Category Religion

Hiking In The Rose Valley IV

I knew from the faded frescoes on the walls and ceiling where I was though I didn’t know its name, if indeed it had one. It was perhaps the most emotional experience of my trip to Turkey. I was wandering through the Rose Valley and choosing caves at random to explore. People had been living […]

Sharia Law

I see in the newspaper that Chiheb Esseghaier, who is in prison for plotting to derail a passenger train, is seeking a new trial. That’s not surprising; but it isn’t going to happen, I hope. Apparently Esseghaier thinks he should be tried under Sharia law and not the Criminal Code of Canada. A Tunisia student […]

Clara

I had never heard of Morton Kelsey until Martyn Joseph mentioned him at a concert a few years back. You have probably ever heard of him either. I still haven’t read any of his more than three dozen books, but I have ordered one from my local library, the only one they have. To tell […]

Speaking Christian

I didn’t know it was a language. The taxi driver asked us, “Do you speak Christian.” I don’t. Though I am a Christian, I try to avoid some of the jargon that has sprung up around the faith. In North America it is all too easy to live in a Christian sub-culture that bears absolutely […]

Rabban Hormizd III

There must be some sort of special devotion that causes a person to choose a monastic life. Part of me wishes I had that kind of faith. Though I would probably miss my creature comforts. When I look at the cliff that is Rabban Hormizd Monastery I image what it must have been like for […]

Rabban Hormizd II

In most countries a seventh century Christian monastery would be a place of pilgrimage, or at least a tourist attraction. But this is Iraq, and ISIS is only 20 kilometres from here. There are no tour buses. There is no-one else here. Well, there may be a few nuns, be we don’t see them. But […]

Rabban Hormizd I

You can look out from the terrace of the monastery and see where ISIS’ advance was stopped in 2014. Destroying this place would have been the first task on their “to-do” list. High above the Iraqi town of Alqosh, Rabban Hormizd monastery has been a site of Christian worship for almost 1400 years. Founded in […]

Monday’s Words Of Wisdom

I have no idea where I got this one. I really need to pay more attention when I see these things online. That way at least I can give credit where credit is due. If I was more computer literate I’d fix the grammatical error, but that sort of skill is beyond me.

The Queen’s Message

I could do without the music before and after her annual Christmas message (she starts talking just before the two minute mark) , but I really like what Her Majesty had to say this year. I’ve linked to a version with subtitles if you have difficulty with British English. People sometimes forget that one of […]

Christ Is Risen – Merry Christmas

I’m not confused. I know it is Christmas – but the day would have no meaning if not for Easter. The baby in a manger celebrated in song and image was the beginning, but it was the planned ending that was important. Without the death and resurrection it might as well have been Frosty the […]