I found the reflection on the scripture readings for October 22nd, 2016 contained in the WORD AMONG US particularly instructive. The Gospel passage [Luke 13: 1-9] contained the parable of the fig tree. The authors of the WORD AMONG US focused on Luke 13: 8, “I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it”. … More GRAFTING THE FRUIT TREE

I like Dorothy Day’s comment “Common sense in religion is rare, and we are too often trying to be heroic instead of just ordinarily good and kind”. There is no doubt that many of us are wired to take charge and to make things happen. This is true in matters of spirituality as it is … More LEAVE THE HEROISM TO JESUS

This morning I have an opportunity in the stillness of our 5th wheel at Riverside near Keremeos to reflect on how fortunate I am to be in relationship with Jesus and to thank my mother whose 94th birthday it is today although cancer claimed her at age 78. My mother was my spiritual mentor from my … More CELEBRATING THE STILLNESS

Nicky Gumbo of Alpha fame uses an amusing analogy to demonstrate how Christians can miss the mark. He tells the story of a fellow who purchased a brand new BMW which he secured carefully in his garage. Retrieving the manual for the vehicle, he decided he would study it. For the next couple of months … More MISSING THE MARK

It’s become fashionable in recent years for people to announce that they have directed their minds to things that they hope to acquire or events they wish to participate in or places they wish to visit during their lifetime. This is often referred to as the “bucket list”. This activity is not new. It’s likely … More WHAT’S ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?

If you feel assaulted and assailed by our modern culture the fact that you do is a good thing. The tide of modern culture seems determined to wash away the essential underpinnings of our Christian values. If you haven’t been violently buffeted about, you need to carefully analyze your relationship with your God for you … More HOLDING FAST ON A TURNING TIDE

One of the great challenges we have as Christians is to stay on course. To do that, we have to begin to recognize the importance of spiritual navigation. As is the case with most undertakings we pursue in life, some time and energy must be allocated to the study of the process of spiritual navigation … More STAYING THE COURSE

How easy it is to forget the freedom that Jesus won for us on the Cross. How easy, as well, it is to be careless in navigating the pitfalls the world presents to us each day for it is often that carelessness that erodes our precious freedom so that eventually we can cease to be … More PROTECTING OUR FREEDOM

As popular sentiment often expresses, we can be our own worst enemy. This is true for all of us whether we are Christian or not. This sentiment lies resident in our inclination to doubt ourselves, to unnecessarily fret or worry over issues beyond our control and as the saying goes to “make a mountain out … More SEEKING THE FATHER

As Christians, familiar with Mathews Gospel, we’ve been told to look for “good fruit” [“By their fruits you will know them”: Mathew 7: 20]. Jesus advised this in response to the inevitable arrival on the Christian landscape of “false prophets” who would arrive in “sheep’s clothing” to deceive the faithful. As a result we often … More DENYING THE FALSE PROPHETS