[This is another excerpt from When I was thirteen] Waubuno, Ontario March 30, 1897 Today was Saturday, and I did quite a lot of work. I had a set-to with Jessie, though. She gets pretty bossy some times and then I get balky. When she starts to lord it over me, it makes me have … Continue reading Trouble with big sister
children
Give them reasons to believe
I just read a sentence from a children’s lesson about the Bible that leaves me bewildered. I don’t want to reveal the source, but here is the sentence: “Through the past centuries many ungodly men have determined and tried to destroy the Bible, the Word of God, but have not been able to accomplish it.” … Continue reading Give them reasons to believe
Very young heros
Recently, in a small town in western France, a father was at home with his two little children, aged five and two, while his wife was working the late shift in a town 12 km away. Suddenly the father collapsed and fell to the floor and did not respond to the questions of the five … Continue reading Very young heros
Stamp collecting
I collected stamps when I was a boy. It was a fascinating and inexpensive hobby. Many stores sold packets of used stamps for less than a dollar, either mixed or sorted by country or theme. One could also buy from mail order stamp companies. If one had the money to spend there were more expensive … Continue reading Stamp collecting
Book Review – Talent is Not Enough
Here is the long-promised review of Mollie Hunter's book on writing for children. First let me warn you that this is not a "Christian" book, it is not a book for those who merely want to entertain children, nor is it a how-to book. But it is an inspiring book. Mollie Hunter has a rare … Continue reading Book Review – Talent is Not Enough
Learning the craft of writing
The child that was myself was born with a little talent, and I have worked hard, hard, hard to shape it. Yet even this could not have made me a writer, for there is no book can tell anything worth saying unless life itself has first said it to the person who conceived that book. … Continue reading Learning the craft of writing
Memories of the Inscribe Conference
You know you're in a group of writers when a workshop leader asks each participant to name five of their favourite books from childhood and one includes the dictionary in her list. She says she used to read two pages a day. And nobody thought that was weird. That happened in Colleen McCubbin's class on … Continue reading Memories of the Inscribe Conference
Sing Out!
Alf Soper was janitor of the school I attended as a boy. Once he had been a travelling repairman for a farm implement company, then the boss of some large construction projects. New he was old and content to tend the coal fired boiler that heated the two storey brick school, sweep the floors, carry … Continue reading Sing Out!
The Welfare Trap
Welfare systems began with the noble intent of helping those unable to help themselves. Well, actually those noble intentions were somewhat tainted from the beginning. Christians had long felt a need to help those most in need. Governments, motivated by the social gospel, decided people needed something better than to rely on charity. Thus a … Continue reading The Welfare Trap
It seemed like such a good idea at the time
It was a really hot day today, so I stopped after work to get a two scoop black cherry ice cream cone. That really hit the spot. As the young lady scooped my ice cream, I saw that both of her arms were covered with tattoos and wondered how long she will consider them an … Continue reading It seemed like such a good idea at the time
Flatlander Faith 