Church

I’ve been preparing for a funeral.  When I came to town a year and a half ago she was already in our manor.  She remained sharp of mind for a good portion of the time.  Only recently had she had a stroke.  Alice passed away on Tuesday.

As I started talking to relatives and friends history began to unfold.  Not all roses, for there were thorns.  Alice had been given up early in life.  Her home setting was not always the best.  She married an alcoholic.  The effects of cancer, diabetes and othere illnesses made her life difficult.  A hip replacement later in life was another complication.

Was she an optimist?  You wouldn’t think so.  But this one characteristic came through in stories told to me by others.  Perhaps some of her optimism was naive.  Perhaps some was a defense mechanism.

I wonder, though, if a belief in Jesus as her Lord and Saviour tempered the bad.  And now she has a new perspective — eternal and definitely optimistic!

So, I’m sitting in a Bible college library.  20 years ago I had visited this library.  As a part of the tour of city libraries recently constructed, this was a prime example.  Now, two decades later, I’m back again.

Now there are computers situated on a row of tables by the wall.  The brick is light brown, almost an ash color.  The tables have flat screen monitors.  The CPU’s are up-to-date. 

It doesn’t surprise me that a student is sitting at a computer, talking to someone.  Skype and other telecommuication wonders are simple to use — simple to plug in to a host computer.

What does surprise me is the discussion.  Poker hands are being discussed.  He seems to be winning — somewhat.  Then he encourages the anonymous friend to place a bet — it’s part of the risk of life.

Somehow I’m amazed.  Poker in the library!

Maybe I’m old fashioned (and I probably am), but I guess I just find it hard to imagine a Bible college computer being used to gamble.  Or has entertainment now become acceptable no matter what the consequence and no matter where the location?

I drove into the driveway around 9:30 pm.  Left the outskirts of Edmonton around 5:00 our time (4:00 their time).

The last two days were taken with a lecture series by Dr. Aubrey Malphurs.  His specialty is in pastoral ministry with a push towards church management and church planting.  All things I’ve heard before, but it never hurts to be reminded.

When I arrived home I was informed that Alice Keller had passed away.  Looks like I’ll be leading a funeral this coming Saturday.  Tomorrow we’re off to Saskatoon for a check up on Jill’s pacemaker battery.  Friday I’ll lead our community Lenten Lunch service.  Nothing like something to keep you busy!!

Some people did!

As I write this early Saturday morning, I’m looking out the window.  The sun is not yet up.  The street lights are reflecting off fog.  

FOG? 

I’m a prairie boy.  For the last few years I’ve had to revisit my understanding of winter.  As a child fog was unheard of in February.  For the last two years I’ve seen fog in what should have been the coldest months of the year.

Brittle, harsh and uninvited cold I understand.  Piles of snow I expect.  But fog?

Which brings me to my craziness.  I love blizzards!  No visibility, swirling snow and chaos. 

These last two days we were promised a blizzard.  OK, the weather forecasters were predicting snow and blizzard conditions — which in their case is probably 80% of a promise.  Thursday night came with howling winds but no snow.  Friday came with snow but no gust of wind.  And this morning there is fog.

I’m ready!  Bring on the blizzard.  Make my day!