Justice In A Dangerous Time
I first came across the International Justice Mission when Jamie McIntosh was establishing the Canadian arm of the mission in Canada. It was 2002 and Jamie was thoroughly convinced of the message he had been given for the people of Canada. The mission of IJM Canada is “To protect the poor from violence by rescuing…
Continue readingFilling Our Lives
As we approach the most commercialized, consumerist, season of the year, it is appropriate to pause and consider our values once again. Let’s take a quick look at some of the messages given to us by the dominant culture at this time of year: buying things will make you happy if you buy one thing…
Continue readingFollow-Up to Passing Judgement
The love of those things that are outside Christianity keeps me outside the church. – Simone Weil as quoted in Duncan, David James. The Brothers K. New York: Random House, Inc., 2005.
Continue readingPassing Judgement
I often cringe when people suggest that we should all stop “judging.” Sometimes my cringe is because I feel bad for the person who feels that others are passing judgement on their actions. Sometimes I cringe because I feel that the person is seeking to justify actions that are certainly not worthy of praise. Sometimes…
Continue readingCanada and Germany
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are set to meet together to discuss austerity, European debt, and stagnant economic growth in many countries of the world. Both Germany and Canada have weathered global economic downturns well and some look toward them both as models for other countries. Yet, both countries continue…
Continue readingImmigrants
In an article in The Globe and Mail, Michael Valpy and Joe Friesen propose that it is largely the religious traditions of immigrants that are keeping our places of worship from closing. They point to the increasing secularization of native-born Canadians and contrast this with the steady faith of new immigrants to Canada. In 1985,…
Continue readingIncarnation
The incarnation of God is a concept that is difficult for many to understand and believe. The word simply means to take on flesh. One who is incarnate is embodied in flesh. Thus we speak of Jesus as being “God embodied in flesh” or taking on human form. It is a mysterious and difficult concept…
Continue readingTransformation
Recently, I had the privilege of being the “best man” at a wedding. I met the groom, whom I now count as a friend, seven years ago. We met through an organization called COSA# on the day that he was released from a federal penitentiary. This friend has been through many challenges and ups and…
Continue readingIf I Were You
(Wayne Watson, © 1995 Material Music/Word ASCAP) If I were You . . . if I ran this placeThere wouldn’t be no mercyThere wouldn’t be no graceAnd people that wander off and go astrayI’d make real sure that they would payYeh, that’s what I’d doIf I were You And if I were You . .…
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