Thursday, June 5, 2014

The Spin



It's all in the spin. In days of yore when I played cricket there were a series of different spins that could be put on the raised seams of the ball, leg-breaks, off-breaks and a particularly nasty ball called a googlie. Same thing in base-ball as I later found out, knuckle balls, curved balls, sinkers and the like.
Politics is little different.
This week a long absent prisoner of war, captured by the Taliban, was exchanged for five Guantanamo Bay inmates.
This Bergdahl from the U.S. Army was touted as a war hero who had served his country with distinction, worth any number of Taliban detainees. So much for the spin.
Now another story emerges, brought to light by the enraged comments made by Bergdahl's fellow soldiers who, with all the honesty and bluntness of warriors, described him as a traitor to the cause and a deserter from his platoon. The five prisoners involved in the exchange, we now hear, were highest level operatives from Al Queda, the same evil company that brought down the Twin Towers.
Nothing has changed in this battle for the Truth.
2,000 years ago a prisoner swap was arranged between Pontius Pilate and the Jews. Barabbas, a worthy revolutionary on death row, for a vagabond heretic called Jesus Christ.
Now how about that for a hell of a deal?

Ian

Monday, June 2, 2014

The 700 Club


Four years ago I was visiting Cyprus with my wife Pauline. We were the guests of John and Sue Cowgill, old friends from England.
During our ten day stay at their delightful villa over looking the Trodas Mountains, Sue suggested that I give a short talk over our morning cereals. She called these chats "Breakfast with Ian."
I did not intend that these talks would exceed the length of our stay in Cyprus, but on returning to Canada I put a few of them in writing and thus emerged a daily post called "Breakfast With Ian." 
Like Forrest Gump, having begun to run I thought I might as well press on. Thus, as of today, I have put together 700 hundred posts.
Had I not had the encouragement of readers and friends around the world I would have discontinued my project. However, in the period I have been in the "kitchen", I have served up some sort of morning refreshment for close to 150,000 people in forty countries around the world.
So today a milestone has been reached, and for all of those who have encouraged me with kind words, advice and often suggestions as to new subject matter, my hearty thanks. 
Let us have a simple understanding between us, my friends. If you will continue to read, I will continue to write.

Blessings in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ian.
P.S. Especial thanks to Ken Skinner my technician in Toronto, a man whose skill with the computer is only exceeded by his patience in working with me.