Promises, Promises

I promise! Dangerous words, let me tell you. I am of the impression that no two words can reveal our character with more precision. No two words can so easily attract the interest of those who want to catch us out, trip us up, put us down. We see it played out in politics every […]

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Pharisee? Me?

God gave the sacrificial system to the Israelites. In Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy we are introduced to what Paul would later call “the tutor.” (Galatians 3:24). The Law was intended to lead us to Christ, to teach about the necessity of sacrifice, and to anticipate the “fullness of time” when Christ’s sacrifice would ultimately […]

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Peace that Exceeds Understanding

Peace. Whisper the word to yourself and you can almost feel your heart relax. When you’re at peace, you feel an inner confidence that things are not running wild—regardless of the circumstances. Your mind is at rest. Your heart doesn’t flutter with anxiety. Your focus is clear. But far too often, peace is like that […]

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Living Well

If there was one thing my dad taught me, it was to enjoy language – to find pleasure in the way words work together. Puns, riddles, crosswords and spelling games were the à la carte fun-fare when I was a lad. His favourite poem was “If” by Rudyard Kipling. But should someone ask him if […]

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Let’s Be Thankful for Angels

As I’ve said for years, it’s thanksgiving, not thankskeeping. So, let’s go there. Autumn…harvest…it is the best time of year to give thanks . . . to count our blessings. Have you counted your blessings lately? If not, allow me to prime the pump. Start with broad categories, such as family members, close friends, and […]

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Jellyfish Ministry

Recently while in Cuba I walked along a beautiful beach and came upon a jellyfish that had washed ashore. It seems high winds and strong currents had pushed hundreds of them toward the shore with many being cast up on the sand to await death. I bent down and, careful so as to not be […]

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Injustice

The old prophet Habakkuk wrote relevant words of truth when he put this down in the first chapter of his prophecy: Yes, destruction and violence are before me; Strife exists and contention arises. Therefore the law is ignored And justice is never upheld. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore justice comes out perverted. (Habakkuk […]

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In the Bleak Mid-Winter

Every season of the year can bring its own characteristic blessing. The far-off summer holds warm memories and hopeful expectations of riverside picnics, days at the beach, and lazy naps in the sun. Autumn has that first tang of wood smoke in the air, the trees in glorious gold and the promise of hot soups […]

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In Living Colour

There used to be a cinema by the bridge in Windsor called the ABC Playhouse. It’s long gone now, but it was a special place to me. As a boy I saw Mary Poppins there, the first feature length film I had seen that incorporated cartoon animation with live actors. Penguins for waiters – what […]

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How to Make Zero Progress this Year

With the dawning of a new year comes a deluge of resolutions, reminders, and exhortations. They all follow similar how-to themes—how to increase your efficiency, how to make every moment count, how to lose weight, how to invest your time wisely and productively. Well, just for fun, I’d like to take the opposite tack. I’m […]

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