We are told, and it is obvious if we are paying attention, that there is a great decline in Bible knowledge among evangelical Christians who claim their faith is built upon the Word of God. What is the cause? Jack Miner told of an elderly Scot who said, “In my day children were raised on … Continue reading Fast food Christianity
spirituality
Prairie fire!
Just before supper time today my wife smelled smoke. We went outside and saw the fire behind the buildings of our neighbour. Our son-in-law was the first to see it while going home for supper. He turned around to get the fire engine from the village six miles away, sending out the alert to other … Continue reading Prairie fire!
Seek the heavenly prize
Last Sunday Tiger Woods won the Masters golf tournament. An amazing triumph for a man who a few years ago thought his days of playing golf were over. Four surgeries and long months of rigorous training later, he is outplaying the best in the world. He has had to endure pain, ridicule and scorn, and … Continue reading Seek the heavenly prize
Light and Land
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. Genesis 1:1-2 Thus begins the granddaddy of all creation stories. Even though Adam was not an … Continue reading Light and Land
Promises to Abraham
Abraham was a pilgrim and stranger in the promised land all his days. He believed the promise of God that his descendents would possess this land, even into old age when it seemed that all hope of having children was slipping away from him. God told him: “Arise, walk through the land in the length … Continue reading Promises to Abraham
Abraham our father
The apostle Paul tells us that Abraham is the father of all who believe (Romans 4:11-16). If we want to talk about faith then, discovering who Abram was, and what he did, seems a logical starting point. We first encounter him in Genesis 11, still named Abram, one of the three sons of Terah. The family … Continue reading Abraham our father
The virtue of vulnerability
Last Saturday, Chris and I attended a Christian writers' wordshop (a workshop about words). All the presenters were ladies; the attendees were also mostly ladies, plus four men and one boy. This is cause for much pondering; why are there so few men at this level? Yes.there are many books by male authors on the … Continue reading The virtue of vulnerability
Facing up to the bull
One year in my late teens I spent several months working for farmers. I drove the truck for one during harvest. Then I spent a month on a cattle farm, putting up hay, fixing fences, things like that. The fences were in bad shape. The first day, the big Hereford bull walked through the fence … Continue reading Facing up to the bull
The half-converted farmer
There was a farmer in our neighbourhood who lived a simple life. He had no need of electricity, running water or a lawn mower. He didn’t need a wife either though we heard that there had once been a lady of the house. Perhaps the rustic simplicity of the homestead soon lost its charm. This rustic … Continue reading The half-converted farmer
Is sincerity enough?
“The way I see it, it doesn't matter what you believe, just so you're sincere.” -Charles M. Schulz. I'm not so sure about that. I once knew a man who sincerely believed that every other resident in his apartment building had been placed there for the sole purpose of spying on him. People who invested … Continue reading Is sincerity enough?
Flatlander Faith 