Merry Christmas to all..........
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Posted:Dec 24, 2006 5:21 pm
Last Updated:Dec 30, 2006 9:47 pm 2826 Views
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I'm taking a moment to express my gratitude to all the folks here for sharing the Good News with me over the many months I have been a member. It is always nice to get feedback and to share one's beliefs about the God who revealed himself through Jesus.
I wish all of you a happy, holy and peaceful Christmas. May Jesus be the that brings each of you a new gift this Christmas. There is no better gift than Him and no clearer light than His for our path.
Merry Christmas!
Chris
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Well Praise God!
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Posted:Nov 27, 2006 11:16 am
Last Updated:Dec 2, 2006 7:33 pm 2821 Views
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Wow! My poor mobile home is in desperated need of a new furnace and work in the last 6 weeks has been hard to come by. So another miracle I have been praying for.
Just last week I had a phone call from a friend who desperately needed my skills to supervise a night shift some 3 hours drive from here. It came in the nick of time despite the good economy here. It has been hard to find work for myself given my particular issues with arthritis. So now with the work I have for the next week I should be able to purchase a new mobile home furnace which is about $3,000.00 !
Yesterday I was unable to get to church given our poor weather as it is minus 35 with the wind chill factor-- and the distance travelling back and forth-- so I used my bible and read some wonderful verses from the psalms.
God truly is wonderfull. I thank him profusely for the magnificent work he is doing; for the ability to work and the diverse talents I have with which to find work. Just keep praising the Lord!
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A Canadian perspective on the American political scene
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Posted:Nov 8, 2006 6:42 pm
Last Updated:Dec 28, 2006 7:36 pm 2718 Views
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I know that my knowledge of American politics is somewhat lacking from many points of view-- but today I simply had to acknowledge the immense power shift in the United States. I realize that our own Canadian system of politics is very different-- but none the less it is still democratic. So I was happy to see that democracy was employed in the United States and the people have chosen a new direction for the Bush government.
Many who have read my blog know that I am not a fan of the George Bush approach to solving world issues of conflict-- in that war in my view should be the very last option that one chooses. I remain firm that Iraq should never have been invaded. I am opposed to my own government's attempt to help in Afghanistan also. I know that many people on this site fully disagree with me about the Muslim people. I still believe that Christians are called to love our enemies and not simply take up the sword to defeat them. There has to be a way out of conflict without resorting to war.
So this evening I am in prayer for the entire people of the United States. I pray for all who are still bitter at the outcome of yesterday's election; I pray that there be some peace between all parties and their constituents. I pray that the Lord will help restore the United States to the prominent position it once held in international affairs. And I especially pray for the soldiers on the front lines who will be more vulerable now than ever.
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Women and breast cancer
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Posted:Oct 12, 2006 1:38 pm
Last Updated:Oct 16, 2006 8:03 pm 2723 Views
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Well what's a man doing talking about breast cancer you ask. Well I tell you-- it's everybody's problem just as women should not be shy to share information on cancer that is specifically related to men. I have had so many friends die of cancer and seen so much death related to cancer you just know that we are never out of the woods ourselves-- so the more we care about others and preventing this terrible disease the better.
Prayer is a great remedy for many things and I truly believe in its power. I have attended prayer meetings and seen miracles regarding this disease. But I am also a believer in good science.
Today I noticed on the news that they have made some interesting study about women and breast cancer being related to farm work. I hereby share this with you and pray at the same time for anyone suffering from breast cancer and other cancers-- that God would somehow move us to work more diligently to providing a cure and the knowledge of what the cause is. It took years to designate tobacco as one cause-- but I think the time has come to make other co-relations as well. God bless to all!
Breast cancer more common in farm workers: study
Last Updated: Thursday, October 12, 2006 | 12:11 PM ET
CBC News
Women who worked on farms were almost three times more likely to develop breast cancer than non-farm workers, suggests a new Canadian study that raises questions about the relationship between work history and the disease.
The 18-month study looked at 564 women in the Windsor area aged 55 or under who were diagnosed with breast cancer, including 154 who had worked on farms.
Women who had worked on farms were 2.8 times more likely to develop breast cancer than non-farmers randomly selected from the region's population, according to the study in Thursday's issue of the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.
Exposure to pesticides or other farm contaminants such as diesel fumes or growth hormones may explain the increased risk, said study author James Brophy, executive director of the Occupational Health Clinic for Ontario Workers in Windsor.
The link was found after Brophy and his colleagues factored out traditional breast cancer risk factors such as genetics, smoking, age, number of and use of hormone replacement therapies. About half of women with breast cancer don't have any of these known risk factors.
Farming history
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Women and breast cancer
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Posted:Oct 12, 2006 12:35 pm
Last Updated:Jan 5, 2007 7:55 pm 2665 Views
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Well what's a man doing talking about breast cancer you ask. Well I tell you-- it's everybody's problem just as women should not be shy to share information on cancer that is specifically related to men. I have had so many friends die of cancer and seen so much death related to cancer you just know that we are never out of the woods ourselves-- so the more we care about others and preventing this terrible disease the better.
Prayer is a great remedy for many things and I truly believe in its power. I have attended prayer meetings and seen miracles regarding this disease. But I am also a believer in good science.
Today I noticed on the news that they have made some interesting study about women and breast cancer being related to farm work. I hereby share this with you and pray at the same time for anyone suffering from breast cancer and other cancers-- that God would somehow move us to work more diligently to providing a cure and the knowledge of what the cause is. It took years to designate tobacco as one cause-- but I think the time has come to make other co-relations as well. God bless to all!
Breast cancer more common in farm workers: study
Last Updated: Thursday, October 12, 2006 | 12:11 PM ET
CBC News
Women who worked on farms were almost three times more likely to develop breast cancer than non-farm workers, suggests a new Canadian study that raises questions about the relationship between work history and the disease.
The 18-month study looked at 564 women in the Windsor area aged 55 or under who were diagnosed with breast cancer, including 154 who had worked on farms.
Women who had worked on farms were 2.8 times more likely to develop breast cancer than non-farmers randomly selected from the region's population, according to the study in Thursday's issue of the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.
Exposure to pesticides or other farm contaminants such as diesel fumes or growth hormones may explain the increased risk, said study author James Brophy, executive director of the Occupational Health Clinic for Ontario Workers in Windsor.
The link was found after Brophy and his colleagues factored out traditional breast cancer risk factors such as genetics, smoking, age, number of and use of hormone replacement therapies. About half of women with breast cancer don't have any of these known risk factors.
Farming history
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Islam and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
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Posted:Oct 8, 2006 8:09 am
Last Updated:Oct 12, 2006 4:50 am 2608 Views
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I recently wrote a post on my blog about Islam and whether or not we are on a crusade. I was most grateful to those who responded-- inspite of their full opposition to what I believe. I think without dialogue on any matter we stagnate and do not grow. So I do want to thank the people who stopped by and expressed their views.
I cannot help but realize how much opposition there is to these wars around the world. Here in our own country there is a lot of opposition at present to the war in Afghanistan. Many people are saying it is time to bring our troops home. We were not there for combat purposes. Our opposition parties are calling for the troops to either come home or to get out of the combat role that this new Canadian government has put in. Around the world-- and indeed within many parts of the United States there is an ample amount of opposition to the war in Iraq. My was visiting Spokane last month and told me about the thousands of bumber stickers protesting the war in Iraq.
Recently, many Muslim people here in Canada have complained that it is ok for Christian evangelists with a hate message to their communities about Islam are allowed into the country but it is not ok for Islamic militant preachers to enter the country. I personally am opposed to both coming here to preach hatred. I think that the only way to bring an end to war is through peaceful means and I remain convinced that Christianity is a religion of peace and not the sword-- inspite of the Crusades which were a total mistake. The popes erred big time in leading that crusade. It only made matters worse. And today-- it will only be a mission of peace that will bring stability to our world-- not weapons and hatred.
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Serve one another in works of love...
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Posted:Sep 21, 2006 9:52 am
Last Updated:Dec 12, 2006 12:24 pm 2660 Views
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St Paul is one of my favourite writers. In Galatians he tells us that the whole of the Law is summarised in a single command: Love your neighbour as yourself. If you go snapping at each other and tearing each other to pieces, you better watch or you will destroy the whole community.
Our world is very much a troubled place today. Wars and dissension, climate change and aids-- so much heartache all over. I recently met a lady who had done enormously well in real estate. Now after a safari to Africa to see the elephants you came home and through her church began making a lifestyle change to sell off her assets and head back to Africa to help serve the people dieing of aids. She was busy through her church getting money and equipment to take with her. She did not care about politics and criticism and the rest. She just up and went. I know of one lady here on Big Church who went to Africa in a similar way as a missionary. May the Lord bless abundantly all those who continue to do this work. It really is OUR WORK. We are all sharing in the body of Christ and we all suffer together as well as enjoy the fruits of the Spirit together. A heart of compassion and love is greater than all the wealth of the world.
Today I am overjoyed with the wonderful work so many missionaries are doing. I rejoice in the many churches that have taken up their true role as being missionary-- and I encourage all who are called by Christ to serve one another in love-- no matter where we are.
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Are we on a crusade against Islam?
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Posted:Sep 17, 2006 8:05 pm
Last Updated:Dec 28, 2006 7:39 pm 2854 Views
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Recently I have written a few lines about the wars being waged at the moment-- there are hundreds occuring around the world- but two in particular celating to North Americans are the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Thankfully-- our Canadian government remained out of the war in Iraq-- but we did offer our troops to the conflict in Afghanistan-- a move that I am still very much opposed to.
Just the other day Pope Benedict made some controversial remarks about the prophet Mahommed in Germany. Those remarks have inflamed many Islamic communities around the world. Shortly after 9/11 President Bush-- who later retracted his comments said he was waging a Crusade against those perpretrators who committed that act of aggression. None the less--- countless thousands of Muslims have lost their lives at the hands of western Christian countries. Worse still--- many innocents have also been killed in our attempts to rout out those that we would label terrorists.
While I think the term "Crusades" is hardly a word that describes what truly is going on-- none the less we certainly hear the opposing word .. Jihad time and time again from the Muslim side. Will we ever have reconciliation at this point? Will we be able to sit down with our brothers and sisters in the Islamic world and dialogue peacefully? I hope so. I truly believe that what we are seeing is not the work of Islam--- Islam is still in my view a religion of peace and many many concur with this statement within the Muslim world.
But what really annoys me is the massive silence that I hear so loudly on this topic. So many people in our culture are afraid to express their point of view. If we are ever to have any dialogue on this topic, it is incumbent on all of us to speak our minds.
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Where is God?
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Posted:Sep 15, 2006 7:33 am
Last Updated:Sep 21, 2006 12:09 pm 2602 Views
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Today I quoted in an email I sent someone to "taste and see the goodness of the Lord" taken from the psalms. I recall singing this beautiful line in Gregorian Chant many years ago. I think it is one of the most beautiful lines in scripture. I walked through my woodlot the other day and saw the birds flying above and heard the melodious voices praise God in unison. Yes, I could truly taste His goodness.
But once I read the news and listen to the radio I see so much violence, so much hatred, so much racism, so much confusion of moral principles and traditional beliefs. There is war, there is climate change, lay offs in the auto industry, fires raging throughout the world. And now where I am residing-- we are having snow right in the tail end of summer! So where is God in all of this? Our faith is the only thing we have left to sustain us. I recall once saying that my definition of "Church" is "What is left over after the church building is burnt down". Material things matter not. The only thing we really have is our faith in God.
God bless to all.
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The Greatest Commandment.
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Posted:Sep 2, 2006 6:52 pm
Last Updated:Sep 3, 2006 7:14 am 2620 Views
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I remember some years ago while studying Hebrew in the seminary the famous of all Jewish words-- "Shema Yishrael......" taken from the verse in Deuteronomy. "Hear oh Israel that there is but one God and you must love the Lord your God with your whole heart, your whole mind and your whole soul". Such beautiful words!
After the dust has settled a little bit in the recent Middle Eastern conflict I am reminded of the famous words of Jesus-- "Love one another" and "this I command you". Yes we must love God but we must also love each other. We must love ourselves too as many churches forgot! But where does all this leave us?
In my personal view of things I see the Holy Spirit wanting us to reach out to others of all religious and political stripes so that we might learn to know each other and then love each other. We cannot love what we do not know. I recall many years ago that we were all taught to hate the Communist Russians. Yesterday I chatted with a female rugby player in our city who is here on a tournament. Twenty years ago that would not have been possible. We could not put a face on our enemy. Both sides taught their respective citizens to hate the other side's leader and people. How foolish. How silly. And now that we have witnessed so much carnage and destruction of the Middle East and so much more money needs to be poured in for these people to survive-- the fact is that they and we too must learn to love those that we once hated. There is no other way around connundrum of conflict. Unless we do learn to practice the great commandment of Jesus-- we will all be doomed.
I pray this night that the Holy Spirit moves like a gentle breeze across all lands of internal conflict and begin to place peace in the hearts of those who hate and want revenge. The Lord our God-- Jesus-- commands us to walk the extra mile; commands us to turn the other cheek at times and above all to love each other as He would love us.
God's blessings on all!
Chris
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