out in … Read more
Pierced Ears
Rereading this Psalm recently, I was stopped by verse six. "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced …" Some versions used pierced and some use opened. In any case I didn't get the connection. … Read more
Did Jesus Use A Modem?
Did Jesus use a modem? At the Sermon on the Mount? Did He ever try a broadcast fax, To send His message out? Did the disciples carry beepers, As they went about their route? Did Jesus use a modem, At … Read more
The Good In Anger
Anger is not necessarily sin. Anger is not the problem as Jesus cleanses the temple. The problem is what we do with the anger we feel. Jonah had the other kind of anger – the kind that was going to … Read more
Consumed By Anger – Part 2
Being good Calvinists, Presbyterians are not really allowed to be angry, or, if allowed, we are not supposed to show it. Frederick Beuchner had his tongue in his cheek, I am sure, when he wrote: Of the seven Deadly Sins, … Read more
Consumed By Anger – Part 1
In a satirical cartoon a man came home from work after a rough day both tired and exasperated. As soon as his wife said hello, he growled and shouted at her. She turned and yelled at the oldest child, who … Read more
Making "Contact"
In the movie Contact, a search committee decides that the person representing Earth to other life in our universe should believe in God. The courageous heroine of the film, portrayed with all of Jodie Foster's usual intensity, cannot meet that … Read more
Bearers Of The Light
It took more than an hour, but I finally got the window shade brackets securely attached in just the right spot so that my son's room-darkening shade could be hung. It was summer vacation after all, and sometimes even 11-year-old … Read more
The Liar's Corner
After the "Around the Island Boat Race" held in the summer of 1997, from Charlottetown, around Prince Edward Island and back, there was the traditional "liar's corner" at the awards ceremony. This is where all the boat skippers, except the … Read more
There Can Be Joy In Receiving, Too?
Aunt Edna prided herself on her independence. No one was allowed to assist her in the maintenance of her home or even to drive her to and from her dialysis treatments. She was a good and generous person, but absolutely … Read more
Lessons From A Backyard Feeder: Confidence
A family of chipmunks had taken up residence in a hole near the base of the main feeding tray. They seem to enjoy having their food supply on their doorstep. Last summer, while watching a chipmunk dart in and out … Read more
Lessons From A Backyard Feeder: Safe Haven
For over twenty years, birds and other creatures have been coming to the feeders in our back yard. Most of the time, we simply enjoy their amusing antics, but every so often, they have a lesson to teach to us. … Read more
Lessons From A Backyard Feeder: Faithfulness
For over twenty years, birds and other creatures have been coming to the feeders in our back yard. Most of the time, we simply enjoy their amusing antics, but every so often, they have a lesson to teach to us. … Read more
Lessons From A Backyard Feeder: Trust
For over twenty years, birds and other creatures have been coming to the feeders in our back yard. Most of the time, we simply enjoy their amusing antics, but every so often, they have a lesson to teach to us. … Read more
Lessons From A Backyard Feeder: A Good Example
For over twenty years, birds and other creatures have been coming to the feeders in our back yard. Most of the time, we simply enjoy their amusing antics, but every so often, they have a lesson to teach to us. … Read more
The Road To Perfection
What Jesus teaches about the fulfilment of the law is that we are to reach outward, not inward, to find fulfilment. Zen, Transcendental Meditation, yoga, and a host of other spiritual aids miss the mark, just as the law of … Read more
You Don't Have To Be Perfect
Stephen Farris has written a marvellous little book entitled You Don't Have to be Perfect!, and if you've ever been tempted to put yourself down or write yourself off, or label yourself as good for nothing, then I recommend you … Read more
A Clergy Confesses
God, I can't be perfect. I can't even be as good as Jim (my brother), or Jeanne (my wife), let alone Jesus. I can't – I can't lead a life that is without fault, I can't stop sinning, despite my … Read more
Let Your Light Shine
Jesus talks a lot about the light. Hidden light is lost, useless to guide and expose and bring beauty. We are to be a light for the world, friends of Jesus who guide others through the darkness, expose sin and … Read more
Savoury Salt
Scriptures says followers of Jesus are the salt of the earth. That old phrase, the way we traditionally use it, gets only part of the picture. We are to be reliable, dependable, unchanging in our attitude toward Christ, but it … Read more
Good For Nothing
I guess I really don't want to hear that I am supposed to be perfect, yet there is a theme throughout scriptures that points us toward perfection: Now I like the way the New English Bible puts this passage from … Read more
Christians Aren't Perfect
I was given a button by a friend who probably thought I needed it more than she did. It says, Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven. Anybody here perfect? Have you kept all the laws and rules and regulations at your … Read more
Hope In The Lord
If Psalm 130 begins with the author "in the pits", it ends with a call to hope. There are two grounds for this hope. One is God's "steadfast love," God's loyalty to his promises, God's absolute commitment to keep his … Read more
Wait For The Lord
If you're like me, you like quick results. If a committee votes for a certain course of action, by tomorrow I'll want to know why it has not been acted upon. One of the hardest pieces of advice Scripture gives … Read more
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