My boomerang won’t come back!

This was the title of a hit song from about fifty years ago. Sung by a British singer with a cockney accent, it was the lament of a young Australian Aborigine who couldn't get his boomerang to come back to him. It was the type of politically incorrect, culturally insensitive song that would never be … Continue reading My boomerang won’t come back!

Older, and maybe a little wiser

Forty-five years ago, around this time of year,  I had paid a weekend visit to my fiancée in Saskatchewan and headed out Sunday afternoon for the six hour drive back to the Manitoba town where I managed a country grain elevator. I hadn't gone very far when I came up behind a semi that was … Continue reading Older, and maybe a little wiser

And lean not unto thine own understanding

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding" -Proverbs 3:5. I've been wondering of late if I really understand this verse. God has given us a mind with the capacity of understanding vast and complex subjects, and surely He wants us to use it. The Bible certainly assumes … Continue reading And lean not unto thine own understanding

Youth and the church

Since the days of the youth movement, church youth work has often lacked that element of Christian sobriety that alone might enable it to recognize that the spirit of youth is not the Holy Spirit and that the future of the church is not youth itself but rather the Lord Jesus Christ alone. It is … Continue reading Youth and the church

Why is the door locked?

Karen Mains, in her book Open Heart, Open Home, included a chapter entitled The Nicest House in Town. It describes a beautiful home, in a beautiful yard, and through the windows people can be seen happily visiting together and feasting on sumptuous food. Sounds of beautiful singing can be heard coming from those inside. Huddled … Continue reading Why is the door locked?

Words easy to be understood

As Christians we tend to speak in Christian jargon. Aren't we aware that other people don't talk like that? Or do we think it's neat to have our own lingo that other people don't understand?  The apostle Paul didn't think that was a good idea: "So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words … Continue reading Words easy to be understood

Confusion of tongues

For about a year now our congregation, in addition to our old hymnal, has been using a supplementary collection of gospel songs. Sunday evening we sang one of those songs for perhaps the second time. The English words were not familiar to me, but the melody was. I realized it belonged to a familiar French … Continue reading Confusion of tongues

What you stare at, you steer for

That was what my wife was taught many years ago in her driver's education class. If you see danger on the road ahead and fix your eyes on it for fear of hitting it, you will unconsciously steer in the direction you are looking and will hit it for sure. The way to avoid danger … Continue reading What you stare at, you steer for

Rained out — in January!

A few of us, five to be exact, were planning on getting together over coffee this morning to discuss how we could better be effective witnesses of the gospel to the people around us, to Mister Average Canadian. There are no Tim Horton's close by, not really any coffee shops at all, so we decided … Continue reading Rained out — in January!

Finally, Some Answers About CLL

This is also helpful if you're married to someone who has CLL.