Watching the Horror – Yet Reliving Again

Michael McLendon (pictured above). Never heard the name before – have you? How about Dr. Fred Winter? Or maybe Jordan Brown?

All three were involved in murder scenes. Michael and Jordan killed others. Fred Winter, a pastor, was shot in front of his congregation last Sunday morning.

In what seems to be the most insane string of murders since Columbine High School it has happened again.

Michael McLendon has shocked the nations in that he also killed his Mother, Grandmother and Grandfather on his spree of killing.

These three are just a few of the killings that are sprayed across the TV screen and the Newspaper stories indicating that the society that we live in is very sick… at least the people that did the killings were very sick.

The story of a Pastor dieing in front of his congregation from a gun shot comes closest to home. In the case of last Sunday where Dr. Fred Winter, was shot as he preached at the 8:30 AM service, we are not even told who the person was that did the shooting. No one in the church knew him.

As a pastor I can think of times where I have been in danger. I have had knives held on me. I have been threatened. I have guns pointed at me. It is not an easy task to lead and encourage people.

As a pastor I have been threatened in other ways as well – less serious but also potentially fatal. On a few occasions I have had people threaten to withdraw their giving/tithing to the church if I remained doing what I was doing as the leader. I have had some band together to get rid of me. (No one was to know about that – what a nightmare!)

None of it is nice. All of it is horrible and is a direct attack on your life and person.
(The Pastor and his Church where he died)

It is at times like this that I have flash backs to the less lovely times in ministry when you cannot tell even your family the truth because of confidentiality rules that you try to keep. Your wife and kids don’t even know some of the horrible human dregs of life that you deal with. They only see some of the ‘horrible dregs’ that are dressed in suits on Sundays – and act like they are doing nothing wrong.

Flash Back…
When I was attending classes at the University of Manitoba I witnessed a horrible attack on a pastor. I actually intervened to protect him.

My cousin Arlo Johnson was the minister of a small church that he founded in the west end of Winnipeg. (For the Peterborough people reading this – Arlo also pastored Calvary Pentecostal Church in our city for a period of time.)

As a student I came over to his home for a Saturday afternoon dinner. It was great to get away from the residence. That Saturday Arlo and I walked over to the church to do something for the Sunday service. I stood in the foyer waiting on him to finish his last minute preparations.

At that moment a Taxi pulled up in front of the church doors and stopped quite suddenly with a man rushing from its back seat. The occupant that was being delivered by the Taxi apparently saw the lights on in the church foyer and demanded to get out right then!

The door of the church flew open and the apparently angry man rushed toward me with his eyes showing rage. My cousin was standing behind me and was the target of the rage that was coming directly at me.

The man was swearing and yelling at the top of his voice at my cousin. When he threw his first punch it flew over my shoulder and past my ear. It was his last punch. I was trained as an Amateur Wrestler – wrestling for the University Team. His punch allowed me to flatten him on the floor where I mounted his chest and pinned his arms at his head.

My cousin stood over us and talked to the very angry man. The guy’s wife was attending church and getting help. He was an alcoholic and an abuser. She was leaving him. The minister, in his mind, was responsible for his wife leaving him and he was out to kill him.

If the man would have had a knife… or maybe a gun…? I would have been dead along with my cousin. I shudder at the Flash Back today.

If I would have thought it through longer I may not have become a minister because of the danger that I was well aware of. There are a lot of thoughts that still make me wake with a shudder and a cold sweat.

You cannot run from the horror of what you may face around you. You can try to protect yourself but at times that may not even help.

My heart goes out to the family of Doctor Fred Winter. Two kids and a wife are alone today. And a congregation will never forget the horror of March 8, 2009 as he was gunned down in front of them.

So why write about this today?

Maybe it is only to get one more person on side that might support and protect your pastor in the church that you attend. Maybe as they read this they will stop acting out the way that they have been.

Can it happen in Canada… you better believe it.

~ Murray Lincoln ~
www.murraylincoln.com

PS
When Arlo heard that I had decided to leave the Business World and enter the Pastorate – he asked me if I knew what I was getting into. When he heard many years later that I had taken the role of Senior Pastor at Northview Pentecostal Church in Peterborough, he called and asked if I really knew what I was getting into.

I assured him that I did… and then we remembered together the episode in the foyer of the church so long ago.

I have yet to tell him the real truth of recent ministries. I have suggested that I would write a book – but lay some leadership in Northview thought that it may not be wise to tell the whole truth – just now at least. I wonder what they know that I don’t… hmmmm.

Sources:
Michael McLendon story
Alabama Gunman
Preacher Shot Dead
Columbine High School
Jordan Brown

Communication is down!

Panic Mode… Beep..Beep..Beep! Warning..Warning..Warning! Communication is down!

I turned on the Computer and then attempted a connect to the Internet. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I tried many different things and NOTHING HAPPENED. I am all alone in this remote outskirts of Cyber Space… I am in a No Zone – and alone. What the dickens is going on – no Internet Connection – what will I ever do?

A friend of mine sent an email the other day describing his jaunt to another country. Rod lives in Estonia and he traveled to Slovakia for a series of meetings. In his email he described the fact that he was not able to get on to the Internet – likely because there is none where he went to – and the feelings that he was disconnected from his family because of it. His daughter is very connected to Rod and misses him a lot.

There are dozens of other stories that I could tell where we see the Internet has become a vital part of our lives. Your reading this Blog is proof enough of your own connectivity – many read it all the time.

Add to that the Cell Phones that we use. Some are not just simple Cell Phones but a sophisticated communication device.

A young lady by the name of Michelle, that we know, that had graduated from Trent University in Peterborough and is now living in Malaysia. I was working on my computer. Suddenly there was a “Bing” and a message from Michelle appeared on my screen… she was sending me a message and with the message came a photo of some Wood Carving she had just looked at in Bali. I am working in Peterborough on a cool Winter/Spring night… and she is walking through the Market in Bali loving the warmth and taking photos for me.

When I zoom back to 100 years ago my Great Grandfather had just moved to Southern Saskatchewan to build up his new farm and work the land. Telegraph was a main means of communication. Telephone had not yet come to that area – even though it was invented a quarter century before the time.

Communication was one neighbor to the next – “BWOM” – “By Word Of Mouth”. No wonder they loved to get together at a community function.

I was musing with some one not long ago what it would be like to be “back then”. I am not sure that I could take the disconnectedness.

For many years my Grandpa Kirk was the “Line Man” for the area. After a storm or a trouble with broken equipment he would travel to the troubled spot and fix it. A new pole, more line and maybe new equipment would get things up and running.

On the farm there was a pile of old telephone poles and lots or wire laying in one area that he used to get people connected. We played on the piles and chicken laid their eggs under them. Memories…

As you can see the communication came back for me with an Internet connection. The appearance of the magic icon that tells me I am on line again… was a relief.

Reflecting on this I have thought about my prayer life. There are times that God must wonder at the connection. I am too busy running to take time to call. He must think the line is down – or the communication is broken. There are other times that I call him – there seems to be no answer – and I find that my own “machine” is not turned on.

My “prayer life” is my most up to date HI – “Heaven’s Internet” connection and man do I ever need it.

Ooops – I have to run... God just called… and the message said it was very important.

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Living in and with Conflict

I am disturbed by the message of the movie. The power of its story is overwhelming – strong cultural attitudes that never seem to change. Murder and mayhem mixed with intrigue produces a powerful story. And the story is as old as the countries of the Middle East. It was written in 1946 and put into a movie in 1864.

It is “Zorba the Greek” in all its Black and White glory on TV. WOW what a story!

As I have been sifting through the emotions of the story and how I feel about it I am stirred deeply inside. The culture has affected me again. In fact that is what the story is all about from what I could determine – the power of a culture on all that live in and on the ones that come into it.

The taking of a life just outside a church – during a church service – right under the noses of the Greek Orthodox Priest’s eyes is every disturbing.

When the Foreign Lady dies – in fact just as she is dieing the local Greek ladies sweep in to grab as much of her things as they can. Within minutes of her death the entire house is stripped of all its conflict. The only thing left is her dead body in her bed in a completely empty room! Yikes – talk about brutality!

I am pressed with the cultural impact of life around me as well. Culture is more powerful than family. It is more powerful than anything demanding that everyone submit to its regulations.

Recently I listened to another Pastor tell of his church and the sub culture that he was encountering. The people inside of the church were fighting over some silly thing. One sub group had taken a issue and made sure that everyone knew of their displeasure. Others had reacted to the first group’s stance and protested strongly. Inside the church there was a Royal Rumble going on.

The church wonders why it doesn’t grow. Who would want to join into the foray of that group? You would be fighting before you started to worship.

One of things that I have noticed on my “non-church” weekends - - weekends that I have not been able to get to church – people in the malls are not fighting… or angry with anyone. For the most part they enjoy what they do at the Mall.

The story line behind Zorba the Greek is pretty much like some congregations… trapped in a zealous and tightly knit community they have their own ways of dealing with stuff they don’t like. Churches do the same.

Yesterday the TV report stated that churches across North America were down in attendance. Almost every one of the churches have dropped.

Some Evangelical churches are still growing somewhat – but many have plateau-ed in the last few years. But they have not dropped like the main line churches have.

We know that new program, dazzling presentations with leaders that jump into the limelight often… grow churches. But once the dazzle is gone – the leadership becomes tired and slows… the attendance drops as well.

Now add to that internal conflict and “Kerpow” – stuff happens.

I have listened to a widow lately that described her horrible years of living with her violent husband. Spousal abuse ran their home. She spoke freely of the fact that she is glad he is dead. It was harsh to hear a widow speak that bluntly. But you see… no one knew that they were in trouble all those years.

My pastor friend has taken to the first step to finding help – he told some one about what he has been going through. Being able to talk to some one is vital to survival.

When you are in conflict you tend to begin thinking that it is your entire fault. You are the one that others will blame… even though they may be totally in the wrong.

How can I write about such things? It is likely disturbing to some to have a minister tell the truth of how people really act. I mean we shouldn’t air dirty laundry to the world – should we?

My friend Wilma passed this poem my way. She had no idea of some of the things that I have witnessed in the last few months (and even years). It fits so well here. I hope you enjoy it.

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

See..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zorba_the_Greek

(Poem arrived via email)

I was shocked, confused, bewildered
As I entered Heaven's door,
Not by the beauty of it all,
Nor the lights or its decor.

But it was the folks in Heaven
Who made me sputter and gasp--
The thieves, the liars, the sinners,
The alcoholics and the trash.

There stood the kid from seventh grade
Who swiped my lunch money! twice.
Next to him was my old neighbor
Who never said anything nice.

Herb, who I always thought!
Was rotting away in hell,
Was sitting pretty on cloud nine,
Looking incredibly well.

I nudged Jesus, 'What's the deal?
I would love to hear Your take.
How'd all these sinners get up here?
God must've made a mistake.!

And why's everyone so quiet,
So somber - give me a clue.
‘Hush, child,' He said, 'they're all in shock.
No one thought they'd be seeing you.’

JUDGE NOT !

Remember....Just going to church
doesn't make you a Christian
any more than standing in
your garage makes you a car .
Every saint has a PAST...
Every sinner has a FUTURE!

The 2009 Trolls Under Bridges of My Life

I think I first heard the story of the Troll under the bridge when I was about 5 years old. One of my aunts read the small children’s book with the pictures in it.

There under the Bridge lived a Troll that would pop out and capture the people(particularly the kids) that walked over the bridge. That is about as much as I can remember of the story from 60 years ago.

Whatever the Troll did – he had a tendency to slow down the traveler.

My life lately has had a few Trolls situated along the way slowing me down. In fact as I look back all of the bridges lately have had trolls under them… sheesh! Maybe you can identify with this thought.

As some of you know I am building a business of Wood Carving – Misty Hollow Carving – to help support ourselves. It started with a BANG in November last Fall… then flew through December with success… but an “Anti-Bang” happened on January and February – poof everyone that should have been there – weren’t. In a Recession Minded world and the middle of cold, snowy winter… NOTHING HAPPENS in business.

That is where the Trolls of my life come in… the things that slow me down… causing me to hesitate from crossing Bridges that I have along the way. I now recognize them and can either avoid them or know how to deal with each one.

First you need to know what a Troll is. Wikipedia gives little hope of any the old idea of Trolls. Trolls in their world are ranging from Computer/Internet Programs go looking for people… to the Gay World… to whatever.

I found one Web Site that may describe better what Trolls are like – the “Home of the Arensbak Trolls” (These Trolls are cute however – a little different from 60 years ago…)

In Life a Troll is kind of Ugly at the same time as being Kind of Cute – drawing you off the path that you are on. In my case that means distraction… things that come along to throw you off track… things that make forward not possible.

You need some examples I know.

Well try TV for me and a favorite Program(s). A study was done of recently retired men… they watch an average of 40 Hours of TV each week! That is FORTY HOURS – yes you read it right. I may not quite yet hit that average – but it is a time waster for me…. that I love.

Another study told of Older Men like me… that have found their new love in the Computer World… their minds are sucked out of the their skulls with the hours upon hours of time they spend on the machine.

One couple I know is in serious problems with the one partner now only speaking to the other unless the computer is on… then they are totally distracted with the partner doing their email, Facebook, MSN, Skype and a dozen other games including Solitaire and Mind Field and “WOW” – at the same time.

I am not that bad – but I love a good round of SIM City or SIM Golf where I am the man in charge – the Mayor of Murray-ville and Supreme Power of Lincoln City. Oh Yah Baby! Powa – ooo da Powa!

Have you ever played “Wii” – ooooiee – where you can spend hours trying to get to the next level? When I got stuck at Two 54s in Playing Nine Ball… I had to switch over to the Tank Game – which I can now make level 12 (my grandsons can get to Level 14 or higher).

The silly young adults around me play hour upon hour with their different Internet Games. Can you believe it?!!?

Old Guys like me can as well… sheesh.

Now add to that whole “Game Troll” idea the fact that there are about one million necessary distractions like Faucets that won’t work and house things that break and stuff that happens and doctor’s appointments and yadda, yadda. Yadda… I then have discovered the Out of Routine Trolls that suck the day time hours away – COMPLETELY!

One more Troll that does it job is the “Feeling Down Troll” that sucks the life out of me. The thoughts of what is needed to be done… the snow outside… the cold weather… the stay inside mode that promises that we will never see sunshine again… and you have met the “Feeling Down Troll”. Oh Boy…

Under all my Bridges lately I have found New and Old Trolls that slow me down – capture me – take me prisoner and slow any progress.

As I have thought of it… the Bridge was designed to get me over the river or gorge below allowing me to get on with life. Someone built that Bridge for travelers like me. I just cannot be distracted with the stuff that is below… the Trolls that lay there to trap and entangle.

How about you?

I gotta run now. Some one is coming to take me for a Coffee at Tim Hortons. Later someone else is in need of a few minutes… and then I have to run over to that store to see if there are anymore bargains… I am taking my “Anti Troll Spray”… nothing is going to stop me… you better believe it!!!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Another Jonah Miracle

I have written about my young friend Jonah before. I was there right after he came into this world and his family with a BANG. Then I have followed his progress for 4 years – holding my breath and praying many times for just one more miracle. Jonah was not going to live. He did. Jonah was never going to walk. He does. Jonah was never going to be able to talk. He has started to and will never stop. Jonah was never likely to go to school like other kids – sorry he does now and will continue.

Jonah always surprises me – always. And if I could really see what God sees – I would see the great potential that one young man has… God knows what that potential is in everyway – and He has let me be close enough to the parade of Jonah’s World to witness what he is doing.

Recently Jonah has had a turn for the “not so good”. A problem has appeared with his breathing when he gets very excited… and Jonah gets excited often – HE LOVES LIFE! He tends to turn blue with a shortage of oxygen… here is an account that will stir your heart as it does mine.

You see Jonah and I have plans for this summer. He loves Kites and I do too… and we intend to chase the wind together. We were planning this until this new twist took place and more surgery was needed. And… well… with Jonah… God always has some special things planned. Read on….

From my friend Diane… March 5, 2009
Hi all. This letter is from Jonah Van Spronsen's grandmother, Kim Pogue, a close friend of mine. It explains all about Jonah's problem. We need to pray for George and Jessika as well. I would be a wreck as would most of you I think.. Diane

In reply from Kim…March 5, 2009
On Monday Mar. 9th he is to be admitted to Sick Kids, he will be observed, tested, poked and have an MRI. His right aortic arc is constricting his ability to breath, it is cutting off his oxygen, he turns blue daily, has terrible episodes where he cannot catch his breath. It is terrible! So he will be having open heart surgery where they will be removing the aortic arc around his trachea & esophagus. He will be on the by-pass machine, surgery anywhere from 7-9 hours if all goes well. I know you will pray for him and could you please ask all that you know to do the same? God bless him he is only 4 years old! This is a big surgery!

God will be there guiding the hands of all the ,( I think there is 4 or 5 )surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologist, prep persons that ALL items are thoroughly cleaned, that he receives good, clean healthy blood should he require it, that no infection develops, that he recovers well, and that he makes it through the surgery. That the surgeons do not nick any areas that should not be cut. I am a mess! He is my beautiful grandson and I love him so much!
Thanks for you prayers in advance!
KIM

From Jessika – Jonah’s mom…
Today at 8:26pm – March 6, 2009
Hello All, All of you know what is going on with Jonah, so there is no need for me to explain it.

What you don't know is that something transpired today that blew us all away. Jonah needed to go on oxygen, he needs 23% at 3 litres per minute, for 15 minutes when needed. So when Jonah goes blue (cyanotic), he receives oxygen to "pink" him back up.

Well, we received the oxygen yesterday afternoon (THURSDAY MARCH 5TH), and never had to use it at all then. This morning, while I was making breakfast for Samsun at 9:12 am, Jonah went blue, and had trouble breathing again. So, I put the oxygen on him.

He sat there for 15 minutes, letting the oxygen take hold of his body.

Approximately 3 minutes after I removed the oxygen, he looked up at me and asked for his coat, shoes and hat. He wanted to go outside for a walk!!!

Jonah has been lethargic, not wanting to be moved, not wanting to play, and just absolutely refusing to do anything but sit in his lazy boy chair. It's been painful to see. BUT---all of a sudden---HE WANT'S TO GO FOR A WALK!!

So, I got him and Samsun dressed, and out the door we went. He wouldn't come back to the house for 40 minutes. He would stamp his foot, and tell me more if I tried to turn around. HE WAS WALKING, NOT IN A STROLLER. When I finally convinced him to come home, because I didn't want him to overdo it, he came into the house, and started running around, doing somersaults, and just being JONAH!!

I had my son back!!! He was sliding down the stairs, jumping around the house, signing songs (yes signing, not singing--)

He was all around just my son from before all of this started. SO....I called Sick Kids to report on what had happened. The nurse practitioner stated that she couldn't believe it, and was amazed at how a little oxygen made such a HUGE difference in Jonah's demeanor. I told her that we couldn't believe it either (I actually had to call my mother to come and witness what I was seeing, I thought I was imagining things). So told me that she would get back to me shortly, but to journal Jonah's progress.

At 4:00 today she called back to let us know that Jonah is no longer in need of heart surgery. After talking to his cardiologist, they both agree, that Jonah doesn't need it!!!!

A heart issue is not cleared up by a bit of oxygen, it is cleared up with surgery. So she did some investigation on his history, and they now believe they have made a mistake. They think that because Jonah had pneumonia in December, his lungs got a little scarred. Top this off with a HUGE growth spurt, and you have a recipe for disaster. Jonah's lungs needed that extra little push of oxygen to overcome the damage in his lungs, and gave him a new lease on the day!!

We are so happy!! They are still going to take him in for a CT scan, and an echo-cardiogram. But at least now, it can be carefully planned out and not emergency. They are doing this to be absolutely 100% sure that he doesn't need surgery, but as far as it stands, he is doing well on his own at home. He will require oxygen off and on for the next 2 weeks, to help his lungs heal, but by then he will be ready for the spring weather.....AND TO FLY SOME KITES PASTOR MURRAY!!

THIS IS THE RESULT OF CONSTANT AND DILIGENT PRAYER!

THANK YOU

THANK YOU

THANK YOU

THANK YOU

THANK YOU.

PRAYER DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF YOU BELIEVE IT WILL. WE ARE SO HAPPY TO SHARE WITH YOU THE NEWS THAT JONAH IS OK!!

Right now, he is having a second dose of oxygen, as he got a little blue in the face, but that is only his second episode...down from 14-15!! Praise God!

Love: The Van Spronsen Family!!!

THANK YOU

THANK YOU

THANK YOU

THANK YOU

THANK YOU!!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Jonah…Hey buddy… the Kites are going to fly with the wind in later April and May and June and July and August… YOU better believe it!

Take a look… at Jonah walking in January 2009
http://www.youtube.com/ll?v=0eFrKtXg3Rk

This is a Photo of Jonah's favorite kites - Butterflies... he and I are looking up but the camera couldn't catch us....but this summer....have I got a surprize for him...

Study Proves That You Can Offend Everyone – Too Funny

So this is just begging me to write about it. The headline alone jump started my brain. Oh Oh Oh it is too good!

University of Toronto and York University Scientists have found that “Religious” people have less anxiety in stressful situations but a little more difficulty solving a problem – compared to people who do not believe in God. And they did it all by a series of questions on Questionnaires as the study participants had electrodes attached to their person.

The piece was written/prepared by Omar El Akkad in yesterday’s Globe and Mail newspaper.

Quoting Omar…
"[Religious people] were much less anxious and stressed when they made an error," said Michael Inzlicht, an assistant psychology professor at the University of Toronto and a co-author of the study. "I don't think this has to do with fundamentalism, it's something deeper - religion provides meaning in peoples' lives."

“But Prof. Inzlicht said that while a low level of anxiety can boost performance, it also functions as a sort of "alarm bell," and too little activity in that part of the brain can hurt the ability to correct mistakes.” End quote… Thanks Omar.

As a “Professional Religious Person” you just have to believe that I will react. If I was a pastor now – I could feel a sermon illustration coming on – for now a Blog Posting works.

“Religion and Religious” is what Ministers of Religion do – we are “Professional Religious Persons” – PRPs. We have spent our whole working career doing this – telling people about God and helping them strengthen their belief in God.

Taking the University study a bit further as a “PRP” I sum it up this way… people that have a belief in God, praying, reading and walking with God – tend to be very cool during tough and much pressured situations. Yet when it comes to coming up with an answer they are slow to produce. Silly enough – through faith they believe God will! DUH!

As a “PRP” I have been saying this for ages. Take a look at Moses for example, Prince/Shepherd Leader with a major speech impediment led about three million people out of Egypt, into a desert and kept them walking for 40 years with sand in almost everything they had. Pressure you betcha! The part where he has all of these people watching him at the edge of the water too deep to swim over… and most people couldn’t swim anyway and there was no time to teach people the “Red Cross Quick Swim Lessons for Three Million People”… the entire Egyptian army was close enough that they could hear the hoof beats of their horses coming.

Pressure on religious leadership is pretty much as high as you could get at that stage. God talks to him… or somebody did… and made some big promises… told him what to do… “slap the old coat on the water trick”… he did what was said to be done… and he walked across the DRY SEA BED… and watched the water swallow up the entire army behind them. Talk about a Good Movie!

If Moses is not good enough for an example… check out three Hebrew Youth and the time the Big Dude King had them thrown in the Furnace that was so hot that it killed the ones stoking the fire. And the Kids didn't burn up!

If that wasn’t enough of a test – look at Daniel an his leadership skills – they checked him out with a Lion’s Den Experience – you know one night stay in a pit with a bunch of hungry lions… and no kidding – he came out alive.

But the University Profs couldn’t do these tests today in that they would be in trouble with Child Abuse people.... Animal Rights groups – i.e. hungry lions in a whole in the ground… and Water Pollution folk from the EPA would be having a fit about people walking on the dry sea bed and leaving their garbage behind… and even foot prints on the sea bed… and the problem as a result of a whole army drowning… well the Anti Terrorist folk would be going nutso…

So the U of T and YU folk settled for electrodes and questions. Okay? I can accept that.

But Omar did a “side slide” on me in his article… he contacted Pat O’Brien, the Non God Representative of the Humanists Canada, a “professional non religious person” – a “PNRP” that had to say something…

Quoting Omar again... who quoted Pat… the PNRP…
Pat O'Brien, president of Humanist Canada, could not comment specifically because he had not seen the study, but said he has heard about others that correlate religious belief with well being. Such studies, he added, still don't answer a fundamental question.

"It probably still doesn't answer the question of whether there's a God or not," he said. "[Even] Santa Claus can make you feel good." End quote…

So for the fun of it I looked at Pat O’Brien’s Humanist Canada Web Site. Tada – Perfect timing for them… on January 30, 2009 it was announced that the CH folk would be starting their new ad campaign telling people that “You can be good without God”.(every Big Time TV Evangelist knows that!)
Quote…
Toronto, ON, January 30, 2009 –This is the message Humanist Canada plans to put on bus terminals and in subway stations in the next few weeks. “We want people to know that belief in a god is not necessary to live a full, moral and happy life. Humanists embody this concept every day”, says Humanist Canada president and spokesperson Pat O’Brien.

For too long, religion has assumed the authority of moral teacher and the Humanists are here to say that the teachings of progressive thinkers, such as philosophers Epicurus, Baruch de Spinoza, Bertrand Russell and Noam Chomsky, physicists such as Albert Einstein and Steven Weinberg, and other freethinking individuals are just as good, or even better, than many of the teachings of religion.

The “Good Without God” transit campaign was created to reach out to non-believers everywhere that there is an organization that will protect their rights, values, and the separation of religion and state.

“We are not interested in telling people to discard their faith. We are interested in educating people about facts and the values of Humanism and encouraging them make up their own minds.” adds O’Brien. End Quote..

PRP and PNRP going head to head… both needing money… both wanting donations… Hmmm… who do you believe?

No wonder people are a little confused.

One final Lab Test that is sure to find the answer… it happens just before the “Long Dirt Nap” – LDN for short. And all the PRP and PNRP and the CP (confused people) and the BP (believing people) will all take it…. Two things will happen… and it always does…
1.) They pray or don’t pray at the every end – I have been there often and watched both take place…
2.) One of two statements are made somewhere – just seconds after they depart the old body… there is one of two very loud statements made when they arrive… “I knew it!” is one… and the other is “Ooops!”

But that is my very personal take on it all as a PRP. Pat O’Brien has a very different opinion and I respect that.

Musings…
The thoughts will not stop now… the Hindus who believe in a host of Gods.. must be the most relaxed people going and the slowest to solve any problem – based on the U of T and YU guys studies… but that is another blog some day…

And Pat O’Brien would likely get a very interesting reaction in Pakistan, or Iran or Iraq or Saudi Arabia… just try posting an Ad at a Bus Stop or Subway Station in their countries…. He might get up one poster….but only one and he would be pasting them himself…. hmmm

~ Murray Lincoln ~
www.murraylincoln.com

Source:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090305.wbrains05/BNStory/Science/home
http://www.humanistcanada.com/humanist-bus/

War Brides Meet In Peterborough

This may be one of the most powerful stories that I will every write. Where do I begin? How do I tell it with the sensitivity that it deserves? How can I be sure not to sensationalize it – yet not miss any of the crucial points? And I almost missed it.

The story is of two War Brides that meet in Peterborough in January 2009. Sitting beside each other at a Senior’s function is how it all began. Actually it is an unlikely meeting – one in a million or more. But it happened.

Marion sat beside Elizabeth and they began to talk. They were to be new friends with each other. Elizabeth lives in her own house not that far from where Marion lives. Marion lives with her son.

Marion has been lonely for almost two years and the doctor advised her that more socializing would be part of her “prescription” for Marion’s well being.

I am not totally sure but Elizabeth also was told the she needed this kind of socialization. Living on her own as a widow for the past 17 years she is alone… few friends if any in her community connect with her.

Marion and Elizabeth are like two new teenage girls in a community. Neither had known each other until they meet at a school dance while standing against the wall. Everyone else at the school knows each other – they don’t.

Well they are almost like teenagers except for one thing – teenage years happened over 74 to 75 years ago. Both gals are 87 and 88 years old. One was born in 1922 and the other in 1921. Both are War Brides.

Now we need to back away up… to 87 and 88 years ago…
Both gals were born on a farm to farming families. Both gals worked very hard as farm laborers all their lives. Both decided not to continue as farm laborers by marrying Non-Farming men. That decision took them off the farm. They loved the farm but simply didn’t want to work as its slave for the rest of their life. As Elizabeth stated, “We all wanted to marry some one that was not a farmer. If you married a farmer you would have to work hard for the rest of your life.”

But this is where their stories begin to be radically different… so radical in fact that it is almost hard to imagine. And with this great difference in their life beginning – they would never have conceived that they would become a potential “best friend”.

Marion was born in remote southern Saskatchewan – 60 miles from the nearest city. Elizabeth was born in southern Germany in a part that is now included in Poland. By the Second World War Elizabeth was in the last of her teen years and Marion had just turned 20.

Marion watched men around her leave to fight in that awful war. One of her potential suitors for her future life went to that war and never came home. When Marion speaks about him there is a sudden softness in her voice and a touch of deep regret. His name was "Aisel".

Elizabeth was affected deeply by what happened to her. The war came to her country. Men in her community were swept into a war that they didn’t want either. A brutal man rose to power in Elizabeth’s childhood and teen years. This man’s actions would be responsible for millions upon millions of deaths. His name was Adolf Hitler.

Her stories are so many that there is no way one can write it all. Four hours with Elizabeth is just the beginning as story after story pours from her life. I know Marion’s story better than Elizabeth’s.

When the War came to Germans in Germany it was not something that they wanted. They were happy living their lives the way that they were. The horrors of the last war(WW I) was still in the minds of grandparents. It was not something that they wanted for their families anymore than the rest of the world did.

As Elizabeth spoke of her home and the farm she lived on the War was far away… on the Western Front with the Americans and on the Eastern Front with the Russians. She lived in the south and east part and was far from the war zone… until the Russians came into their area.

The Russian soldiers needed food and supplies. A rich farming area was perfect for their purposes. The farming boys were gone, leaving young and middle aged women to work the farms with their parents. The rich supply of not only grain and farm products was not the only thing that the Russians helped themselves to… the women were prime targets for sexual nightmares… nightmares that are still fresh in Elizabeth’s mind and heart.

Elizabeth’s “husband to be” was a soldier that went as far as Stalingrad, in southern Russia where a sniper took out his knee with one bullet.

Wikipedia states…
“The Battle of Stalingrad was a battle between Nazi Germany and its allies and the Soviet Union for control of the city of Stalingrad in Southern Russia. The battle took place between 17 July 1942 and 2 February 1943, during World War II.
The results of these operations are often cited as one of the turning points of World War II. The Battle of Stalingrad was the bloodiest battle in modern history, with combined casualties estimated to be above 1.5 million. The battle was marked by brutality and disregard for military and civilian casualties by both sides. The German offensive to take Stalingrad, the battle inside the city, and the Soviet counter-offensive which eventually trapped and destroyed the 6th Army and other Axis forces around the city was the first large-scale German defeat of World War II”

With the end of the War Elizabeth married. Together they had two boys. After the nightmares subsided a wonderful opportunity came to them as a Canadian official came to their area. They passed the medicals and were accepted as immigrants to Canada. Elizabeth stated a number of times how happy they were to get out of Germany and away from any more potential wars.

In 1952 they arrived in Peterborough not knowing anyone. They had two boys 8 and 6 years old, no food, no friends and no place to live. A nun along the way had passed a small booklet to them and said, “If no one helps you.. go to the church. The church will help you.”

In Peterborough without anything in their possession and desperately in need of housing they knocked on the Priest’s door near the church. He looked at them as if they were crazy, what could he do to help people he couldn’t understand… they spoke German and he didn’t. It was post war Peterborough and that had its own share of opposition to a former German Soldier and his family.

The priest gave their boys a glass of water.

Marion is my mom – some of you may have guessed that already. Elizabeth is her new friend. In two years time Elizabeth is the first person to invite mom over to her house for lunch together. Both girls were very excited about that day. Elizabeth is also mom’s first friend to come over for supper last evening.
Elizabeth shared her stories from 4:30 to 10:30 PM.

Before she left for home last evening I showed her a new experience entitled “Google Earth”. I had been preparing for a talk today with the “New Friends” group that we attend on Thursday afternoon. I will taking all the seniors on a Google Earth Trip around the world many times.

With a click of the Computer Mouse the Google Earth turned the Earth on the Computer Monitor and we swished all the way around the world to her home village in what was southern Germany and is now Poland.

The transformation was amazing. Elizabeth quickly pointed to the road through her village… to the area of her father’s farm. She began to speak German describing places and land marks that she could see. Her amazement at being able to look into that far away world was a treasured moment for Marion, Alida and me.

At just over 1400 words I need to stop this blog. I asked Elizabeth if anyone had ever written her story. In an offhanded way she said, “Auff da.. who would vant to read dat. It is so long ago and the stories are not good. Da Russians were animals… war was terrible.”

Comedy…?
Marion began to laugh as I read this to her… the part about Elizabeth starting to speak German… “I thought my hearing aids had gone funny… I couldn’t understand a word she was saying…!”

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Stalingrad