Fear of the Lord

THE FEAR OF THE LORD

We have all experienced fear of some sort at some point in our life.  Maybe as a toddler we were briefly separated from our parent while at the market?  Or, we were unprepared for an exam years later in school.  We also feel fear when we break the rules in society for which there are consequences.  Perhaps we felt fear while walking down a dark street or through a car park to our vehicle?  I once felt fear around the age of ten when I...

Götterdämmerung

The Ragnarök is an ancient story that describes the cataclysmic overthrow and death of those legendary Norse gods such as Thor, Loki, Freyr, Odin, and others in Norse mythology. According to the Ragnarök, the sun in those days lost its light and even the stars in the sky disappeared. People lived their lives in this unhappy gloom as if they were characters in a Lord Byron poem. At an appointed time, says the Ragnarök, powerful demons and giants were summoned...

Sea change

SEA CHANGE

The term “sea change” is often misunderstood, much like the terms “paradigm shift” or “quantum leap” are. In this post I want to touch on it, and as usual, from a Christian perspective. The phrase sea change was made popular by William Shakespeare in his play “The Tempest.” Briefly and narrowly, the King of Naples, his advisors and his young son named Prince Ferdinand are shipwrecked on a magical island (much like Gilligan was when the Minnow sank.) Prince Ferdinand...

Point of no return

THE POINT OF NO RETURN

A small portion of the border between Canada and the United States involves the Niagara River. People from around the world have heard not only about the Niagara River, but more importantly, the Niagara Falls. This post will deal with the point of no return as one approaches the falls as well as metaphorical uses of the same phrase. The speed of the Niagara River varies from location to location as it flows from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario according...

Come

COME

“When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, ‘Come!’ I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, ‘Two pounds of wheat for a day’s wages, and six pounds of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!’” Revelation 6:5-6 Hours ago as the final meeting adjourned at the NATO/G-7/EU...

Duck and cover

DUCK & COVER: A CIVIL DEFENSE REFRESHER

Saturday, March 19. Today, the British press (plus MSN) are reporting that, according to sources, Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered nuclear evacuation drills for him and his staff (including his senior ranking generals.) These drills would involve the Ilyushin Il-80 planes (particularly the Zveno-S upgrades if they are ready) which have been dubbed “Flying Kremlins” and from where Putin could order the launch of his nuclear weapons. These same sources state that Putin’s family has already been evacuated to...

DEFCON 3

IS A NUCLEAR WAR APPROACHING?

Vladimir Putin has made it clear that he is prepared to use nuclear weapons in his war on Ukraine. But, perhaps not against Ukraine, itself, because the threats have been directed to NATO and especially to the U.S. However, Ukraine is certainly in the spotlight at the moment, and battlefield (tactical) nukes are a very real possibility now as well as chemical weapons. President Biden told us not to be afraid of Putin’s nuclear threats and some policy analysts have...

Red rose symbolizing martyrdom

IN MEMORY OF PERPETUA (c. 182 A.D. – c. 203 A.D.)

And Felicitas. The red rose is the symbol for Christians who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for their Lord. As Peter who was crucified upside down with his wife did. As Paul who was beheaded under Nero did. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer who was hung under Hitler did. As the blessed martyrs Perpetua and Felicity under Septimus Severus did. I have to say that except perhaps for Polycarp, Perpetua is my favorite martyr. The date of her martyrdom is generally observed...

Watching for Jesus

WATCHING FOR JESUS

We’ve all seen them. Cats who spend hours on hours day after day, year after year haunched on a window sill, peering at the world beyond. Why do they do this? Well, sure, they do it for the warmth of the sun, perhaps out of curiosity, perhaps because windows are elevated and heigth to a cat is a sign of dominance. Or, maybe they are just bored. But those aren’t the only reasons, perhaps not even the main reason. Watching...

IN THIS LIFE. . .

In 416 B.C., Athens and Sparta were at war. Caught in the middle of these two powerful belligerents was Melos, a small island in the Aegean Sea which tried desparately to maintain its neutrality. Though many Melians were related to the people of Sparta, Melos was careful not to give Athens a reason to harm them. The Melosian men talked each day among themselves of the weather, of sports and wine, perhaps just the common aches and pains of growing...

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