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
poverty
Africa rising
What picture comes to your mind when you think of Africa? A remote village of mud huts with scantily clad people scratching their subsistence from the soil with hand tools? Or modern cities with skyscrapers, factories, hospitals and universities? Both scenarios exist, but far more people live in the cities. Nigeria is the largest country … Continue reading Africa rising
Prejudice + Poverty ≠ Hopelessness
Some years ago I read an article in Ebony magazine written by a man who had grown up in one of the worst black tenement ghettos in Chicago.Drug dealing, crime and violence were the everyday reality and the police felt the area was too dangerous to send in individual officers to patrol. Like almost all … Continue reading Prejudice + Poverty ≠ Hopelessness
Sell all that thou hast, and give to the poor
Jesus told the rich young ruler: "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me" (Matthew 19:21). He didn't really mean that, did He? There must be some hidden meaning . Many preachers and teachers have … Continue reading Sell all that thou hast, and give to the poor
God and Mammon
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (The words of Jesus, quoted in Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:13.) Here is a stark warning that the pursuit of … Continue reading God and Mammon
Snowy day and thoughts
Shortly after dinner today, we decided to drive to Delisle, our nearest town. It was snowing, but it didn't look too bad, so off we went. Once we got on the highway, we realized that we didn't have a realistic view of things from home. Here we are protected from east and northeast winds by … Continue reading Snowy day and thoughts
Life isn’t fair
These are real people that I’m going to write about, but I’m not going to use their real names. Elsie and Elizabeth were already quite elderly when we knew them; the story of their earlier life was told to us by others. They were sisters, born in pioneer days on a prairie farm and grew … Continue reading Life isn’t fair
They that seek to be rich
The sinful woman [who anointed Jesus' feet] sought the company of the righteous; but these seek the company of the unrighteous. They visit each other to talk all manner of foolishness; to injure their neighbour's reputation; to defame and backbite; to speak disgracefully of one another, speak of costly furniture, houses, goods and handsome companions, … Continue reading They that seek to be rich
What is Christian Stewardship? Part 2
The parable of the unjust steward, found in Luke 16, has mystified many commentators. The conduct of this steward is clearly contrary to popular notions of good stewardship. Yet verse 8 says “And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely”. Some commentators try to wriggle out of this corner by noting … Continue reading What is Christian Stewardship? Part 2