What has happened to tolerance?

George Orwell’s dystopian vision, expounded in his novel Nineteen Eighty-four, appears to be slowly and inexorably taking shape around us.  The thought leaders of our society have constituted themselves into an unofficial Ministry of Truth, changing the meaning of words and inventing new words.  The result — and make no mistake about it, this is … Continue reading What has happened to tolerance?

It is no secret

I confess that I avoid books that promise to reveal a “secret” about Christian life.  I’m afraid of them — afraid of being deceived — because I don’t read anything in the Bible that speaks of a “secret” to Christian life that is only revealed to an inner circle with special enlightenment.  In New Testament … Continue reading It is no secret

The saint of the neighbourhood

[This is an excerpt from When I Was Thirteen, copyright the estate of Christina Young Plumb.  It is the diary of a thirteen year old girl in south-western Ontario at the end of the nineteenth century.] April 12, 1897 - This is Good Friday, so we had no school today, and Monday will be a … Continue reading The saint of the neighbourhood

Problematic behaviours in children and adolescents – Our family’s experience

I listened with bemused interest as my daughter described racing the Moose Jaw city bus to the end of the block.  There was a bus stop in front of the second house on our block and she would wait there on the sidewalk with her trike until the bus left the stop and then pump … Continue reading Problematic behaviours in children and adolescents – Our family’s experience

Jesus was not a white man

Jesus was born in the Middle East, among people who were mostly dark-haired, dark-eyed, and of a swarthy complexion.  If He had appeared different from others around Him, we would expect to find some note of that in the Bible.  For instance, Esau is described as having red hair, Moses’ wife was called an Ethiopian … Continue reading Jesus was not a white man

La Nobla Leyçon – X

There is a brief rehearsal in this lesson, Of three laws which God gave to the world; The first law directeth men who have judgement and reason, To know God, and to pray to his Creator. For he that hath judgement, may well think with himself, That he formed not himself, nor anything else: Then … Continue reading La Nobla Leyçon – X

La Nobla Leyçon – IX

But herein is clearly manifest the malice of those men, That they which will curse, lie, and swear, He that will frequently put his money to usury, kill, and whore, And avenge himself on those which hurt him; This they say is a good man, and to be accounted faithful. But let him take heed … Continue reading La Nobla Leyçon – IX

La Nobla Leyçon – VIII

But at the feast of Pentecost he remembered them, And sent them the Holy Ghost, which is the Comforter, And taught the disciples by divine doctrine, And they understood the language and the Holy Scripture, And then they remembered what he had said. They spoke without fear of the doctrine of Christ, They preached both … Continue reading La Nobla Leyçon – VIII

La Nobla Leyçon – VII

And he called the apostles and commanded them To go through the world, and teach all nations, To preach to Jews and Greeks, and all mankind, To drive away devils, and heal the sick, To raise the dead and cleanse the lepers, And to do to others as he had done to them; To possess … Continue reading La Nobla Leyçon – VII

La Nobla Leyçon – VI

And he called the apostles and commanded them To go through the world, and teach all nations, To preach to Jews and Greeks, and all mankind, To drive away devils, and heal the sick, To raise the dead and cleanse the lepers, And to do to others as he had done to them; To possess … Continue reading La Nobla Leyçon – VI