Jesus came down from the mountain where He had been transfigured and found a great crowd gathered around his disciples and a demon-possessed boy. At the end of the account, after casting the demon out of the child, He told His disciples "Howbeit, this kind cometh not out but by prayer and fasting." The disciples … Continue reading This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting
The first step in keeping your child out of prison
Teach him to read. Maybe this sounds overly simplistic, but a young adult who is illiterate is unqualified for all but the most menial jobs. You can't even work at McDonald's if you can't read the job instructions or the words on the screen of the till. 96% of the available jobs are out of … Continue reading The first step in keeping your child out of prison
Writing tips #1: Say what you mean
Writing carries a message by telling something to someone who isn't handy for conversation. That seems simple enough, but the simplicity is deceptive. Start putting the message on paper, and trouble is looking over your shoulder with every word. You know what you want to say; you could say it in conversation with little difficulty. … Continue reading Writing tips #1: Say what you mean
Why charity is not what it used to be
The Greek word agape was used often by the New Testament writers. In the AV (KJV) Bible it is translated 86 times as love and 27 times as charity. In the Louis Segond French translation it is translated 60 times as amour and 55 times as charité. Agape, as used in the New Testament, is … Continue reading Why charity is not what it used to be
Visit from a government auditor
One of my bookkeeping clients missed a few payments to the CRA (Canada Revenue Agency). Since the relevant financial records are stored on my computer I received a call from a lady at the CRA about two weeks ago wanting to make an appointment for an audit. That visit took place two days ago. The … Continue reading Visit from a government auditor
Temperance
Fifty years ago, I was the manager of a country grain elevator in a small Saskatchewan town. It was a very small town, the only businesses were two grain elevators, two service stations, and a small building containing the town's café, general store and post office. Bill Alcock, an eighty year old retired farmer, lived … Continue reading Temperance
Three cats in the house
We are two elderly people and three cats in a fairly small house, and it is winter. All five of us spend much more time inside these four walls than we would if the weather outside were more clement. This makes for some conflicts. We provide nice cushions for our cats, plus two recliners and … Continue reading Three cats in the house
Picking up the feathers
Many years ago, in a little European village, there lived a decent, well-intentioned man. This man had just one fault, he was a gossip. He knew he shouldn't do it, he felt bad about it; but every time he heard a scandalous story about one of his neighbours he had to tell it to the … Continue reading Picking up the feathers
The quest for health
Some trust in doctors Folks today seem to accept it as fact that this life is all they have. They turn to doctors for help in staying alive as long as they can.Sometimes people blame the doctor when someone dies – it would not have happened if the doctor had done his job. People also … Continue reading The quest for health
Gerhard Roosen and the Amish division
The year was 1697. Mennonites fleeing persecution in Switzerland had been living in Alsace for some time. There was danger without because Louis XIV had sent his troops to annex Alsace to France. There was trouble within because Jacob Amman, one of the Mennonite ministers, accused the church of apostasy and worldliness. He demanded a … Continue reading Gerhard Roosen and the Amish division
Flatlander Faith 