Once upon a time a family was given a wonderful elixir that would cure every disease of mankind. They bottled it in plain brown bottles and offered it for sale to others. The price was very high and it didn't taste very good, but it worked. As time went on the descendants of this family … Continue reading What’s in the bottle?
Christianity
Preface
Half a century ago a drunken young man announced to a couple of friends that one day he would be a Mennonite and wear a beard. His friends dismissed this as babbling inspired by the booze he had consumed. The young man himself was bewildered. The few Mennonites he had met, from his mother’s side … Continue reading Preface
Precious memories
My cousin Dennis was born September 9, 1937, the first of six children born to Art and Katherine Goodnough. His wife called last week to tell us that his children were planning a surprise birthday party for him for his 80th birthday, last Saturday. Could we come? I thought about it briefly, maybe half a … Continue reading Precious memories
Hard work is not a Christian virtue
The robots are coming. Technology already exists that could eliminate almost half of all jobs over the next ten years. Working harder isn't going to save your job if it is on that list. Working smarter isn't going to do it either. The economy is changing and the best way to ride the wave of … Continue reading Hard work is not a Christian virtue
The problem of ethnic pride
I read a number of English language historical novels when I was young. The English heroes were brave, honest, noble and kind. The villains, often French or Spanish, were shifty-eyed, cowardly dishonest and cruel. I accepted this as truth, and, being of English ancestry, it felt good to be able to identify with the good … Continue reading The problem of ethnic pride
Don’t get much out of church?
What are you putting in? Are you a church shopper? Do you go from church to church to find the one that will give you the most value for the lowest cost in personal involvement? Are you a builder or a freeloader? A church service service is not entertainment. If you are looking to find … Continue reading Don’t get much out of church?
Taking the long view
The proof of a living faith is seen when it is passed on intact from generation to generation. It is true to say that the fruit of the Holy Spirit is evidence of faith: brotherly love, peace of mind and peace in word and action, joy, thankfulness, contentment, humility. But when this is not passed … Continue reading Taking the long view
The old days were not better
Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this. - the words of Solomon from Ecclesiastes 7:10 When I was young many waterways were horribly polluted. I once stood on a footbridge in Toronto and watched the Don River flowing blood … Continue reading The old days were not better
WASPs and other Canadians
When I was young, WASPs (White Anglo-Saxon Protestants), considered themselves to naturally be the epitome of all that was right and good. It was the privilege of the WASPs to grant each other entrance to the best schools, the best jobs and the best clubs. The Orange Lodge bears a large share of the responsibility … Continue reading WASPs and other Canadians
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
