Welcome guests: Unwelcome guests: The welcome mat is out in our yard for goldfinches, swallows and all of our beautiful native songbirds. We wish that there was some way to convince the murderous English sparrows that they are not welcome here. For several years we have had swallows nesting in … Continue reading Nature: red of tooth and claw
Jesus Christ
And the house was filled with the odour of the ointment
Shortly before his crucifixion, Jesus came to Bethany and was invited to a meal in the home of Simon, a man whom He had healed of leprosy. To get the full story of the event, we need to put together the accounts found in Matthew 26, Mark 14 and John 12. Lazarus, whom Jesus had … Continue reading And the house was filled with the odour of the ointment
The love of God
[The following words were written 19 centuries ago, not long after the time of the apostles. It is part of what is known as The Letter to Diognetus. Neither the author of the letter, nor Diognetus, have ever been satisfactorily identified, but the letter breathes an authentic and dynamic faith. Shouldn't those two qualities still … Continue reading The love of God
FIRE!
Over the past few days the people of Fort McMurray, Alberta have had an all too close encounter with a fire like the one above. News reports indicate that all the 80,000+ people who live and work there have been able to make their way to safety, leaving their homes, businesses and most of their … Continue reading FIRE!
“This Child Will Break Your Heart” – 5 Parenting Lessons From the Mother of Jesus — Striving Nigerian Mom …Parenting With Purpose
“This Child will break your heart!” How about that for an opening line? As I was just pondering on the season of Easter, for some reason, my mind went away from Jesus for a bit, and I thought about Mary, His mom. And for some reason, my heart was heavy, just thinking about her. For […] … Continue reading “This Child Will Break Your Heart” – 5 Parenting Lessons From the Mother of Jesus — Striving Nigerian Mom …Parenting With Purpose
Through a glass darkly
Glass in this case means mirror, or looking glass. I don't remember my father ever speaking about a mirror, he always said looking glass. There was glass in the Apostle Paul's day, but it was coloured, not transparent, and probably not smooth enough to make a mirror. The mirrors used in his day were made … Continue reading Through a glass darkly
Could this be idolatry?
Aaron, an elderly brother from the congregation whee we used to live, had been driving down a lonely highway in Texas. After an hour or two he saw a young man hitchhiking and offered him a ride. The young man got into the back seat and they chatted a little. All was silent for a … Continue reading Could this be idolatry?
The God who loves us
People who trust in pagan religions believe there are many gods. These gods spend so much time squabbling among themselves that people need to make great efforts to get their attention. The religions of the native peoples of North America are much like that, but many of them have a creation account that sounds remarkably … Continue reading The God who loves us
This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting
Jesus came down from the mountain where He had been transfigured and found a great crowd gathered around his disciples and a demon-possessed boy. At the end of the account, after casting the demon out of the child, He told His disciples "Howbeit, this kind cometh not out but by prayer and fasting." The disciples … Continue reading This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting
Twice a year isn’t enough
I went to the barber shop a few days ago, feeling a need to get myself spiffed up a bit before attending the gatherings that happen at Christmas time. A lot of other men seemed to have felt the same urge at the same time, as there were six ahead of me. There were another … Continue reading Twice a year isn’t enough
Flatlander Faith 