Consider this

                  The demolition of Estevan’s Civic Auditorium began today and I must say that I am sad to see it go.   From countless rec hockey games to cheering for the Bruins with my family, I have a lot good memories tied up in that old building.     However, this is not completely unprecedented in my life as several old buildings that were significant to me have met the same fate.                   The Civic Centre (commonly known as “The Crushed Can”) in my hometown of Moose Jaw was an important part of my childhood.   I can still remember looking through the lobby doors and seeing the white ice surface below with the colourful seats rising to the ceiling high above.   Watching the Moose...

              Though we talk to little children about it a lot, kindness does not often find its way into the teaching material for mature Christians.   It should though.   Kindness is one of the “Fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23).   In other words, it is one of the qualities that should show up when God’s spirit is interacting with the life of his people.   Kindness is important for many reasons, but it is absolutely necessary for these three reasons.                 First, kindness breaks my selfish tendencies.   Left to my own devices, I will always think about myself first and do what I want to do.   Asking the question, “What is the kind response?” changes my viewpoint.   It forces me...

                When he was 75 years old, Abraham took a huge leap of faith.   He left his home and all that he was familiar with to follow a promise.   God had said that he had a new home waiting and that, once he was there, Abraham’s family would become a great nation and bless the entire world (Genesis 12:1-3).                 Almost 25 years later, Abraham was still waiting for the promise to be fulfilled.   Then, one day, some visitors came and announced that a baby was finally on its way.   When Abraham’s wife, Sarah, heard this, she laughed and said, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?” (Genesis 18:12).   A year later, Isaac was born.   ...

                  When I was younger, I spent a lot of time trying to control things.   After moving to Estevan, it was a struggle to get to know a new group of people, learn the ropes of preaching and simply survive.   I had to get a handle on things quickly so that I could feel settled and comfortable.   For the most part, I assumed that it was up to me to make things work.                 Then I got married, we had kids and life was great!   We had lots of friends.   Our extended family was doing well.   The church was healthy.   Our girls were young enough that we could help them with almost any problem that came up.   Everything seemed to be perfect.   ...

Like most of you, I can’t stop thinking about the Humboldt Broncos. I feel so bad for the families.   I am so sad for the community.   Seeing pictures of hockey sticks or microphones left outside the front door under the porch light in silent tribute is heart wrenching.   Reading as loved ones recall their favourite memories or hearing about all the good each individual did only makes this tragedy feel worse.   It just doesn’t make any sense.   Why would something like this happen? I have no answer for that last question.   Nothing I could say would even come close to being useful.   I do not have an answer as to why. However, having lived through similar circumstances in both my wife’s immediate family and in our church family, I have come to believe this: God has not forgotten or left us. It would be nice if belief in God was like a good luck charm that would keep us from all harm or tragedy, but it is not.   In fact, it was Jesus himse...

                When the writers of the New Testament wanted to talk about heaven, they frequently used one word that, interestingly, the church hardly uses anymore.    See if you can pick out the word in these passages.                 “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).                   “Therefore, I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory” (2 Timothy 2:10).                ...

                A couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine, whom I will call “Shady Shane” (because that is what I always call him) and another guy won the 50/50 draw at the Bruins hockey game.   When they won, they shouted, laughed and then took off to claim their prize.                 Four nights later, Shane texted me and said, “I am in front of your house.   Meet me at the door.   I have something for you”.   When I opened the door, Shane was standing there with a card in his hand and he said, “I wanted you to have this!”   I took the card, opened it and found some money inside. Right away, I said to him, “Shady, I don’t want your money!   I will keep the card.   That is rea...