[This is part of a larger story, which hasn't been written yet. So I ask you, my dear readers, is it worth writing more of the saga of Vinnie and Minnie?] Vinnie and Minnie had been faithful members of the Coulee Bend Assembly of Spirit-Filled Conservative Christians for several years now. When brother Harmon began … Continue reading Vinnie and Minnie are asked a question
Christianity
Heat: physical and spiritual
We are sweltering in a heat wave here, with temperatures up to 32° with a humidex of 35°. (That translates into 90° & 95° for those still using Fahrenheit.) I realize that many readers might even consider those temperatures cool for this time of year. But I live in Saskatchewan where we haven't had a … Continue reading Heat: physical and spiritual
The curse of knowledge
“Once you know something, it’s hard to imagine not knowing it.” The title for this post, and the quotation above, are taken from the book Made to Stick, © 2007, 2008 by Chip and Dan Heath, published by Random House. The curse of knowledge is a stumbling block for every Christian who attempts to speak … Continue reading The curse of knowledge
Blessed are the meek
— for they shall inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5) I believe I have located one of the weak points in my faith. I love the promise in this verse, who wouldn't? But I don't really want to be a poor, timorous, vacillating wimp. However, the promise is for the meek. Thus I am faced with … Continue reading Blessed are the meek
Is anybody listening?
Christians who suffer from depression or other emotional or mental distress often face disapproval if they try to find help in psychologists and pills. It is true that there are dangers with both. What kind of help are we offering them? “Why do Christians shoot their wounded?” was the title of a book published some … Continue reading Is anybody listening?
We wrestle not against flesh and blood
My father was usually a kind and considerate man, very much in earnest about Christian life. However, he had an explosive temper, and each time he blew up it took several days for the rage to die down. While the rage was burning inside him, every time he came into the house he would tell … Continue reading We wrestle not against flesh and blood
Remittance men
Remittance men began to appear in the Canadian West around 1880, in the early years of settlement. Well-to-do fathers in England groomed their oldest son to follow in their footsteps. The eldest son generally developed a mature sense of responsibility and found a ready opportunity to show his abilities. The second son often did not … Continue reading Remittance men
Outside the box
We are being influenced every day by authoritative voices telling us how to think, and what to think — about education, about tolerance of minorities, about justice, about the environment, about religion, about science, about most everything we do or want to do. Some years ago we spoke of political correctness, often with derision. A … Continue reading Outside the box
Why missions fail
"From what has already been said it is manifest that St. Paul did not go about as a missionary preacher merely to convert individuals: he went to establish churches from which the light might radiate throughout the whole country round. The secret of success in this work lies in beginning at the very beginning. It … Continue reading Why missions fail
Their citizenship is in heaven
5:1 For Christians are not distinguished from the rest of mankind either in locality or in speech or in customs. 5:2 For they dwell not somewhere in cities of their own, neither do they use some different language, nor practise an extraordinary kind of life. 5:3 Nor again do they possess any invention discovered by … Continue reading Their citizenship is in heaven
