After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you.”  (Genesis 22: 1,2).  O.k.  All of you who skipped over the Bible verses at the beginning of this blog, please go back and read it now.  Yes, I know you do that.  At least I do.  I’m always “I’ll get the gist in the text; I … Read more

Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.  By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.  (Genesis 2: 1,2)  Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some … Read more

    The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  (Lamentations 3: 22-23) He brought me out of the miry clay, He set my feet on the Rock to stay; He puts a song in my soul today, A song of praise, hallelujah!  (Henry Zelley)   The world is on fire.  At least that’s what it feels like.  And I don’t mean this just physically, although as I write this there are still 425 active wildfires in Canada, and the acrid smoke is affecting … Read more

As we seek to carry out this ministry, we will be intentional about how we fully include all in Christ’s love and service. This means that in our work as a Regional Council we will actively seek equity for, and participation from, the full diversity of God’s Creation; seeking racial justice, identifying and undermining colonialism, celebrating all sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, valuing linguistic and cultural diversity, seeking to include all who face challenges with their mental and physical health or social and economic circumstances.  (Except from the ‘Living Call Statement’ for the EOORC.  Adopted in May 2023)   … Read more

9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”  (Acts 1: 9-11)   I was lookin’ for love in all the wrong places Lookin’ for … Read more

but God has surely listened     and has heard my prayer. Praise be to God,     who has not rejected my prayer     or withheld his love from me! (Psalm 66: 19-20)   Here we are!  (Daniel Cook from “This is Daniel Cook”)   You are here, and so this is God’s will for your life.  (Richard Foster)   When my kids were little, we used to watch this children’s program called “This is Daniel Cook”.  It Canadian children’s television show that was about a 7-year-old boy (age 7 to 8 in the first seasons but age 9 in the … Read more

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58) My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises!  (Psalm 57:7)   stead·fast (adjective) resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering. “steadfast loyalty” (Oxford Language Dictionary)   I was intrigued this week by the sense of “settling in” that we have in our Bethel Community.  We all are moving beyond the scramble and heightened anxiety of the Covid pandemic and are settling into … Read more

14 Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. (Matthew 26: 14-16) be·tray verb past tense: betrayed; past participle: betrayed expose (one’s country, a group, or a person) to danger by treacherously giving information to an enemy. “a double agent who betrayed some 400 British and French agents to the Germans”   This week, as … Read more

  Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he (Proverbs 29:18, KJV). I’m gonna make it to heaven (Fame) Light up the sky like a flame (Fame) Oh I’m gonna live forever (Fame) Baby, remember my name (Irene Cara, from ‘Fame’)   The movie ‘Fame’ came out when I was in early high school.  Yes, I know you all can do the math, and yes I am that old.  I saw the movie several times in the theatre and then was glued to the television series when it came out about … Read more