Promise of a Return

It was March 21st, 1942 standing in the Terowie Train Station in South Australia, following his retreat from the Philippines that General Douglas MacArthur promised the people of the Philippines "I came out of Bataan and I shall return".   And he did.  Two and a half years later, after wading ashore on the Island of Leyte,…

Let your words be gentle

It is never pleasant when neighbours can’t get along.  You might remember years ago, there were two families in the news who shared a duplex in a nearby community. They were feuding, and it was just nasty. In case you missed it, it seems like there is some quarrelling happening between Canada and our neighbour…

The Future has Changed

Some have called it a victory for women’s rights.  Others call it the day “Cultural Catholicism” died.  Others have no idea what happened in Ireland on May 25th. But whatever you view, and whichever side you supported you will have to concede that the future of Ireland will be different because the 8th Amendment was…

The Promise of the Father

In an effort to be environmentally aware, this Father’s Day I’ve decided to embrace the ethos of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Most of you know that my Dad passed away a couple of weeks ago, and many of you are aware that I conducted Dad’s funeral and preached at it. As I was working on…

The Promise of Peace

Do you remember praying as a child?  Do you remember the words that you prayed?  Let’s try it together: “Now I lay me down to sleep I pray the Lord my soul to keep, if I should die before I wake I pray the Lord my soul to take.”   In retrospect a little creepy, but…

We are Family

With the passing of my father last week, I was reminded once again of the importance of family. We were surrounded by my sister and her family along with various cousins, nieces and nephews, many of whom my kids had never met before. I continue to be amazed at how tragedies cause us to circle…

The Promise of a Helper

It wouldn’t be long, and he knew it.  For three years he had taught throughout Israel, for three years he had healed the sick and fed the hungry. For three years he pointed people to the Kingdom of God, but the time was coming, it wouldn’t be long now, and he knew it.  The end…

It’s all in how you view it

Well, another survey is out showing that Christianity is losing ground and that church attendance is down.  The world would like us to think that we’re failing in our mission. But, depending on your perspective, we aren’t losing, we’re winning.  When you stop and think about it, every person who isn’t a Christian hasn’t been…