Posts

Showing posts from October, 2007

Changing Seasons

Image
Learn more about our life situation in this brief article. It's been tough recently, but not entirely bleak. Find out why in... CHANGING SEASONS Discovering the bittersweet nature of sorrow http://www.testimonymag.com/testimonymag/oct07.htm NOTE: In the next issue of the Testimony magazine (Nov.) my wife, Joy, will write from her perspective. Don't miss it! P.S. Please pass along to your friends. Our humble hope is that someone will find it helpful.

"Special" Needs - What is Normal Anyway?

Every ‘special needs’ child is a symbol … of the triumph of Life. After visits of our own to Children's Hospital, and hearing from both families and professional caregivers I wrote the following article ... A long hardwood table centers the sullen room; around it sit a number of medical professionals in conference with a couple of young parents. Their oldest is about to enter Kindergarten. Normally an exciting time of wonder and anticipation, this meeting was to confirm five years of mounting fears: “Our conclusion is that your child seems to be functioning cognitively at the moderate-to-severe handicap level.” What does a parent feel, hearing such a verdict? As we ask that question, in all of our lives we can recognize there will be times where, as one suffering parent described it, we find ourselves ‘grieving the loss of expectations’, of dreams not realized. This is common ground for us to find a starting place of understanding: Some suffer loss during pregnan

TIME for Bible Literacy in Schools?

Image
(How well do you know your Bible?) clipped from www.time.com The Case for Teaching The Bible (Cover Story) Should the Holy Book be taught in public schools? Yes. It's the bedrock of Western culture. And when taught right, it's even constitutional I went to the Dr.'s yesterday about a lung infection and saw this on the top of the pile of magazines ... I put aside any hypochondria-tendencies and just had to give it a read. Check it out ... let me know what you think (i.e., as a Canadian). http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1601845,00.html Here are some excerpts: Should the Holy Book be taught in public schools? Yes. It's the bedrock of Western culture. And when taught right, it's even constitutional. Miss Kendrick came ready, with props. The day's topic was the Gospel of Matthew. "You can divide all the Beatitudes into two parts," Jennifer Kendrick explained to her teenage audience. "The 'Blessed are the whateve

QUESTIONS OF LIFE: University Student Interview on Comparative Religions

O ne Sunday, a student from Simon Fraser University dropped into my life asking politely if she could interview me as a Pastor about 'Christianity' for a course on Comparative Religions... What would you say? Well, I didn't know what I was in for: The list she came back was as long as my arm (25!), so I'm going to post these thought-provoking questions - along with a humble attempt at some answers. I'm adding Q's as I update this blog, so check back. DON'T FORGET TO TAKE THE POLL (left) . I am curious to know which topics connect with you. ...We can build on them. NOTE: Happy to say we are friends to this day. (What have you gained in winning an argument if you make an enemy??) 1. How long have you been a minister? At Steveston Christian Church? I’ve been in ministry for about 15 years, this being my 7 th year at SCC (at that time) . 2. What made you take up this occupation/calling? Have you ever doubted this choice? I really sensed G