The Ideal Spouse

Most of us approach marriage with a clear picture in our mind of the characteristics of our ideal spouse. The person we marry never completely fits that picture, but we are sure that with a little coaching and prodding from us, he or she will soon become everything we had imagined. Blessed is the man, … Continue reading The Ideal Spouse

It’s been quite a journey

August 1, 1970, St. Barnabas Anglican Church, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Robert Goodnough and Christine Vance stood side by side, answered questions posed by Rev. Kenneth Vickers and were pronounced husband and wife. Today we go by Bob and Chris and marvel at the journey. We have lived in five provinces of Canada, and attended many … Continue reading It’s been quite a journey

Things fall apart

Why are so many families and churches falling apart? Were there some adhesive qualities at work in previous generations helped to make relationships more cohesive? Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay  The answer, I believe, is yes, but. Such qualities did exist, and still do, but not everybody was convinced of their value. Things have always been falling … Continue reading Things fall apart

What is wrong with the world?

I have arrived at the sad conclusion the the greatest problem in the world today is Christians who have a lot to say about what is wrong with the world and very little to say about what is right with God. We have been hiding the light under a bushel for so long that the … Continue reading What is wrong with the world?

Dreams and happiness

Let me ask you a question — if you achieve the thing you are dreaming of, will you be happy? Tom Sukanen came to Saskatchewan from Finland as a young man with immense strength and talent. He was a friend to all. He helped neighbours build their homes, work their land, repair their machinery, thresh … Continue reading Dreams and happiness

Are you a deist or a theist?

If you are a deist, you believe: - that there must be a higher power because this complex world could not just have happened; - that there are moral lessons in the Bible that will help us to find happiness; - that the Bible as a whole is mysterious and confusing and better left alone; … Continue reading Are you a deist or a theist?

Adversity, affluence, happiness

Good and evil are not what popular opinion accounts them; many who seem to be struggling with adversity are happy, many amid great affluence are miserable. -Tacitus,  Roman historian and senator, 58-120 AD

Barriers to happiness

If we only wanted to be happy, it would be easy; but we want to be happier than other people, and that is almost always difficult, since we think them happier than they are. -Montesquieu

Snow

Snow – snow – fast falling snow! Snow on the house-tops – snow in the street – Snow overhead, and snow under feet – Snow in the country – snow in the town, Silently, silently sinking down; Everywhere, everywhere fast falling snow, Dazzling the eyes with its crystalline glow! Snow, snow – beautiful snow! Hear … Continue reading Snow

How to be happy

Forget about yourself. You will never obtain all the things you think are necessary for your happiness. If you could, they wouldn’t be enough anyway. Think about others. Do some small thing every day that will boost someone else’s happiness. Start at home ­- but don’t stop there. Most of the good things you can … Continue reading How to be happy