Two books by two men from vastly different backgrounds, though still grounded in Christian tradition, tackle the meaning of society and what it means to live side by side with one another through a collection of their essays. Sex, Economy, Freedom & Community by Wendell Berry Wendell Berry is a giant thinker and wildly counter-cultural. … [Read more…]
On October 9 we celebrated Sukkōt, a biblical feast commemorating the time the Israelites spent in the wilderness. My father and his wife have been observing what are traditionally Jewish holy days for a few years now. They were visiting us in Calgary when the Feast of Tabernacles began so my father rigged up a … [Read more…]
Day 1 Claresholm, AB: Visitors Centre and Museum Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Heritage Site Frank, AB: Frank Slide Interpretive Centre Fernie, BC: Thrift Store Cranbrook, BC: Frank’s Steak and Schnitzel Haus Moyie Lake Provincial Park Day 2 Creston, BC: Black Bear Books Cafe & Kingfisher Used Book Store Nelson, BC: Hume Hotel Restaurant, downtown shopping, … [Read more…]
During our travels through southern BC, I was able to drop in to the Monastery of All Saints in Dewdney. The monastery has three residents and is presided over by Most Reverend Lazar Puhalo (Vladika), a retired archbishop (his biography is quite fascinating). I have been watching his YouTube videos for 3 or 4 years now, off … [Read more…]
Ever since I was able to distinguish what anabaptists were from baptists, I have been intrigued by their story and their theology. My interactions and knowledge of anabaptists and their later affiliates have been: seeing Hutterites at the farmer’s market and out and about the movie Witness set in an Amish settlement many friends who grew … [Read more…]
The other book I’ve read by Mark Noll profoundly changed the way I perceive Christianity, and for that I am grateful. That book was called The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind. It chronicled the history of evangelicalism in the United States and Canada from its roots of Methodism, Presbyterianism, big tent revivals, denominational splits and … [Read more…]
I was interested to see what rebuttals to such accusatory statements about Christianity like Christianity is against science Christianity supports slavery Hitler was a Christian Christianity is anti-intellectual Christianity resists progress Jesus never existed Christians are overly concerned about abortions There are ten chapters each addressing one of these lies. I personally did not take any issue … [Read more…]
June 20, eight Man Scouts from New Hope Church drove out to Silver Willow Sporting Club near Carstairs for an evening of shooting sporting clays with shotguns. Few things can compare to the sheer manliness of shooting a shotgun – maybe growing a beard? Anyway, we split into a couple teams and ran through the beginner/intermediate … [Read more…]
It’s been 1 year since I boarded a plane to visit two African countries and a community development organization in each one. Since that time, I’ve really let the ideas and realities of what is happening in these successful enterprises percolate. Here are the thoughts that have persisted. SOUTH AFRICA My first stop was Bhekulwandle, … [Read more…]
My friend Brian was murdered in his home on Christmas Eve in Belize. My father was among the early mission workers to work with Brian in the Valley of Peace, a refugee settlement. I knew Brian first as the father of my good friends Mandy, Robbie and Kory. I knew Brian second as an always … [Read more…]