A Healthy Church Takes Vitamin E

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I am grateful to our friends at The Blenheim News-Tribune for providing this space each week for pastors to share our “view from the pulpit.” Let me tell you about my view from the pulpit on Sundays. I don’t just see a congregation of people; I see a family. I see my family. I see … Read more

It Matters What You See

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“It matters what you see.” – a simple statement that so refreshed me recently: It’s obvious, seeing is our window to the world, and insight is influenced by sight. Remember the first time you laid eyes on your husband or wife-to-be? You saw him – all ‘decked out’ in his plaid shirt, blue jeans, work … Read more

Where Are the Nine?

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One day, Jesus entered a village and was met by ten people who were suffering from the horrible illness of leprosy. Standing at a distance, they called to Him for help because they had heard of His power to heal. Jesus could have cured them in that moment, but instead, He told them to go … Read more

“The God I Do NOT Understand!”

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I take advantage of many things I do NOT understand. Total understanding isn’t necessary in order to enjoy a thing that works. When I push a button, I don’t understand how I hear voices and watch the news LIVE – from around the world! I can face-time with Mom on Sunday evenings – 1000 miles … Read more

Looking Forward to School

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When I was young, this was the most depressing time of the year for me. The final days of summer freedom, leading up to Labour Day, which they said was a holiday, but it didn’t feel like a holiday. For me it was a sad day because the next day was (dare I say it?) … Read more

– 3:16 –

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3:16 appears frequently on placards and t-shirts at sports events. Sparked by WWE’s champion, Stone Cold Steve Austin, boasting of his dominance (1990s), over ten million ‘Austin 3:16’ t-shirts have sold – quite a merchandising success! More recently a venture between World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and the Toronto Maple Leafs resulted in the ‘Auston 3:16’ … Read more

Christians, Not Clones

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Imagine how different the world would be if everyone was just like me: There would be no doctors, because everyone in the world would get squeamish at the sight of blood. There would be no houses, because nobody would know how to build one. Sports would be boring, because everybody would cheer for the Dallas … Read more

CHICKENS

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I was intrigued with recent Chatham-Kent Council deliberations about the ‘urban chicken’. Concerns about loud roosters, rodents eating chicken feed, containment, and spreading disease made for ample debate. Chickens, or any bird for that matter, give me jitters. They threaten my comfort zone. As a child my fear, my flee or kill response, would reach … Read more

Don’t Listen to Me!

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Each Sunday I stand at a pulpit and talk for a long time. (Ask anyone in our church family; they will confirm this.) Why do people sit quietly and listen to what I have to say? Am I more interesting than the other people in the room? Certainly not! I am one of the least … Read more

When It Won’t Go Away (!)

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It’s one thing to have TROUBLE; it’s another thing when it won’t go away. Our struggle then includes TIMING – “This has gone on far too long!” Overwhelming feelings of frustration, weariness, loss and grief settle into our soul. Fear and anxiety can rise when, for an extended time, we sense being controlled (or out … Read more