Monthly Archives: December 2010

Part of my family legacy are letters my father left when he passed away a year ago at the age of 91.  They are the remnant of a visit he took to Ontario in the 1930’s when he was around 20 years old.  I’m trying to type them out and having a hoot!  I think that even might be an expression from back when he wrote those letters – he would have been around 20 at that point!

So, here’s a little bit from one letter.  Talk about how youth continue to be the same while believing they are totally different.  Have fun!

A few Sunday’s ago they announced that they wanted names handed in for the church down here to be considered at council meeting. Well, I got Marshall to hand in Mountain Veiw Church because there is a very good view from the door. The church has always been called 6^th Line but they wanted something official or something. Well, they brought it up at the meeting today and they had a list of 14 names written on the blackboard such as Batteau Creek church, Cedar Grove, Cedar creek, Cedar Lawn, Blue Mountain View, Mountain View, Berean Church, Dutch Settlement, Mount Zion, Sunshine Church, that’s all I can think of and then somebody wrote on the tail end 6^th Line church. Well, I canvassed around all I could for Mountain View and then after dinner we voted. It came out between these 4, Batteau Creek, Cedar Lawn, Mountain View and 6^th Line. We voted again and what do you think. 6^th line church came out ahead, and Mountain View close on its heels. Oh boy! Some of the people were sure discustipated to think that that old name “6^th Line” won. I don’t see how it ever came out ahead because nearly everybody seems to be pout out about it. I guess it was just all the old conservative types who voted for it.

You’ve got to love that 1938 word – “discustipated”.  And how about church politics – they’ve been around for a long time.

Now, on to a youth thing!

Say, a bunch of us guys got an awful trick played on us today. It was at noon. Council starts at 10 am down here and then we had 1 ½ hr. noon hour before the afternoon session. Well, anyway Roville and Marshall and Don Marplet & I were standing around not knowing what to do with ourselves. We happened to spy the empty back seat of Vic Appleton’s car so I made a b-line for it and the other guys followed. We got in and here if Lila, and Lela and Mary Lou weren’t parking the front seat (of course, we didn’t know it? Shush?) Lila had the nerve to tell me I was getting as bad as her.

Well, we had only been there about 5 minutes discussing the weather & other unimportant topics when along came Mrs. Swalm and told Lela she better come into the church. She tried to get out of going in but her mother insisted so she had to go & so Lila and Mary Lou went too. We had the whole car to ourselves then but we might have rather had it crowded, we might have been able to keep warmer.

My wife asked God to stretch her.  After going through a cashier line, the cashier, whom she barely knows, approached her and asked to meet with her to talk. 

I sat with a social worker who is inaugurating a wellness program.  Our ministerial were asked to participate after we had pointed out that we are the “professionals” in town related to spirituality.  Because a number of social workers have come to know me, they felt comfortable with opening up this avenue of participation.

Sometimes just being around long enough helps to establish rapport in a town.  Sometimes just being there let’s God establish rapport with those around you.  Which ever way it works, God has this plan to intersect our lives with the lives of others, for His sake.

Thanks, God, for opportunities that you bring our way!

I’ve had a sheet of paper in my possession for the last few months.  Ripped from a Christian magazine, there is a website indicated to get to podcasts from Beeson Divinty School (www.beesondivinity.com/podcast).

I happened upon Sinclair Ferguson’s podcast with Timothy George.  In the midst of listening (and I’m not a regular podcast listener), Sinclair is talking about preaching.  He says that some days the worst sermons he preaches, from his perspective, are the ones that touch people.

I had one of those times recently.  When I got up on Sunday I had already told the operator of our PowerPoint that I wasn’t sure what I was going to say.  I had a script, but it was missing something.  I knew it.  And time marches on, regardless of  who you are or what you feel! 

So I stood and preached on hope – the first Sunday of Advent , November 28th (you can find the sermon through our church website – www.kindersleyalliance.com – check out the sermon tab).  I found myself being passionate and strangely found the listeners listening.

After service I placed the sermon on the internet.

I decided to listen to it. 

Once again. 

I seldom do that.

Listening to what I said confirmed some things I truly believe.  From my heart and not just the script.  I’m  glad I listened!

Sometimes the unscripted moments are the ones we need to go back to.  To look at our passions.  To realize that our weakness is God’s strength.  To listen to what God has placed on our hearts.

Go back to the time you compassionately spoke to your child about their future.  The time you said sorry because you really were.  The time you leaned forward in your chair to make a point. 

Go back to the unscripted times and see what God was saying to you and through you.

So, we’re sitting here listening to the show – “The Sing Off”.  This is music without instruments.  I love it.

My own background is in vocals.  Anything that showcases the voice . . . I love to see how it’s done.  A Yale group just did that thing . . . sassy and traditional, loud and soft, dynamics that were unbelievable.

So, for two hours I’m actually watching a show that I wouldn’t mind being on!  It makes me want to sing!