A few years ago I complained to my doctor about the arthritic pains I feel at times. His response was: "Well, you're eighty years old. What do you expect?" (In defense of my doctor, my arthritis pains have never come to stay in any particular joint, they come and go in different places.) Perhaps Saskatchewan … Continue reading Scattered thoughts on a rainy Saturday morning
anger
The weapons of a Christian
The whole world is in a mess. What can we do about it? The answer Jesus gives is : Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. That's counter-intuitive isn't it? Our intuitive response is to answer … Continue reading The weapons of a Christian
Remedy for election fever
There is an election in Canada today; I will not vote. I am a citizen, I am qualified to vote, but I am also a citizen of the Kingdom of God and that citizenship is much more precious to me. There has been a lot of anger, a lot of divisive emotions stirred by this … Continue reading Remedy for election fever
Jesus and Satan
Jesus and Satan were not strangers when they met before Jesus began His earthly ministry. They had known each other since before the world began. Each understood the other’s intentions and that it would be defeat for them if the other one could gain his goal. Satan offered Jesus sovereignty over all the nations and … Continue reading Jesus and Satan
A refuge
A refuge, a place where I could escape the storms that beat around me; that’s what I needed. When one is young, many storms are more imagined than real. But my father’s anger was real. He was not violent, but when he lost his temper angry words rang throughout the house, seemed to be in … Continue reading A refuge
We try to do too much
Trying to save the planet leaves us frustrated, angry, bitter and in despair. Trying to compel other people turn to Jesus will do the same thing. These jobs are too big for us; leave them to God. We can be kind to others because of the love of God n our hearts. We can respond … Continue reading We try to do too much
Lessons for life from the epistle of James
1. If ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. (3:14-15) No matter how right I am about something, if I let myself become angry and bitter, I am wrong. 2. The wrath of man … Continue reading Lessons for life from the epistle of James
Chapter 3 – My father
The time has come for me to write about my father, but I don’t want to. I’m afraid that I’m going to make him sound like an ogre, and he really wasn’t. Most of the time he was a pretty decent sort, but I grew up living in dread of the times when his internal … Continue reading Chapter 3 – My father
The breaking point
Dad and I had never been close; fear of his impatience and anger made me keep a safe distance. As I grew up the gulf between us widened and neither of us knew how to bridge it. One Sunday in June of 1959 we were on our way home from church. I was driving, Mom … Continue reading The breaking point
Adopted
I remember the last time my father blew up at me. He was 80, I was 30 and it was the same tirade that I had heard so many times before during my 30 years. I knew there was no use trying to argue, change the subject or yell back at him. He was not … Continue reading Adopted
Flatlander Faith 