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RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AT RISK IN CANADA

Is Trinity Western University a canary in the coalmine? Bob Kuhn, president of TWU certainly thinks so. On November 30 and December 1, TWU will bring their arguments before the Supreme Court of Canada to defend their right to be a faith-based, accredited law school in Canada. Kuhn says “the very essence of religious freedom in Canada” is being threatened. I agree with him. Beliefs At Risk The Supreme Court’s hearing is about whether or not law societies in Canada can refuse to recognize graduates from TWU based on its Christian beliefs. At the core of this case is the issue of whether people of faith have protection to hold their beliefs. Without discrimination. In 2001 the Supreme Court of…
Bob Jones
November 25, 2017
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REFLECTIONS ON WAITING IN LINE

MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS PHOTO taken by Justin Sinclair A few Christmases ago I was waiting in line at a big box store (the one that sells awesome hotdogs), reminding myself of why I don't frequent big box stores. Is it just me or does the shortest line always become the slowest line because I'm in it? The longer I waited the more frustrated I became. Unseasonal words filled my mind. "Why me, Lord?" Waiting And as I waited I had an "aha" moment. Waiting. I was waiting to get through the line. Nothing spectacular. I wasn't waiting on something spiritual, as in "waiting on the Lord." But I was experiencing what the weeks before Christmas are supposed to mean to…
Bob Jones
November 22, 2017
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HOW GROWING A STACHE SAVED MY LIFE

Movember. For some it’s the time to grow a mustache in support of prostate and testicular cancer research. Me? Growing a stache saved my life. Don't Shave For the past week I’ve been trying to remember NOT to shave my upper lip. But I am so governed by habit. Every morning of every day of every month for years I’ve followed a routine. Wet my face. Apply shaving cream. Shave from right to left. For six days I ended up shaving my entire face before I caught myself. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh! One less day to grow a stache. And I need all the help I can get in the growing department. Living Aware Trucker? Connoisseur? Regent? Handlebar?…
Bob Jones
October 29, 2017
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A PASTOR’S RESPONSE TO SEXUAL ASSAULT

Sundays tend to be a mixed bag for pastors. The fulfillment of seeing people we know and love, connecting with guests who’ve come as they are, and the expectation that everything – even things that don’t go as we planned - will be used by God for good. Hoping the community hears our communication the way it sounds in our heart and ministering to people as they respond to the message. Messenger Inbox Pastoral messages aren’t theoretical or merely rhetorical homilies. Good spiritual communication calls for a response. Practical applications. “How should we then live” kind of action. Examples set by pastor/leaders. Sunday afternoon found me reflecting on responses from the morning’s message And a note popped up in my…
Bob Jones
October 23, 2017
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WHAT THE BAGGAGE HANDLER SAID

I started to do what I often do when life refuses to cooperate with me. I started talking to myself. Frustration lifted from my nerves right out of my mouth. What The Luggage Handler Said “I’m just such an idiot. I invite so much unnecessary drama and complication in my life, because my pace and my brain aren’t in sync. I mean, seriously, what is wrong with my brain?!” The luggage man made an abrupt about-face turn in my direction, extended his arm, and held up his hand, signaling me to stop. “Not in my presence,” he said. “Not in my presence will you talk about yourself this way. Absolutely not.” His command startled me. His words stopped me. Lysa…
Bob Jones
October 22, 2017
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THE SILVER LINING OF POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD)

There were many things in my life that were not planned nor desired. Developing PTSD certainly was not one of them. Nor was the assault that lead to it. For me, it was like waking up in a foreign country. An outsider, within my own life. Josee St Onge was a teen in our West Island Youth group in the 80's. We love our Lakeshore family and we've kept in touch over the years. She posted this story in early 2017. I reached out to Josee in light of "Me Too" and asked permission to share her story here. Thank you, Josee. Revision Even the simplest of tasks required a revision of each step in order to be able to…
Bob Jones
October 18, 2017
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OUR SMALL ACTS OF DEFYING FEAR

We went to an Edmonton Eskimo football game and a love fest with the men and women in blue broke out. Green And Gold Two of my granddaughters and I were on a packed Park 'n Ride fan bus. We were enroute to a Saturday nite Esks' game. Nearing the stadium I couldn't help but reflect on the last time the Green and Gold played a home game. As that game was ending a terrorist wrought havoc outside the stadium and left a trail of destruction into the heart of Edmonton. Two weeks later the conversations on the bus were about that night. "Looks like they beefed up security." "I'd like to believe that was a one of." "Do you…
Bob Jones
October 15, 2017
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HOW TO HOLD IT TOGETHER WHEN YOUR WORLD IS FALLING APART

I can’t help but giggle sometimes at the news reports of wild weather storms. The weatherman is barely standing. Wind and waves are violently walloping against him. Meanwhile the other television host sits comfortably from her warm studio with perfect lipstick saying, “Weatherman Joe, can you please explain the storm situation right now?” Storms Weatherman Joe begins to yell while dodging debris and flying tree branches “Well, as you can see anchor woman Wendy, it’s pretty windy out here…” Really, Joe, really? Lately, I have been feeling a bit like Weatherman Joe, standing in the midst of a violent storm; debris flying at my head, waters rising to my knees, my balance being tested by gale-force winds and all the…
Bob Jones
October 11, 2017
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COLE YOUNG: SPECIAL IN EVERY WAY

Cole Young was amazing grace. Anyone who met Cole knew what it was to encounter the love of God. Not that Cole was perfect or able to turn water into wine. But he could turn whine into gratitude. Special Needs Cole was born with DiGeorge Syndrome, which is caused by the deletion of a small segment of chromosome 22. Typical of DiGeorge, he suffered for eighteen years from respiratory difficulties, heart murmur, frequent infections and eventually, organ failure. In some circles, Cole was known as having "special needs." In the circles that knew him best he was known as serving "special needs." Had a bad day? Cole could lift your spirit. Feeling sorry for yourself because life dealt you an…
Bob Jones
October 8, 2017
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TERRORISM NOT WELCOME HERE: MIKE CHERNYK

Did it have to happen in Edmonton? Was it inevitable? Terrorism has been a horror others experience in other places but not in our backyard. No more. Terrorism In Our Backyard Edmonton joins Marseille, France where two people were killed in a knife attack just hours after five people were injured in Edmonton. Terrorism is suspected in both incidents. World leaders, news networks, and social media were quick to offer condolences to the victims and condemnation of the violence. Rarely does Edmonton get a mention on CNN, but there we were. A Hero In Our Midst Constable Mike Chernyk, an eleven year veteran of the EPS was on special duty at the Eskimos game Saturday night. He ended up in…
Bob Jones
October 1, 2017