I came across some old pictures the other day and saw one of my mother and me. It wasn’t the first time I’d seen that picture, but this time I realized a few things. When that picture was taken, John F. Kennedy was still alive, as were Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy. WW 2…
Who is my Neighbour
“You can’t force someone to be a good Samaritan.” Those words were spoken by Constable Liz Newton of the Ontario Provincial Police in a news article relating to an incident that happened in Springwater Ontario earlier in the month. After a car carrying two teenagers crashed and caught on fire, witnesses took photos and videos…
Where are you Heading?
I thought I knew where I was going. Apparently, I didn’t. Last Saturday, Stefan asked me to give him a ride back from the U-Haul in Bayers Lake after he returned the truck from their move. And I was pretty sure I knew where that U-Haul location was, but it was not there. That mistake…
Where are you Standing?
I read recently that Canada Goose, the clothing manufacturer, has made the decision to stop using real coyote fur to trim their down-filled coats. The decision came after years of protest from the animal rights community. And I wondered, what about the geese?Collecting goose down isn’t the same as shearing a sheep. It’s more like…
A Life Well Lived
Last Sunday morning I read of the passing of an old friend, and I reflected on our relationship.Russell was part of the congregation of the church I pastored in Truro. When we arrived his family had been worshipping at Truro Wesleyan for close to forty years. Most Sundays you would find Russell and Marjorie, his…
Mapping our Blind Spots
Last week I had an appointment at the eye clinic for my annual visual field test. There are very few things in life that I am as bad at and dislike as much as a visual field test—just saying.As a part of the test, the technician told me she had to map my blind spot.…
And We’re Back
And I’m back! Did you miss me? Did you even know I was gone? The Penn of Denn was a COVID-related casualty during the time that handing someone a bulletin on Sunday Morning was frowned upon. But now I’m back. The last Penn was written the week after the debacle of last year’s US election.…
The Danger of Judging
The words of Matthew 7:1 are not so much a command as they are a warning. A warning that seems to be relevant to the debacle of last week’s U.S. election. Jesus warned people and nations, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” For years the United States has stood in judgement of countries around…
Change. . . Love it or hate it.
Nobody likes change. Well actually, some people thrive on change, but most people don’t. Robert Kriegel wrote, “Nobody likes change, except busy cashiers and babies with wet diapers” and he was mostly right. We like the routine and we like the familiar, but the reality is that change in life is inevitable. Cornerstone is in a constant state…
Enjoy the Fall?
I reposted a meme the other day that said, “Someone asked me if I had plans for the fall. It took me a moment to realize they meant autumn and not the collapse of civilization.”Some days as we look around, we wonder if we are witnessing the collapse of civilization as we know it. Unfolding around…