In Genesis 13:17 God said to Abraham: Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. For Christians today, the Holy Bible, the Word of God, is our heritage. Have we walked through the length of it and the breadth of … Continue reading The Bible is our heritage, let’s get to know it
faith
Is friendliness next to godliness?
Paddy Davis was a lonely old man, a widower whose only son was divorced, depriving Paddy of any contact with his grandchildren. We could often hear him out in his backyard in the early morning singing the old, familiar hymns. He had once been a song leader in his church and still had a good … Continue reading Is friendliness next to godliness?
Thoughtless generosity
The rain began July 19, 1996 over the semi-mountainous terrain surrounding the Kenogami basin in Québec and continued for three days, dropping enough water to fill the Kenogami reservoir one and a half times. Unfortunately, it was nearly full to begin with. Torrents of water flowed over the dam and into the cities of Chicoutimi … Continue reading Thoughtless generosity
I dreamed there was no God
Another post from When I Was Thirteen by Christina Young, the followup from yesterday's post. June 1, 1897 This is Sunday morning, and also the first day of June. Everyone else is sleeping still, as the sun is just coming up over the trees at the ditch. I got up early like this, because I … Continue reading I dreamed there was no God
Warfare: meteorological and spiritual
We have come to the month named after the Roman god of war. It is not difficult to understand why, as we are in for a month long battle between the increasing warmth of the sun and the lingering power of winter. Even little children know which force will eventually win this war, but there … Continue reading Warfare: meteorological and spiritual
Not by might, but by my Spirit
The following paragraphs are found at the end of Jonathan Goforth's book By My Spirit, first published in 1929. Jonathan Goforth was a Canadian missionary to China from 1888 to 1935. During the late Manchu dynasty, scholars were expected to know the classics of their sages off by heart. How do the scholars of so-called … Continue reading Not by might, but by my Spirit
In memory of Mauvereen
Uncle Gary is my mother’s second youngest brother, the last one still living of a family of fourteen. He will be 90 in August. My grandparents were members of a small congregation of Sommerfelder Mennonites in southwestern Saskatchewan that was somewhat isolated from other Mennonite communities. They spoke Plautdietsch and English at home; the church … Continue reading In memory of Mauvereen
Should Christians tithe?
Some Christians firmly believe that the Old Testament 10% rule is still in force for Christians today. They tell inspirational tales of someone who was struggling financially and could hardly find any spare change for the collection plate. Then they began to give 10% off the top of their income and, as if by magic, … Continue reading Should Christians tithe?
Humanism as the established religion
It appears to have began long ago with Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), the patron saint of Roman Catholic theologians. He studied Greek, Arabic and Hebrew philosophers and incorporated some of their thinking into Christian theology. His major innovation was the idea that God and truth are not solely revealed by the Bible, but that man by … Continue reading Humanism as the established religion
Remeniscences
My cousin Julia was 18 years old when I was born. I think she started teaching in a one room country school in the fall of that year, taught for two years, then married Ed Ludke. Their first child, Doreen, was born a year later. I knew nothing of Julia without Ed until he passed … Continue reading Remeniscences
Flatlander Faith 