Early in the 20th century, settlers poured into Saskatchewan from around the world, lured by the promise of free land that would enable even the poorest to own their own farm. Life wasn't as easy as portrayed by the government advertising, but most people stuck it out through hardships, harsh weather and unexpected setbacks. Despite … Continue reading Let’s take time to talk
friendship
What if an epidemic of friendliness broke out?
There seems to be so much that has gone wrong in our world today. The leading causes of death are suicide, medically assisted death and opioid overdoses. Children are confused about gender, so many young people are involved in street gangs, middle aged people struggle with mental health issues and so many old people are … Continue reading What if an epidemic of friendliness broke out?
Five things to do to maintain mental health
As taught in Norway, based on British research and reported in a French news magazine, with comments (in italics) by the Canadian writer of this post. Establish social connections.(Social media connections don’t count.) Keep physically active.(Leave the car at home and walk to the store.) Pay attention to details.(But forget the details of mistakes made … Continue reading Five things to do to maintain mental health
Questions
The techniques for evangelism known as the Church Growth Movement, were first introduced to North America in 1961. I use the word techniques deliberately, as the movement sought to use sociological research to select social groups that could be reached through the use of modern marketing methods. The key assumption of the movement was that … Continue reading Questions
Happy Thanksgiving
Today is Thanksgiving Day in Canada. We often focus on harvest and food on this day. This year we have been getting a little rain and snow every week that interrupts harvest, then it warms up and dries up and harvest resumes till the next precipitation. So our congregation is delaying our thanksgiving supper for … Continue reading Happy Thanksgiving
Love is for giving
Love is the first-mentioned characteristic of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is given to us freely and abundantly, as long as we keep on giving it away, freely and abundantly. But if we feel that smiles, thank you’s and kind words are too precious to be squandered unless we receive them first from … Continue reading Love is for giving
The church as the most important family
There are serious consequences of losing a sense of family within the church. . . We assume that the nuclear family can meet this need, and yet some of the loneliest, most isolated people in our communities are married with children, often so frenetically busy with child rearing and/or caring for aging parents that they … Continue reading The church as the most important family
Is technology dehumanizing us?
The Machine Stops, by E.M. Forster depicts a future age in which technology is able to supply all our needs. People live in individual underground compartments, all their needs are supplied by the all-encompassing machine at the push of a button. Direct person to person contact is unheard of, having been replaced by electronic means … Continue reading Is technology dehumanizing us?
Lonely people
We had dinner the other day with a man, his newest girlfriend, his mother and his youngest son. This man works hard, is very well paid, and is using his money to try to fix his broken relationships. When he was a young man he married and two sons were born to him. He and … Continue reading Lonely people
Collateral damage – or the real target?
I have been musing about the Islamist terrorist attacks in Europe and North America; who are these attacks really targeting? Is it the terrorists goal to make Western nations more favourable to the aspirations of Muslim people and nations around the world? I think we can give them credit for being smart enough to know … Continue reading Collateral damage – or the real target?
Flatlander Faith 