[First posted nine years ago.] One hundred years ago, when the Social Gospel was well on the way to infiltrating and taking control of many of the major Christian denominations of North America, my father was already 24 years old. It has lately dawned on me that because I was born when he was 50 … Continue reading Cultural Amnesia
Saskatchewan
It is raining to drink standing up
Image by Pexels from Pixabay The heading is a translation of the French expression Il pleut à boire debout. In English we might say that it's raining cats and dogs, which is more colourful but less realistic. Saturday evening we were having a late supper, watching the clouds and listening to the approaching thunder, when the water taps … Continue reading It is raining to drink standing up
Lilacs and kittens
In the morning we often see two little kittens exploring our doorstep. A dozen lilac bushes at the back of our yard perfume the air. These are the delights of spring. The indoor cats love to be outdoors in this season, too. Two of them spend time with the outdoor cats; Pookie considers himself part … Continue reading Lilacs and kittens
It’s about time!
Image by Bruno from Pixabay A week ago today the ground was still brown and the daytime temperatures were usually a degree or two above zero (freezing point on the Celsius scale). The next day it snowed, not much, just enough to make the ground white. Then the temperatures started to fall. Monday morning it was -28°. Yesterday … Continue reading It’s about time!
It’s that time of year again
There are twenty Manitoba maple (acer negundo) trees between our house and the road. They are not a hardwood tree like the maples of Eastern Canada, but still useful as ornamental and shade trees and perfect for young boys to climb. It is possible to make maple syrup from the sap of Manitoba maples, but … Continue reading It’s that time of year again
School days nostalgia
I trust that you will bear with me as a take a nostalgic trip into my old school days. This morning I went to our congregational school at nine o'clock to have devotions with the students and teachers. The thoughts I shared began with nostalgia for the good old days. I told them that this … Continue reading School days nostalgia
In Memory of Jay Bullock
My wife and I used to be part of a small congregation in a little village north of Saskatoon. The biggest event of the year for this congregation was the Vacation Bible School that took place in our village and in a much larger nearby town (a suburb of Saskatoon). This program had been going … Continue reading In Memory of Jay Bullock
The dark side of beauty
Image by Petra from Pixabay There is nothing more beautiful than a sunny winter morning when every tree branch, every weed and every wire is coated with sparling, dazzling diamonds. No man-made beauty comes close to matching such a display. Last week we had mild days with fog and hardly a breeze. In the night, the fog would … Continue reading The dark side of beauty
Hibernation aspiration
It's -40° this morning, no need to qualify it with a C or an F, this is the point where the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales meet. It is on mornings like this that I begin to understand why bears hibernate. It seems so inviting to go back to bed and sleep until spring. But I … Continue reading Hibernation aspiration
A tree falls on the prairie
One hundred years ago, settlers came to the flatlands of Saskatchewan. No need for axes and saws to fell trees, just a team of oxen and a plough to turn the virgin sod and prepare it for a first crop. Of course, the lack of trees also meant a lack of building materials, so the … Continue reading A tree falls on the prairie
Flatlander Faith 