Unreached peoples! How can it be that there are still people groups in our modern world who have never heard about the Saviour, who do not have even a portion of the Bible in their language? Mission and Bible translation and distribution agencies tell us with considerable urgency that many such groups still remain on … Continue reading Unreached peoples
Canada
What does the Bible mean to you?
In the 2011 census, 67% of Canadians identified themselves as Christians. A statistic that is somewhat older and probably outdated says that 25% of Canadians attend church once a week. The latest survey gives a glimpse of the rot at the base of our Christianity: 5% of Canadians read the Bible daily, 11% once a … Continue reading What does the Bible mean to you?
Where is Ottawa?
Judith Adler teaches a course on families and the cultural traditions of families the world over at Memorial University of Newfoundland. A few years ago she began to suspect that her students had no idea where some of the places she was talking about actually were. So she gave them a quiz. The quiz consisted … Continue reading Where is Ottawa?
Family Day musings
Today is Family Day in my part of Canada. It is a holiday that was begun in one province several years ago and is slowly spreading across the country. Our dining room table was covered with jigsaw puzzle pieces this morning, from a 1,000 piece puzzle my wife started yesterday when we had company, an … Continue reading Family Day musings
It’s what’s left that counts
This was the motto of Cliff Chadderton, who died a week ago at the age of 94. In October of 1944 Cliff was the commander of a company of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles as the Canadian army began the push to liberate Belgium and Holland from the Nazis. He was injured for the second time … Continue reading It’s what’s left that counts
Why parents need to be involved in their child’s education
Governor Jeb Bush of Florida was in Toronto at the end of October to speak on the educational reforms that have moved Florida schools from the bottom tier of educational achievement to near the top. He spoke to the Economic Club of Canada at the Royal York Hotel, the talk was well-publicized and co-sponsored by … Continue reading Why parents need to be involved in their child’s education
Canada Day trivia
Who was the first Prime Minister of Canada? This is a tricky question. The first Prime Minister after Confederation in 1867 was John A McDonald. But the Act of Union of 1841 merged Upper Canada and Lower Canada (now Ontario and Québec) into the United Province of Canada. The first elected leader of the United … Continue reading Canada Day trivia
It is impossible for God to speak to a human!
Those were the words of an Iranian prosecutor when Marzieh said she had converted to Christianity from Islam after being convicted by the Holy Spirit. Marzieh and Maryam were eventually acquitted of the charge of “anti-state activities” and released from prison, thanks in part to the efforts of members of One Free World International. This … Continue reading It is impossible for God to speak to a human!
Not by might, but by my Spirit
The following paragraphs are found at the end of Jonathan Goforth's book By My Spirit, first published in 1929. Jonathan Goforth was a Canadian missionary to China from 1888 to 1935. During the late Manchu dynasty, scholars were expected to know the classics of their sages off by heart. How do the scholars of so-called … Continue reading Not by might, but by my Spirit
Thomas Jefferson’s Miscalculation
When the War of 1812 began, the US government assumed that the Canadian colonies to the north would quickly grasp the opportunity to throw off British colonial rule and become part of the USA. Thomas Jefferson declared that Canada could be acquired simply by marching North. It probably seemed a logical assumption. The colonies of … Continue reading Thomas Jefferson’s Miscalculation
Flatlander Faith 