This will be my 303rd post since I began blogging 15 months ago. I believe it’s time to reflect on why I am doing this and where I’m going with it. My original intentions were threefold: 1) to be a witness of the old Anabaptist faith in an era when the Christian faith no longer … Continue reading A Closer Walk
Stories from my life
Courtesy
Courtesy and courtship are derived from the same root word and both convey the idea of trying to please someone else. All other things being equal, the business that will thrive is the one that greets and serves its customers with genuine warmhearted courtesy. On a trip some years ago, we stopped for gas around … Continue reading Courtesy
Things that I know about mental illness
1. I know that mental illness sometimes has external causes. One common example would be SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) a usually mild form of seasonal depression caused by reduced hours of sunshine in winter. In the area where I live there are 17 hours between sunrise and sunset at the summer solstice and only 7 … Continue reading Things that I know about mental illness
Heat: physical and spiritual
We are sweltering in a heat wave here, with temperatures up to 32° with a humidex of 35°. (That translates into 90° & 95° for those still using Fahrenheit.) I realize that many readers might even consider those temperatures cool for this time of year. But I live in Saskatchewan where we haven't had a … Continue reading Heat: physical and spiritual
Pet Therapy
But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. And … Continue reading Pet Therapy
I am not a dog lover
Up until I was nine years old my parents had a black and white collie named Penny. He was the only dog I ever really loved, a constant companion in my wanderings over the hills and valleys of our southern Saskatchewan farm, and my protector. Later on we had a fox terrier named Trixie. She … Continue reading I am not a dog lover
We wrestle not against flesh and blood
My father was usually a kind and considerate man, very much in earnest about Christian life. However, he had an explosive temper, and each time he blew up it took several days for the rage to die down. While the rage was burning inside him, every time he came into the house he would tell … Continue reading We wrestle not against flesh and blood
Voices of darkness
I had to be at work a little before 11:00 P.M. that Sunday night. The factory work week began at 11:00 and as Quality Assurance Inspector I had to check the equipment before startup. Although I interacted with the supervisors and workers on the factory floor, I worked alone, covering all that was happening. This … Continue reading Voices of darkness
Don’t strike out at the pulpit
The story is told of a Scottish reverend who went out one day to visit his parishioners. When he entered a local shop, the proprietress immediately thanked him for the wonderful sermon that he had preached a fortnight ago. Now the reverend was wary of attempts at flattery, so he questioned her about the topic … Continue reading Don’t strike out at the pulpit
The cat who came in from the cold
I glanced out the window one evening in late fall and was startled to see a white kitten sitting on our doorstep. I walked around to the door and opened it, half expecting this kitten to dash off in fear when he saw me. I was amazed when he calmly got up, walked into the … Continue reading The cat who came in from the cold
