There is a line that we cross when we give our hearts to the Lord. Many people stop once they have crossed the line, mill around with others they find there and wonder why they are not experiencing the blessings of Christian life that they were promised. After awhile, some of them step back to … Continue reading Inside or outside?
Whimsy
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentle People
I will let my wife's Christmas greeting be mine also.
Inherit the earth
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth I guess by now it is evident that I have been meditating on the Beatitudes. The Sermon on the Mount is the cornerstone of Mennonite doctrine. Things like the right understanding of prophecy and the sacraments are important to us, too, but not nearly to … Continue reading Inherit the earth
The old cat and the old door
When Panda was a young cat, she loved to explore the great outdoors and often wasn't ready to come in when we wanted to go away or to lock the door for the night. My wife discovered a surefire remedy — kitty treats. She only had to rattle the bag and Panda would come running. … Continue reading The old cat and the old door
Why Couldn’t I Be The Healthy One?
I decided to reblog this post from a year ago to explain why there has been so little activity on this site lately. I have draining sinuses, a sore throat, achy legs, a fog-filled brain and have gotten very little sleep. I have been taking Buckley’s cold capsules (decongestant, antihistamine, acetaminophen,etc.) and thought I was winning the battle. It didn’t work this time. I think that by now I have made it through the worst part, though.
It was the morning after my father’s funeral and my cousin Dennis and I were sitting at a table with my mother looking at old photographs. Here was a school phot from when I was in Grade 2 in a one-room school. There were two little boys in the front row, one bright-eyed, smiling and healthy-looking, the other wearing a heavy sweater and making a feeble attempt at a smile. Impulsively, I pointed at the healthy looking boy and said “That was me!” Dennis gave me a funny look, then said, “No. That was David Harlton. This is you over here.” And he pointed at the sickly-looking boy.
Of course he was right. I think that I just wished that for one moment in my life I could believe that I was the healthy one.
I had frequent bouts of colds and flu as a child and was well-acquainted with…
View original post 351 more words
Hazards of cross-cultural ministry
At a worship service in Québec the visiting minister rose to begin his message. He had just heard us singing in an unfamiliar language but the melody was familiar and he felt he had found a common thread to connect with the congregation. He began by referring to several words of the English hymn he … Continue reading Hazards of cross-cultural ministry
Maple bug lament
Boisea trivitatta - box elder bug - commonly known as maple bug in Saskatchewan They come marching into the house in fall. They can fly, but mostly I see them plodding up the walls, down the walls, across the ceiling, across the table, across the back of my hand. They are so light-footed that I … Continue reading Maple bug lament
What on earth is a “Canadian Black Friday” sale?
I hope my readers will forgive me as I go off on another rant. I promise to soon get back to more normal posts. (Normal for this blog, at least.) Today is the second Monday in October – Thanksgiving Day in Canada. Thanksgiving is not quite as big a deal in Canada as it is … Continue reading What on earth is a “Canadian Black Friday” sale?
Tips for newcomers to Canada – No. 1
Listen carefully when Canadians talk about the weather and you will discover there is a protocol that we all follow. For instance, here where I live, we just had an early snowstorm. When we get together with neighbours, the first thing one does is to complain about the weather: “It’s not fit for man nor … Continue reading Tips for newcomers to Canada – No. 1
Did Moses speak with a stutter?
We know the story. Moses was an Israelite child raised by an Egyptian princess. After he had lived as a prince for 40 years. He fled Egypt after an unfortunate incident and spent the next 40 years as a Midianite shepherd. Now God was asking him to go back to the Israelite people, speak to … Continue reading Did Moses speak with a stutter?
Flatlander Faith 