My wife and I used to be part of a small congregation in a little village north of Saskatoon. The biggest event of the year for this congregation was the Vacation Bible School that took place in our village and in a much larger nearby town (a suburb of Saskatoon). This program had been going … Continue reading In Memory of Jay Bullock
children
Not too young to learn
Do you think your little child is too young to be taught important lessons? She is learning all the time, even when she doesn't appear to be paying attention. Consider this item that appeared in the newspaper 25 years ago when we were living in Montreal. A diabetic mother was worried what would happen if … Continue reading Not too young to learn
Instructions for parents from Menno Simons
The world desire for their children that which is earthly and perishable, such as money, honour, fame and wealth. From infancy they train them up to vice, pride, haughtiness and idolatry. But with you, who are born of God, this is not the case; for it behooves you to seek something else for your children … Continue reading Instructions for parents from Menno Simons
Treacle and wizards
If you have read Alice in Wonderland and other books of that era written in England, you have encountered the word treacle. It is not much used this side of the water. Treacle has a history. It was originally a Greek word meaning an antidote for a poisonous animal bite. It migrated into Latin, then … Continue reading Treacle and wizards
Pray for all God’s children
There is an epidemic sweeping the world that no one dares mention. Jacques Ellul, French sociologist, philosopher and theologian, wrote The Technological Society in 1964. In the book he describes how technology has supplanted the church and the Bible as the ultimate source of truth. Efficiency has become the sole moral absolute. There is no … Continue reading Pray for all God’s children
When the schools fail, what are parents to do?
The leaders of the public school system claim that only they have the tools and the understanding to prepare children for life in the modern world. It should be clear by now, to anyone who is not sleep-walking through life, that the schools have done a proper botch-up job of all things wherein they claim … Continue reading When the schools fail, what are parents to do?
Matthew Effects in Learning
“For unto everyone that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath” (Matthew 25:29). In 1986, Keith Stanovich published a study entitled Matthew Effects in Reading: Some Consequences of Individual Differences in the Acquisition of Literacy. The “Matthew Effects” … Continue reading Matthew Effects in Learning
The need for fellowship
I recently read something written by a young lady whose parents are very conservative Christians. She spoke of how difficult it had been to find a church where she could feel at home because she didn’t want to get into anything that felt like the way she had grown up. I feel compassion for her, … Continue reading The need for fellowship
Ten beautiful things about winter in Saskatchewan
1. Sparkling landscapes. The timing is unpredictable, but every once in a while every tree, bush and weed is turned into a dazzling crystalline structure by hoar frost. 2. The purity of the snow. All that is ugly is buried under a white blanket. 3. The absence of flies, ants and beetles. They will return … Continue reading Ten beautiful things about winter in Saskatchewan
Another use for a station wagon
Why is this style of car called a station wagon? And what's with the faux wood trim? Well, the original station wagons were horse drawn conveyances for hauling passengers and baggage between hotels and railway stations. When motor cars started to become common, some people had the bright idea of putting such a wagon box … Continue reading Another use for a station wagon
Flatlander Faith 