Last week we celebrated Christmas with our children’s presentation, which I’m sure Marilyn and her crew would testify is kind of like herding cats. And that was part of the process that led Charlie Brown to ask in frustration, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?” And that is the question that…
Chance and Choice
December 6th was the anniversary of the Halifax Explosion, but I’m sure most of you knew that. And you probably knew that it was the largest man made explosion until the explosion of the atomic bomb. The Halifax explosion has defined our city for the past 98years. And I knew all those things but what…
What Christmas is all About # 2, Christmas is about the Story
For millions of people over the past fifty years the only exposure they have had to the bible happened each Christmas as Linus read Luke chapter 2 verses 8 to 14 from the King James version in response to Charlie Brown’s questions: Doesn’t anyone know what Christmas is all about. And when Linus is done…
Thank You Salvation Army
$500,000.00, that was the amount of a cheque dropped into a Salvation Army kettle last week in Rosemount, Minnesota. $500,000.00! I’m pretty sure the local Salvation Army thought the cheque was simply a joke, that it was too good to be true. But it was true, the cheque was honoured at the bank, all $500,000.00. …
What Christmas is All About. #1, What Christmas Is Not All About!
Wow, it’s been fifty years. Sure doesn’t seem like it. December 9th will be the 50th anniversary of the first showing of Charlie Brown Christmas. And while most of us grew up watching the animated special there were a number of hesitations about the show when it was aired. As a matter of fact, for…
They are going to the chapel
Who would have thunk? After living together for thirty years they are finally tying the knot. And I don’t know what was more of a shock, reading about the wedding or seeing the picture of the happy couple. She doesn’t look much different than she did when I had a crush on her when I…
I hear singing!
So, the other day I was strolling through Walmart when I heard it. At first I thought I had just imagined what they were singing about, but when I stopped and paid closer attention I confirmed that was what they were singing. And nobody seemed outraged, as a matter of fact I don’t think anyone…
The Scandal of Grace
They held his hands firmly against the un-planed timber and placed the rough iron spikes over the junction of his wrists. The roman centurion lifted the mall and drove the first spike home with one swing. The man bucked and twisted in agony as the metal pierced his wrist like white hot fire, pinning his…
Something I didn’t know
I stumbled across something the other day that I didn’t know. Unlike our neighbours to the south, our leaders very rarely talk about their faith publically. We all seem to know that Stephen Harper was an Evangelical Christian, but I never actually heard him mention it. Maybe everyone learned a lesson from Stockwell Day. But…
Grace in an Awkward Situation
Grace in an Awkward Situation I knew something changed between us, all the talk we made was small, but what do you say to someone when they’ve heard you say it all. It’s an awkward conversation in a most peculiar way. How did we get from saying I love you to I’ll see you around…