Category: Uncategorized
-
Grace for Thorns
Idealism is always deflated by pragmatic reality. Perfection scuffed and scarred with imperfection. Resolutions crumble over time. It’s the way of the world. Always has been. Should such revelation lead to despair? By no means. Perhaps a more constructive path is found in humility, awareness, acceptance, and grace. The noisy talk of our time bends…
-
-
It’s Not About Perfection
So what is it like living in your world? Does everyone have to agree, be perfect, do the right thing, never show flaws, believe in lockstep, look good? Do you have to perform, never make a mistake, be seen to be above reproach, hide your true feelings, swallow your tongue, avert your eyes, pretend? In…
-
For Bev – a Fond Farewell
“Nice to meet you, I’m Bev, welcome to Port Alberni.” October 1985. Bev’s husband Elmer, and Dr. Chris Muller had met me at the ferry terminal in Nanaimo. I was the new Pastor arriving from Cape Town to take up the position at St. Alban’s Church in Port Alberni. My first stop in town was…
-
Sorrow and Grief
Talking about mental health and struggles has at long last become less hidden, stigmatizing, or taboo. Where the denial of negative, or awkwardness with depression, and many tough human conditions was better worked out behind drawn curtains. We are finally embracing the reality that life is a very mixed bag of stuff. Even in the…
-
Compartments or …?
Controversy is everywhere in this tumultuous time. Like buried tires burst to the surface refusing to remain hidden, issues, long contentious, are doing the same. Of course Ukraine’s defense of it’s independence is front and center – and rightly so. Freedom, democracy, bullying tactics, the role of the church (the Pope warned Patriarch Krill, the…
-
Why, How, When?
Do you have questions? As many as I do? Probably so. There is so much happening around us to evoke good questions worthy of meaningful answers. And frequently in grasping for explanations we accept easy replies and quick fixes. Accusations and blame provide a smug self-satisfied comfort… “If they had, then we wouldn’t be here.”…
-
Favor Please
Over the past year I have published two books that I would appreciate some help to market. Anyone who knows me will know that I detest self-promotion (yes, I thinks it’s as strong as that). However I do not have a platform of speaking or church to provide a marketing opportunity. Publishers say that the…
Googling God 