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What sticks with us?

Tonight I was asked to spell a word – CHIRAC.  It was for a crossword my wife was doing.  The French president followed Mitterand. 

As I began to spell the word it was as though I could see the letters sitting on a canvas.  Perhaps I had the word in my memory banks from a previous time. 

I often wondered how people can have photographic memories.

Well, my guess is my brain can’t develop whole pictures.  But maybe a few letters at a time.  I’d be satisfied with that.

Now, if I could just remember how to spell – “GO TO BED.”

Aiden Wilson Tozer was a Christian prophet of the last century.  His books are read across denominational lines – his denomination was the Christian and Missionary Alliance, the denomination in which I serve.

Here is a quote taken from his book, Of God and Men, published in 1960.  The prediction relates to 2010!

“We must have a better kind of Christian soon or within another half century we may have no true Christianity at all.” (p. 36-37)

Perhaps God is sparing us because there is a remnant of people who truly desire to follow God.  Despite my imperfections, missteps and sin, I am one of those.  May God continue to give me, and others who desire to be a “better Christian”, wisdom to reach this world with the good news of Jesus, and not some version of Christianity that is a mere shadow of what God intended!!

With all the traffic over the internet and in emails I get overwhelmed with forwards, quotes and information.  I think we are in the information age where the delete button is a great help.  At the same time, every once in a while you find something that hits you as a great universal thought.

Here is one of those quotes found tucked in an email devotional I received recently:

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” – Maria Robinson

Here in Kindersley we are after the $100,000 that comes with being proclaimed Hockeyville by CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation).  Some think it has almost become exploitative, based on the emotion of this past week and the fire that activated a rush of community adrenaline.

Then, today, we hear of Haiti and the earthquake that may have killed 100,000 people.  They need funds and fast!  Is our $100,000 worth 100,000 lives?

That’s what I’m hearing. 

Now, I support the rebuilding of an arena and an arts and culture centre.   I just want to be sure we do not incline so much towards our own interests that we lose sight of human tragedy. 

Perhaps we should pledge that upon receipt of $100,000 from Hockeyville, we as a town pledge to give an equal amount to a worthy cause regarding a human plight somewhere in this world?