Love will always reach out toward the eternal. Love comes from that place within us where death cannot enter. Love does accept the limits of hours, days, weeks, months, years, or centuries. Love is not willing to be imprisoned by … Read more
Author Archive
The Meaning Of Millennium
It's coming, and before you realize it, you will be living in a new millennium. That may be something of a yawn for you, but 1000 years ago there were riots, upheavals, uncertainty and fear to mark the end of … Read more
Back To The Future
Leonard Cohen wrote the lyrics to The Future and we hear: Give me back the Berlin wall Give me Stalin and St. Paul I've seen the future, brother: It is murder. Cohen was only partially joking when he invoked the … Read more
Through The Labour To Life
Let me set a scene. A wonderful woman and her family has become part of our worshipping family. She joined us from a tradition that probably does not exalt the place of women in the life of the church and … Read more
Our Powerless God (4)
The powerlessness of the manger becomes the powerlessness of the cross and the taunts and jeers of the crowd were correct: "He saved others; he cannot save himself." Indeed he cannot save himself. He hangs there, his flesh torn apart … Read more
Our Powerless God (3)
Today, I would like to share a few words from Henry Nouwen: It is through total and unmitigated powerlessness that God shows us divine mercy. The radical, divine choice is the choice to reveal glory, beauty, truth, peace, joy, and, … Read more
Our Powerless God (2)
There are strange paradoxes to our faith that often elude us in the subtlety of their message and meaning. For example, the great God of Creation came to us as a helpless baby. This same God who holds the stars … Read more
Our Powerless God (1)
In the movie titled "The Ref", there is an amusing scene where a married couple, who argue and yell at each other constantly, are being held hostage by a man who breaks into their home. Tired of listening to them, … Read more
In Sync With The Cycles
It took a woman to remind me ( yes, gently) that most things in life come in cycles, natural rhythms – the rising and ebbing of the tide, the waxing and waning of the moon, the cycles of the body … Read more
Seeker And Searcher
From the journal of a "seeker and searcher" in my congregation: "Ken also said that maybe God is searching for me more than I am searching for God. "Yes! "I needed to be reminded of that! God knows where this … Read more
When The Word Is Heard
Preachers preach and often have very little feedback and/or comment. I have been 'peeking' at my ministry through the eyes of one of my church family. Recently she wrote: "Of course, last Sunday's sermon was about healing of body, mind … Read more
The Life I Live
Martin Luther once wrote about the letter to the Galatians: "It is my epistle; I have betrothed myself to it; it is my wife." (He must have written this before his marriage to Catherine!) We all have words to which … Read more
As It Happens: A Life Of Suffering (7)
Christianity is one of the strangest religions in the world because it is based on rock-solid reality and on life as it is. Christianity, at its best, refuses the convenient way out, of "pie-in- the-sky-when-we-die" and would have us down … Read more
As It Happens: A Life Of Suffering (6)
Countless stories could be told of those who triumphed over sickness, suffering and sorrow, and went on to be there for others in need: the cancer survivor at the beside of one troubled by what tomorrow may bring; the alcoholic … Read more
As It Happens: A Life Of Suffering (5)
Here is a prayer that is eternal in its truth and a prayer that will see us through many of the dark days: God grant me the serenity to accept what cannot change, the courage to change what should be … Read more
As It Happens: A Life Of Suffering (4)
I really don't need to go into the list of life's disasters that befell Paul. We've already heard of the human and natural disasters that tried to overwhelm him and end his journey of faith. It's a long list, those … Read more
As It Happens: A Life Of Suffering (3)
In one of Graham Greene's novels the hero is talking with his wife about her malicious father, Dr. Fisher. She asks her husband: "Have you a soul?" "I think I have one — shop worn but still there, but if … Read more
As It Happens: A Life Of Suffering (2)
We all have two experiences of the events of life: the good that happens to us and the bad that seeks to break us. The question is: which leads to our growth and our spiritual maturity? I don't want to … Read more
As It Happens: A Life Of Suffering (1)
OK, I know many of you have experienced the dark and difficult things of life including suffering and sorrow, loss and loneliness, despair and disease, and a host of other circumstances that make life seem too hard to take. The truism … Read more
Putting On Christ
I remember as a child hearing a story about a famous actor who was invited to play the part of Jesus Christ. As was the actor's custom he studied the 'character' in order to be able to 'feel' the part. … Read more
The Power Of Pain
A story is told about a rabbi [a teacher], and one of his students. One day the student comes up to him and says, "Teacher, I love you." "Do you know what hurts me?" "No," says the young man, "I … Read more
A Few More Steps Toward Eternity
Malcolm Muggeridge at 84 wrote an article entitled Beyond Death. "And so I live, just for each day, knowing my life will soon be over, and that I, like Michelangelo at the end of his life… 'have loved my friends … Read more
Good Bye Birdie
On April 22 Birdie Cantin died. He was only 66 and he probably died of lung cancer. He is not a household name. He is Anishanabe — a native from the Kenora, Ontario, area. He went to the Cecilia Jeffrey … Read more
At All Times
The poor woman did recover. At least I think she recovered. She met me in the lobby of the hospital while she was checking in for surgery. We talked for awhile and as a casual conversation-ender she said, "Pray for … Read more
Teach Us To Pray
Sometimes in ministry you are given the opportunity to browse the library of a friend who is retiring with the expectation you will find a gem to carry home. During one such experience, I came across a book by William … Read more
Going Down With Your Ship
First in! Cousin Bill and I are the very first in the water this year, wet snow falling as our boats make their first splash. Except mine makes a little extra splash and settles just a little deeper in the … Read more
I Need A Break
It's getting closer. Summer is just around the corner and I am really in need. This year I've decided I'm going on holiday. I've had enough of vacations for awhile. Yes, I definitely need a holiday. What's the difference, you … Read more
The Right Stuff – Part 3
I have just finished my term as President of the Atlantic Ecumenical Council, and what a two years it has been! One of the last acts of my Presidency was to praise God for the contribution of people who have … Read more
The Right Stuff – Part 2
Mallott one commented: "Without heroes plain people don't know how far they can go." Some world-famous people may be worthy of admiration such as Mother Theresa, Nelson Mandella, Martin Luther King Jr. But for today, look a little closer to … Read more
The Right Stuff – Part 1
Mallott once commented: "Without heroes plain people don't know how far they can go." Who are the heroes in your life? Why are they heroes? What makes them so special you would wish to be like them? The first book … Read more
Begin With Yourself
Our Youth Group was watching Chicken Soup Live, a portion on Self-Esteem, and the actor talked about a wasted life of seeking change, transforming the world (which is often the dream of the young). Only in old age was the … Read more
Let Your "No" Mean "No"
Bishop Desmund Tutu once said during the most difficult days in the struggle against apartheid, "I do not want to reform it, I want to destroy it forever." There are times and circumstances when the Christians' only response to a … Read more
Reconciliation
John Westerhoff was invited to Northern Ireland to lead a spiritual retreat on reconciliation with a mixed group of Catholics and Protestants, young and old. He was feeling like a failure as the week slipped by and old animosities seemed … Read more