Life

Six billion stories

afaiz

I have a bag at my feet that weighs over 12 kilograms. It is filled with literature I picked up at the AIDS conferences in Toronto — the faith based and the international — in August. The bag is crammed with books, brochures, pamphlets, posters, CD ROMs (some of which may have dozens of documents on them), advertising campaigns, postcards and even a few toys from HIV/AIDS-related organizations around the planet. I have more information than I need on the socio-economic, psychological, political, medical, scientific and spiritual aspects of the virus. In this bag are pharmaceutical corporations explaining their medicines and advocacy groups damning pharmaceuticals. Mostly, though, the bag is filled with very similar sounding material from many, many, many different advocacy agencies.

Day of rejoicing (not!)

Phil Callaway

My son Stephen has enrolled in Prairie Bible College, a decision that has his mother and me rejoicing and sniffling and clutching our wallets all at once. The price for Bible college has not decreased since I attended in the latter half of the last century, but I assured him it would not be a problem. We would sell his little brother into slavery to pay for the first semester.*

Ready to receive what God has prepared

communications

Those logging trucks are going to choke me to death,” Linda said. “It has been so hot for so long that I don’t think there is a drop of moisture anywhere. And the dust, not to mention the non-stop roar of trucks from 4:30 in the morning till dark. We need to move out of this campsite right now!”

The future is now

afaiz

Debbie Travis is a television host of design and renovation shows, which she produces through her own company. She got herself in a frenzy earlier this year when she realized that youth today just ’aint got no gumption. So, she decided to teach them a lesson: “This new show has the backdrop of a renovation but is focused on these 20-somethings, the ‘entitled’ generation who have it all … except a future.”

Summer book club, Presbyterian style : The Power and the Glory: Studies in Discipleship

Rev. R. Sheldon MacKenzie

I have personally accused Rev. MacKenzie of keeping me in the church with these lectures, so, let me share it with others: It was 1979, Pre-Assembly Congress; I was in my late teens, just about to start university. A secular world of liberal free-thought awaited me. But, no! Sheldon's lectures spoke to me, particularly the second on power. I recognize it now as the Spirit once more interfering with my life, messing with my plans. Rereading the lectures I learn anew their power to teach, to guide. They are a boot to the backside, a meditation on our vanities; a special reminder of our role as disciples in the world Christ left us in His name. The book itself, however, is unnecessarily humble: amateurishly produced, with no publisher named and in need of both a copy editor and designer. Write me and I'll forward your book orders to the author.– Andrew Faiz, afaiz@presbyterian.ca

All in good time

Gwyneth Whilsmith

All in good time!” my husband used to say. “All in good time.” In our younger years this drove me crazy because I'm one of those impetuous people who make snap decisions, wondering why in the world anyone would waste time mulling over something that you already knew was the right thing to do.

Summer book club, Presbyterian style : An insight into small churches

Jim Czegledi

The Presbyterian Church in Canada is a denomination of small membership churches. Approximately 40 per cent of our congregations have fewer than 50 at worship. The future of the church depends on these congregations, on their health, spiritual development and ability to function. This book is an insightful look at the joys and challenges of small church life. The authors are passionate advocates of the importance of training and equipping lay people to plan and lead worship.

Summer book club, Presbyterian style : The purpose driven process

Ruth Ann Sigurdson

For months we had discussion times after the morning worship service and half the congregation remained, old and young, those new to the church and those who had attended all their lives. During the course of study of these books, the churches of Zion Willowdale and St. Andrew's, Valley Center, Alta., amalgamated, changed their name to Willow-Valley, wrote a mission statement and discussed a future building. Not bad! But it wasn't easy. With Warren's books as guides, we had to re-examine all our assumptions. Three areas were challenging to us.

A sure sign of something

afaiz

I popped in at General Assembly for about 36 hours. From my position as managing editor of this magazine I have established relationships via email with a lot of people across the country but have met very few of them. I went to this annual family reunion to glad-hand, while my colleagues worked. (Thank you, Amy and David.)

Summer book club, Presbyterian style : Renewal on the road of faith

Terry Samuel

Approximately 25 of us at St. Giles', Sarnia, Ont., engaged ourselves in a study of Marcus Borg's The Heart of Christianity, over a period of 10 weeks. For some of us the going got a bit chewy partway through, especially when Borg got theological (which led us into broader philosophy). To help us along the way we followed the study guide, Experiencing the Heart of Christianity by Tim Scorer. Scorer's approach emphasizes the heart component of Borg's study in that the process was one of study, discovery, discussion and worship as a faith community. One of the highlights of Scorer's approach is the use of short video clips in which Borg presents various positions and offers his own personal story.

Greener lawns need more mowing

Phil Callaway

I love reading road signs. Like the one welcoming you to Kettle Falls, Wash., the home of “1,255 friendly people and one grouch.” In Hilt, Cal., a sign advises: “Brakeless trucks, use freeway.” Along Oregon's winding coast, another warns: “Emergency stopping only. Whale watching is not an emergency. Keep driving.” I pulled into a service station once. A bold sign proclaimed, “We have Mexican food. We have gas.” But my favorite of them all is posted on an Alaska highway: “Choose your rut carefully. You'll be in it for the next 200 miles.”

A real piece of divine work

communications

When I was about seven I befriended a huge brilliantly colored black and orange caterpillar. It looked like a lively fat jujube with hair. Grandma told me it would change into a butterfly. I could just imagine how big, beautiful and brilliantly coloured a butterfly it would be. With Grandma's help and the aid of a gallon pickle jar, I soon had a terrarium with the caterpillar suitably ensconced. Grandma talked me into keeping the thing in our screened porch instead of the bedroom I shared with my teenage aunt, who if memory serves me correctly, wasn't that keen on bugs and spiders.

Time marches on

Gwyneth Whilsmith

Sympathy cards poured in after my husband died, some from people I didn't even know. The phone rang constantly, visitors were at the door and I felt surrounded by a cocoon of love and caring.