Friday, December 23, 2011

The Grand Christmas Finale from The Frozen Chosen.


 "The Frozen Chosen" is sobriquet we give to our neighbours to the North.

They are a special group of people who experience God's Fire on ice in remarkable ways.

We submit this short, simple but superb video as our Christmas greeting to friends far and near, especially those in Australia!




See you in a few days.

Ian

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Merry Christmas from Ian and Pauline



Pauline and I want to pass on warmest greetings for the Christmas season to all who read BWI.
It was when we were visiting Cyprus two years ago that I first began sharing thoughts around the breakfast table. We were staying at the beautiful country home of John and Sue Cowgill, old friends from England.
It was Sue who one day said "Are we going to have 'breakfast with Ian' today?  I was able oblige our charming hostess and the thought of doing a morning blog stayed with me on our flight back to Canada.
Shortly thereafter, I put pen to paper (or fingers to keys) and have been doing so ever since. Thus your BWI today.
We hope that you have had as much enjoyment reading this blog as we have had providing your daily wheaties!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Ian and Pauline.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

The Dear Leader has departed.


Kim, the Dear Leader from North Korea has made his exit.
He died this week and is now laid in state in his glass coffin for all the faithful to see.

Among some of his astonishing accomplishments were shooting eleven holes-in-one the first time he ever played golf, assembling the largest collection of Hollywood movies in the Eastern Hemisphere and sporting the world's longest running bouffant hair do. 
He also managed to bankrupt his nation and impoverish his people through his mad ambition for a nuclear weapon.

Daily, the nation was wakened with hymns of praise to the dear leader and, with his passing, there have been scenes of orchestrated grief flashed around the world.

Ironic that Kim will be buried on Christmas Day, the date when the Dear Leader of the Church was born and Who, after 2000 years, still lives and reigns in everlasting glory.

Well, who do you wish to sing praise to?

The choir will be tuning up in North Korea with new songs of adoration to the baby-faced successor, the Son of Kim. Meanwhile, South of the border, minutes away, they will be lifting the roof at Yongi Cho's 350,000 member church with carols to Christ.

Hallelujah for Christmas.

Ian

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

I'll be home for Christmas, no matter what!



Here's a Christmas story with a difference.

I was preaching in Edmonton, Alberta. One of the men in the church had worked for a multi-national company in the Siberian oil fields for several months and he was coming home for Christmas.

His salary had been deposited in his Canadian bank, his flight was booked and he got to Moscow airport only to find that there was a $75:00 departure fee.

He found it was no use pleading with the Big Ivans, who refused to accept his credit card.

In desperation he went outside, grabbed the Salvation Army Christmas Cheer kettle and tore off down the road.

He reached a nearby copse of trees, counted the contents and found that there was just enough for his departure tax.

Sneaking back to the airport he was able to avoid the hue and cry, pay his money and get on his flight with seconds to spare.

What a relief.

When he got back home he went to the local Salvation Army citadel told his story and gave triple the amount he ripped off by way of restitution.

I know you may have problems with what our brother did but at least he paid his dues and got home for Christmas as well.

Hallelujah for the Salvation Army Moscow!

Ian

Monday, December 19, 2011

Christmas, Giftmas, Candymas, Macymas, Moviemas, Partymas, Feastmas, drink..




As you can see from title, the challenge is to find Jesus on His own birthday.


Once it was an easy scene to behold. The shepherds, the lowly beasts and maybe the wise men (although it is likely they arrived later.)


But now the birthday scene has become like a "Where's Waldo?"


In the last twenty years or so the birthday party has been crashed by every commercial and begging enterprise on the planet.


This avaricious rush has engulfed not only the Holy Family but also the shepherds, livestock, wisemen and even the stable.


None can be seen behind the neon lights, the movie cameras, the paparazzi, toy mountains, Santa's sleigh and the rest of the impedimenta.


Just a moment! Let me remind you that Christmas is a CHRISTIAN  celebration. It is about  the birth of Christ the Holy Son of God.


 You object to the religious bias of the Holiday?


That's fine. Have your own holiday at another time of the year and I have suggested some names for it, but leave the believers to enjoy their own.


After all we have the best reason to celebrate.


Hallelujah for Christmas.

Ian

Sunday, December 18, 2011

king herod: was he related to Christopher Hitchens?



No Christmas story would be complete without King Herod, the culprit who attempted to kill the Christian faith in it's cradle.

Now connect this thought with the death this week of Christopher Hitchens, a notorious atheist who spent a life time waging relentless war against religion in general, Christianity in particular and all things sacred.

He it was who described Mother Teresa as a "fraudulent fanatic."

His once strident voice that mocked faith  by pen and public debate was reduced to a mere croak and finally silenced by cancer of the throat.

Shortly before his death his brilliant mind concluded that at the age of 62,

 "My life is more rationed than I thought it was."

He maintained his virulent atheism to the end saying:

"No evidence has ever been presented to change my mind:
 but I like surprises."

Christopher, you have just received one in time for Christmas.

Jingle Bells

Ian