"ZINGERS" CAN BE A USEFUL TOOL IN GAINING AN EDGE AND WE LOVE 'EM

These glorious insults are from an era before the English language got boiled down to four-letter words. 

The exchange between Churchill & Lady Astor: She said, "If you were my husband I'd give you poison." He said, "If you were my wife, I'd drink it." 

A member of Parliament to Disraeli: "Sir, you will either die on the gallows or of some unspeakable disease." "That depends, Sir," said Disraeli, "whether I embrace your policies or your mistakes."

Is it just me, or have you too noticed an increasing use of one-upmanship and snappy zingers in today's verbal exchanges, particularly in political debate forums?

What’s the psychology behind zingers anyway? Why do we love these verbal punches, these pithy “gotchas” so much? Isn’t a zinger just a veiled insult?

Don’t get me wrong – I love a good zinger. They’re the savory, spicy, falsely sweet, amuse-bouche of conversation. Zingers can help you win the battle by pushing back with a twist of wit and humor.

A zinger can be a sort of verbal guerilla warfare, a slyly creative intimidation – and it’s entertaining to boot.

It’s great when our hero beats the crap out of the villain and then gives him a succinct verbal lashing, effectively saying, “I’m not only righteous, strong, and a bad-ass… I’m smart, superior, and you’re a dumb-ass for thinking you could challenge me and win.”

At the same time, we love to love our villians as worthy opponents, real threats with teeth and style.

Zingers can be very satisfying and it feels good to identify with the person who comes out on top in the exchange. A snappy remark that exposes the soft underbelly of the other guy’s position – or better yet – the other guy’s ridiculousness, can expose a whole lot of blather and hot air for what it is. A zinger can drive home a point or take the other guy’s point away in a flash. 

A well-delivered riposte somehow gives us confidence that we – or the guy we’re rooting for – has a handle on things. The felt truth of a zinger can encapsulate what a long-winded explanation couldn’t. Plus, tallying up the stinging comebacks has become our way of keeping score.

On the flip side, a zinger can distract from the real point of the whole exchange and stop the conversation dead in its tracks in service to one-upmanship. If you’re focused on taking the other guy down – which unfortunately seems to be what our politics have become about in the desperate days right before election day – then not much substantial information comes to light. The dialogue might have energy, but lack in revelation or meaningful insight with which to build understanding.

It seems to me that what we expect and respect on the political stage tells us something about how we handle our personal conflicts. I would bet that most of us have used this tactic of caustic remarks in our arguments with loved ones. When we’re hurt, we want to hurt back.

Zingers help us combat feeling powerless, vulnerable, and transparent. It’s difficult to say your truth with vulnerability instead of humor because it leaves you nowhere to hide emotionally. Sometimes there’s a kernel of truth in the veiled insult of a zinger that might go unsaid otherwise. An unvarnished perspective makes it harder to claim being misunderstood. A straight statement of what you think or feel makes it more difficult to back-pedal or distance yourself with explanations of “what I really meant was…”

I don’t expect the form of our political discourse to change any time soon...It has become too ingrained in political jousting. We all – myself included – count up the clever bon mots to determine which candidate has the heat, the stinging silver tongue, to one-up the other guy and win our confidence and support. The place we can attempt a meaningful difference, however, is in our personal relationships. What would it be like to forego the half-playful, but-really-true, put-down in favor of a heartful telling of our truth?

NOW READ THIS, MR. AND MRS. CANADIAN POLITICIAN...

Louis deBeaudrap is my kind of guy.  He speaks not only as a native Albertan but for all rational-thinking Canadians who have had it up to here... with the state of politics in our country.  He wrote the following on his Facebook timeline prior to the federal election, Oct. 21. The post is a bit long-winded but I support every down-to-earth word of it. It sure saves me a lot of work.

I don't often get on a soapbox and vent my opinions like this, but I am getting FED UP, along with millions of other Canadians who just want to have a good life in what is supposed to be the Best Country in the world to live in..

Our world of politicians has finally downgraded itself into a cesspool of miserable, self-serving individuals who seem to do nothing but engage themselves in a giant game of "King of the Castle". Their whole existence seems to revolve around dragging down all others, in whatever manner possible, so that they get to sit on the highest seat on Parliament Hill.

Mr. and Mrs. Louis de Beaudrap

For many years now, the situation has been getting worse, and now there seems to be no hope of actually having any kind of a Government that can effectively lead this country with integrity, pride, honor, HONESTY, and a serious, effective agenda. The main focus of all politicians seems to be to discredit others, however possible, and to talk about what others can't do, rather than focus on what CAN be Done.

I don't care what your views are, what they were, who your parents are, how privileged you are or are not, or whether you dressed up in a costume 20 years ago in a more innocent time... All I care about is how YOU are going to help this country get out of the mess that has developed, and what your part is going to be in a cooperative, democratic system that is going to make it happen, and damn soon.

When I try to listen to candidates speak in a Forum or debate, all I see is foolish idiotic opportunists who talk over each other, lack respect for each other, and continually discredit each other. When You want my time to listen to your agenda, this is not what I want to hear. I want you to respect my time, and each other, listen to what the others say, and carefully form your words to complement their position , prove your way is better, and then let ME make the decision of what I will vote for. I don't want to waste my time listening to whining, finger-pointing brats trying to outdo each other with innuendos and accusations. I will decide who is the better person - not you.

The Legislatures and Parliament houses have become nothing but big sandboxes, full of disgusting children, fighting, mudslinging, and whining. If these people were our children, they would be punished for such behaviour. Children who tattle and bully each other do nothing but hurt each other, and make it impossible for cooperation. The job of Government is to accept the election results, and then get on with a productive mission by ALL elected persons to make things happen for the betterment of our great Country. If all they do is squabble, delay, strategize on how to make the others look bad, then nothing gets done for another 4 years. It has become so bad, that the Speaker of the House cannot even control the heckling, shouting and disrespect that takes up entire days, where nothing can get done because of it.

If nothing is going to change after an election, then why bother ?? !! Why make us all listen to the diarrhea before and after the election, spend millions in having the election, spend all the time and effort to encourage us to vote, and then have nothing change? Why, why, why?

I want to be able to take a visiting guest into the gallery of my Provincial Government or My Federal Government House, and proudly look down on a group of people who are actually busy Doing Something to help my Province or Country, and be able to proudly say, " There is my Government at work, for ME " Such has not been the case for a long, long time.

It is true, that, if you look south across the border there are persons in that Government that are behaving the same or even worse, but that does not give us an excuse to accept that behaviour here. We are better than that, and our politicians need to start proving it, and acting better. It does nothing but make us look weak and ineffective in the world.

If any politician cannot work FOR our country instead of for his own gain, and if he cannot stop behaving like a spoiled, whiny child, then he needs to go home, and make room for someone who will do the work. Being an elected seat-holder does not mean you are working to better your own pension and position. Being an elected individual means you are there to Get Things Done. If you do a good job, your pension will come later. In the meantime, we need accountability and Performance Reviews to decide if you are going to be around long enough to get a pension. We "common folks" have to accomplish productivity and beneficial results to keep our jobs. You should be held to the same expectations. If we behaved at work in the same manner as what I see in Parliament, we would be fired, and very quickly.

So, let's stop trying to drag up hurtful things from years ago, that have no relevance to the present. Let's look at present performance and platforms that offer reasonable and promising results for the benefit of All. And let's work together to help make those things happen.

Let's not do the "fake soccer injury thing" every time another person opens their mouth. Let's not pull the race card out on every issue, just for attention.
Let's not start false/exaggerated/irrelevant stories about each other to rile up the masses. We can see right through this kind of nonsense. We don't have time for that. We do have time to see productive results.

Let's pull up our socks and Get to Work, with diligence, honor, integrity, ambition, and ethics. Let's not secretly run around and try to push our own agenda down the throats of those who pay the taxes to allow you to be elected in the first place. You work for Us, not the other way around. Remember that.

It is time to take a look in the mirror for every elected person, and for them to ask the question, " Am I honestly doing a good job, - Am I actually Earning the pay cheque I get? Am I working with my Country's best interest in mind, or just trying to push my own opinions to the fore? Do I belong here in Parliament/Legislature ? Do I have the respect of my electors? "

If you cannot look yourself in the eyes and find a good, true answer of "Yes" to all of these questions, -- then just go home. You are not doing a damn bit of good for us. Canada is a Great Country, one I used to be prouder of than I am today. I want that proud feeling to come back. So do millions of other Canadians.

FRANCES WRIGHT: FITTING HONOUR FOR AN OUTSTANDING WOMAN

Click on video to listen to Elizabeth explain the "Famous Five Women" statues and her pride in being a Canadian.

Frances E. Wright BA, BJ, LLD (hon) was one of eight Albertans to receive the Alberta Order of Excellence, the highest provincial honour a citizen can receive, during a ceremony at the Government House in Edmonton last month.

I only became aware of this remarkable woman who bears my family name, quite by accident when doing some research on the current separation anxiety sweeping Western Canada following Monday's federal election. I absolutely had to drop everything currently on my plate in order to highlight the following story on Wrights Lane. The timeliness speaks for itself.

Calgarian Wright has worked as an ambassador for social justice and nation-building, striving to strengthen democracy and lift the voice of the marginalized. She approaches each new challenge with a contagious passion for strengthening democracy and a determination to bring a voice to those not often heard. 

But we'll start from the beginning.

Frances Elizabeth Wright was born in East London, South Africa. Her mother, a Canadian, wanted to return to Canada, so in 1953 when Frances was six, the family left South Africa under the guise of vacationing in England. But when South African authorities learned the truth, the family’s assets were frozen and turned over to the state to discourage other white families from leaving. After first visiting the Niagara region, and then Regina, the family ultimately chose Calgary. All the while, Frances’ parents taught their children the importance of being good citizens and good neighbours.

Frances remembers kids in school calling her a “DP” — displaced person, immigrant, not a true Canadian. As a result, she learned quickly how to fit in, including adopting a Canadian accent. The experience convinced Frances to be grateful to Canada and to assume her responsibility to help make it better for others.

After attending the University of Calgary for her Bachelor of Arts and Carleton University for a Bachelor of Journalism (with honours), Frances tried her hand at various careers, including journalist, stockbroker, communications consultant and entrepreneur. Along with her husband Richard Pootmans, she owned and operated six successful PORTS International clothing stores for 10 years.

In 1996, Frances and friends established the Famous 5 Foundation (F5F), an organization that drove a movement to finally recognize the five democratic champions from Alberta who worked tirelessly to ensure that women were enfranchised and legally recognized as persons.

The famous five women were:
Emily Murphy (1868–1933), the British Empire's first female judge;
Irene Marryat Parlby (1868–1965), farm women's leader, political activist and first female Cabinet minister in Alberta, still serving in that capacity at the time of the court case;
Nellie Mooney McClung (1873–1951), a suffragist and author, member of the Alberta Legislature 1921–1926;
Louise Crummy McKinney (1868–1931), the first woman elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, or any legislature in Canada or the rest of the British Empire, but no longer MLA at the time of the court case;
Henrietta Muir Edwards (1849–1931), an advocate for working women, author and a founding member of the Victorian Order of Nurses.


“One of the successes of the Famous 5 Foundation is that it has energized Canadians about our history. It has helped us realize that when we make major strides in terms of social justice, those strides affect not only us, but also other countries. As a result, people look at Canada as a beacon. That’s why we have to be stronger and more progressive and kinder and serve as an example for the rest of the world.” ~A quote from Frances.

Frances and the F5F launched a number of projects to raise awareness about the Famous 5 and the role they played in building Canada. In tribute to the 70th Anniversary of the ‘Persons’ Case, F5F installed larger-than-life bronze monuments — called Women Are Persons! — in Olympic Plaza in Calgary on October 18, 1999, and on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on October 18, 2000. Together, the monuments are the largest art installation in Canada.

Recognizing that most Canadians knew little about the Famous 5’s role in Canadian history, F5F also partnered with the Girl Guides of Canada to promote the 70th Anniversary of the ‘Persons’ Case. In each provincial legislature, Girl Guides spoke in front of the Speaker of the House, the Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, and other dignitaries and guests, raising awareness among lawmakers and the public alike.

Frances persuaded Canada Post to create a Famous 5 stamp and the Bank of Canada to issue a $50 banknote featuring the Famous 5, making it the first time identifiable Canadian women would appear on Canadian banknotes. To celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the ‘Persons’ Case, she convinced the Senate of Canada to declare the Famous 5 as Honourary Senators, the first and only time such a declaration has been made. More than two decades after it was established, the F5F’s mandate remains to educate, advocate and celebrate women’s successes, and to inspire Canadian youth to become nation builders.

Later, Frances found herself remembering a request made at the launch of the F5F and comments she’d heard during the partnership with the Girl Guides. Fathers who had heard their daughters speak eloquently in the legislatures observed that the anthem they’d sung together did not include their daughters. It did not encourage the girls to be nation builders, to be politicians, to be citizens engaged in helping to make their nation better. Why? Because of these lyrics: “True patriot love, in all thy sons command.”

Ever the feminist, Frances’ commitment to Canadian values led her to another successful campaign: to restore O Canada to its original inclusive lyrics. Written in the early 1900s, the initial O Canada lyrics were, "True patriot love, thou dost in us command,” but they were changed to encourage military recruitment with the advent of World War I. It took 22 years of negotiation, advocacy and patience, but Frances and a team of supporters succeeded on January 31, 2018. Thanks to her leadership, Canada’s girls and women are now included in the national anthem as we sing, “True patriot love in all of us command.”

“We just changed two little words,” says Frances. “I think it heralds a whole new era of men and women building Canada together.”

The F5F and the anthem debate reveal the depth of Frances’ commitment to a cause. Knowing that many factors contribute to building healthy, equal and just communities, she has dedicated her time and talents to more than 25 boards and committees over the past four decades, all focused on building community through everything from health to politics, business and advancing the role of women. Just a few of those organizations include the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research, Equal Voice Alberta South, the Mount Royal Village Merchants Association and the International Women’s Forum Calgary.

Most recently, Frances has been moved to act by a startling statistic: at least one in six men has been sexually assaulted before the age of 18 and there are only three dedicated treatment centres in Canada. In response, Frances launched the Canadian Centre for Male Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse in 2012. The centre’s vision is to create a world-class treatment centre in Calgary to address the complex issues faced by abused, traumatized men who have been under served and stigmatized in society.

Frances believes the most important messages for these men to hear are that they are not alone, they will be believed and healing is possible.

Given her profound achievements and life-long dedication to community service, Frances is the grateful recipient of a number of awards, including the Governor General’s Award for the Commemoration of the Persons Case and the Rotary Integrity Award, as well as the Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals, and the Alberta Centennial Medal. She has been recognized by the Women’s Executive Network as one of Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women, and in 2014, the University of Calgary bestowed her with an Honourary Doctor of Laws degree.

Frances maintains that any success she has had relies directly on people who have joined her in working together to make a difference, including her wonderful family and friends. “The word ‘Frances’ no longer means just ‘Frances.’ It means ‘Frances and friends,’” she laughs.

“I've wanted to show my gratitude to Canada for letting us live in Calgary and to do what we wanted to do. It’s important, though, that we not think only about ourselves. We must consider the bigger issues. And we must particularly be aware of those who don't have a voice or who can't speak freely. We need to move their agendas forward, too.”

Frances has said, “I want to build a better nation.” Armed with her tenacity, her leadership, her commitment to social justice and a contact list decades in the making, she has inspired a new generation of trailblazers and courageous leaders who are working toward a more equal society — together. Like the Famous 5 pledge, she has “felt equal to high and splendid braveries!”

A MORNING IN THE LIFE OF A SMALL TOWN LAY PREACHER

My dad's 80-year-old Bible came in handy but it threw me for a loop.

It is 9:55 a.m. and I am about to leave for Geneva Presbyterian Church in Chesley, about a 40-minute drive, where I am leading the Sunday worship service. On this particular morning I am feeling inadequate and unworthy, not confident that my message will be of any significance. This is not an altogether unusual feeling but more often than not, it is a signal to me that I need to "increase my faith", which is exactly the topic of my sermon this morning. I'll let you know how things turn out.

The above is a brief post that I dashed off this morning on my Facebook timeline with the overwhelming impression that something unexplainable was either amiss or in store for me. At the same time, I had reservations about my ability to adequately serve as God's messenger on this particular Sunday.

I'll simply recount the events of the ensuing three hours and in the process, hopefully it will all come into focus for me.

The drive to Chesley was a quiet one, so much so that even though I had a good eight hours of sleep the night before, I felt unusually drowsy and wished that I could pull over on the roadside and have a nap. The danger in doing that, however, would have been that I could have slept through the entire time that I should have been conducting the church service.

As it was, I arrived in downtown Chesley a good 30 minutes before the start of the service. I am always reluctant to walk into a church too early and try to avoid those awkward minutes twiddling my thumbs as the choir and others busily prepare for their roles in the service.

I decided to park my car on the ghost-like main street in order to while away some time. No one but me, a woman walking her dog and an oblivious-to-the world, groggy-eyed transient who had spent the night sleeping on a bench in front of the local legion.

I wondered about the dishevelled man across the street as he nodded off, falling in and out of consciousness (much like I felt like doing). What was his story? Did he at one time have family and loved ones? What had he done for a living in previous life? Did he have any hopes for the future, or had he completely given up on life? 

There but for the grace of God...I resisted the temptation to go over and talk to him, opting instead for a silent prayer on his behalf.

After about 10 minutes that seemed to pass in a flash, I drove the remaining three blocks to deliver my sermon on the topic "Leaning on God" to "Help Us Go Forward" in times of trouble and anguish when we are unable to go any further in life. Something about putting myself ever so briefly in the shoes of that old hobo empowered me to go forward with what I was called to do on this particular morning.

But I wasn't home Scot free just yet.

A chap approached me as I entered the Sunday School hall at the church, announcing that the lady who was to have led off the service by leading the Call to Worship, had been unable to meet the commitment and that he would be pinch-hitting for her. He said that he could handle the customary announcements at the start of the service but was not sufficiently prepared to do the usual scripture readings as well.

That news sent me scrambling.

I develop all worship services using scripture from my working copy of New King James Version of the Holy Bible and wouldn't you know it, I left it at home this morning. All I had in my brief case was my late father Ken's 80-year-old copy of the original Authorized (King James) Version, and there is a difference. I should explain that as a comforter of sorts, my dad's old Bible (held together by trusty duct tape) goes with me wherever I go. "No problem, I'll just read from that," I reasoned, not to be deterred by the unexpected change in the order of service.

It wasn't until I came to the Gospel Lesson taken from Luke 17:5-10 that I realized I had a problem. In this chapter the Apostles asked for an "increase in their faith" and Jesus points out that if they had the faith of a mustard seed they (according to my dad's Bible) "might say to this sycamine tree 'be thou plucked up by the root, and planted in the sea; and it should obey you'."

The trouble was, for my sermon I liberally sprinkled the word "mulberry" tree into my text because that is what the tree was named in the updated King James version of the Bible. I literally had to go back to the drawing board while on the run with this one, explaining that sycamine and mulberry are thought to be the same kind of tree, as much for my benefit as it was for my audience.

Not a big deal really, but it is kind of off-putting when you have to think at the same time as you're on your feet in the throes of speaking.

Anyway, I got through the service and seemed to sense that people appreciated the message: "It is faith that uplifts us -- not faith by earning God's love, but by accepting it. It is faith that reflects God's love made real in the way we live and by the way we love." We have only to lean on God when we are at a low point in our life and He will lift us up.

I'll never forget my time in Chesley this morning for three reasons 1) I should practice what I preach when it comes to having faith, 2) that old transient sitting on the bench in front of the legion and 3) sycamine/mullberry trees.

P.S. After the service I was unusually famished. Generally on such trips I stop at a favorite coffee shop in nearby Tara. As luck would have it, they were closed this morning and I had to settle for a breakfast sandwich at Tim Horton's when I got back to Southampton.

All in a morning's work for a struggling lay preacher answering a call in the four-church Co-Op Ministry of Central Grey-Bruce.

GIVING CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE

While I do not intend to devote any part of Wrights Lane to comment on the upcoming Canadian election, I was impressed with both participants in the following campaign trail exchange as reported by the CBC Network.

A campaigning Jagmeet Singh had a public encounter today with a man in Montreal who urged the NDP leader to "cut off" his turban to "look more like a Canadian."

Singh was engaging prospective voters at Atwater Market this morning in front of media cameras and reporters. He approached an elderly man to greet him.

As Singh shook his hand, the man spoke to the NDP leader in English.

"You know what? You should cut your turban off," he said. "You'll look like a Canadian."

"Oh, I think Canadians look like all sorts of people," Singh replied. "That's the beauty of Canada."

"Yeah, but..." the man said — before Singh cut him off.

"That's okay, I don't agree, sir," he said.

"In Rome, you do as the Romans do," the man said.

"Hey, but this is Canada, you can do whatever you like," Singh said, then walked way.

"All right, take care, eh?" the man called after him. "I hope you win."

Singh, who faces significant pressure to defend his party's seats in Quebec, already has said an NDP government wouldn't challenge Quebec's religious symbols law in court — but he hopes his own public identity can change Quebecers' minds about wearing religious symbols.

"I'm a bearded, turbaned man that's going to Quebec and saying, 'I love the French language, I respect the unique identity of Quebec and I want to fight to defend it and I'm proud of who I am,'" Singh said last month.

The provincial religious symbols law, known as Bill 21, bars teachers, judges and other public sector workers from wearing religious symbols and clothing at work. Federal party leaders have spoken out against the law — but have not agreed to join any legal challenge of Bill 21.

I give Singh full marks for the way in which he handled the encounter with the elderly man who spoke his mind in Montreal. To my mind it was a perfect example of civilly agreeing to disagree on a rather personal matter.

And you know what...There was sincerity in the man's not-too-subtle suggestion. I have no doubt that Singh would in fact pick up considerable votes if he did "cut off" his turban.

I would, however, be disappointed in Singh if he did decide to look more Canadian at this stage of the game. He is standing on principle and he can't be criticized for that. It won't make him Prime Minister, but it is gutsy -- and commendable.

Only in Canada, you say!?

SILENCE IS GOLDEN...

“The ego gets what it wants with words. The soul finds what it needs in silence.” ~ Richard Rohr

"You don’t need to have an opinion on everything," insists fellow blogger Dan Pedersen.  "What matters is not how many things you know, it’s how well you know the things that matter."

Excellent point and I could not have said it any better.

Some of the things we want to know are unknowable anyway. But everything we need to know is knowable, and much of it is within.

Spend some time away from the voices of others if you want to hear your inner wisdom. Wisdom comes from having a quiet mind. Seek your answers in silence. It works for me!

Shut out the nonsense that is continually thrown at you in this age of digital communications and mass media and occupy your thinking with the really important matters in your life, i.e. faith, family, relationships, health.

There once was a man who was very quiet. Because of his quietness, people thought the man lacked confidence. His quietness made others feel uncomfortable.

One day, a lady asked the man why he was so shy.

“Shy?” The man replied. “I’m not shy at all.”

“But you hardly say anything”, the woman replied. “Why don’t you come out of your shell, we won’t bite you.”

“I’m not quiet because of fear”, said the man. “I’m quiet because this is the natural state of man. It’s those who insist on a lot of chatter who are truly afraid. They’re afraid of silence. They’re afraid to be with their true self. They’re afraid of rejection. I’m afraid of those things too, but I’m conquering my fears through silence. The strong are considered weak and the weak are considered strong, that’s the way of the world, but it’s not the way of the spirit.”

YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN EYE FOR THIS ANTIQUE...

I wonder how many of my friends can identify this tiny glass item? It is two and a half inches in height, belonged to my grandmother and dates back to roughly 1870. It is "British made" and similar vintage items currently sell on ebay for about $25. I used it not long ago and it worked just fine...No, it is not a shot glass. Too small for that!

SAUGEEN SHORES STUDENTS STRIKE FOR CLIMATE ACTION

                     
Saugeen Shores high school students have added their voices to the millions around the world who are calling for Climate Action that began in earnest and was inspired by 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg.

Student  Laura Gilbert

Spearheaded by Cydney Morris and Angelina Baron, Saugeen District Senior School (SDSS) students began Thursday with a special ‘climate action’ assembly. The organized and student-led assembly was part of an international coalition of young people who are concerned about the future of the planet.

During the assembly, student Lauren Gilbert, who is a Bahamian, showed a video received from her aunt as Hurricane Dorian struck. “Many lost their lives and the islands are being impacted by increasingly worse hurricanes. Our actions have consequences and we are all accountable. We need to take action and say ‘no’ to climate change.”

“The climate crisis is real. It is not a political crisis but a human crisis,” said Cydney Morris. "We can each make a difference." Angelina Baron urged her peers to talk to their parents and grandparents and make it clear that climate change is not separate from well-being.

Student Logan Lemcke also urged fellow students to help make a difference when it comes to waste. “Use reusable materials, containers and bottles. We have started here in school with reusable cutlery – make sure you return it. We have to sort waste properly or eliminate it altogether.”

In the afternoon, students went "on strike" and left their classrooms to march to Coulter Parkette in downtown Port Elgin chanting and carrying placards. At the Parkette, many from the community joined them in their Climate Action Strike and signed a petition that will be circulated to all levels of government.

The Climate Action campaign is a beautiful display of global solidarity uniting everyday people all around the world to strengthen each other’s call for government action on climate. Students today are among the most well-connected in history and they have become united in this cause. They are demanding change not platitudes. God bless them!

Saugeen Times Photo

AN EXERCISE FOR KIDS IN CHURCH, OR ANY PLACE ELSE FOR THAT MATTER

A message and colouring exercise for children at St. Andrew's, Chatsworth, Sept.29, 2019.

Has anyone ever told you a secret? 

The Bible talks about a special secret called “the sacred secret.” It is sacred because it is from God. And it is called a secret because people did not know about it. Even angels wanted to know more about this. Would you like to know what the secret is?—

What do you think the angels were trying to find out?

Well, a long, long time ago, God created the first man and woman. Their names were Adam and Eve. God gave them a beautiful home called the Garden of Eden.

All Adam and Eve had to do was to obey God and they and their children could have made the whole earth a paradise, or a wonderful place to live in for ever. But do you know what Adam and Eve did?

Adam and Eve disobeyed God by breaking the only rule He gave them, and that is why we still do not live in paradise today. But God did say that he would make the whole earth beautiful, and everyone would live forever and be happy.

How would he do this? For a long time, people did not know. It was a secret.

When Jesus came to earth, he taught people more about this secret. He said that it was about God’s Kingdom and he told people to pray for this Kingdom to come because it will make the earth a beautiful paradise.

So we have to remember that only those who obey God will live in the wonderful place known as Paradise in a Kingdom that is beyond our wildest dreams.

The Bible tells us many stories of men and women who obeyed God and it helps us to learn how to live by their example. That is why we keep saying our prayers and why we come to church every Sunday because we want to find out everything we can about how we might live in God's Kingdom for ever and ever.

It is a lot for you to understand right now, but as you get older it will start to unfold for you. For now, just do a lot of watching, listening and asking questions about the Bible stories you hear. Somehow, I know you will.


~~ Written by your church friend, Dick Wright

Here's a thought exercise for you from the minds of others much smarter than me.

“The difference between successful people and very successful people is that very successful people say no to almost everything.” Warren Buffet

According to Aristotle, “We are what we repeatedly do.” More directly, we are what we say yes to.

Every second of every day, you’re saying yes to something. Every time you do something, you say yes to that thing.

Every time you hop on Facebook and begin scrolling, you’re saying yes.

Every piece of food you put in your body, you’re saying yes.

Right now, as you read this post, you are saying yes.

When you say yes to anything, you say no to almost everything else. Every choice has embedded opportunity. Every choice is very costly. Saying yes isn’t free.

Self-Signaling: The Science of Identity

According to research by Dr. Ronit Bodner and Dr. Drazen Prelec, “Actions provide a signal to ourselves, that is, actions are self-signaling.” In other words, your actions provide a signal to you of the type of person you are.

If you wake up early and go running, you’ll think to yourself, I’m the kind of person that wakes up early and goes running. Whatever decisions you’ve made, you’ll conclude that I’m the type of person that does X, Y, OR Z. (Luckily, as will be shown in a moment, your past is actually highly fluid, and can be changed by future actions.)

In the recent book, Skin in the Game, Dr. Nassim Nicholas Taleb explains that what you do is the purest definition of your value system. In Start with Why, Simon Sinek said the same thing. Your actions demonstrate what you really believe.

Gandhi said, “Action expresses priorities.” He also said, “To believe in something, and not to live it, is dishonest,” which is what psychologists call cognitive dissonance— the state of internal conflict. You can’t be confident if you don’t trust yourself. Confidence is a by-product of congruent and successful behavior.

Confidence is the emotional state of someone whose prior action was intentional and accurate of the person they planned on being.

Past, Present, and Future Identities

“It’s a conscious decision to choose your priorities every day.” — Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Interview with Woman’s Day, 2010

Your present identity is based on what you said yes to yesterday. Who you are today is a product of your previous decisions.

Your future identity is what you say yes to today. Who you’ll be tomorrow is a product of your current decisions.

Your past identity is what you’ll say yes to tomorrow. Who you were in the past is a product of future decisions, because memories are highly fluid and change based on current and future experiences. No matter how dark or conflicted your past, it can absolutely be transformed. As you change, the meaning of your past changes — as does the memory of it.

Your past can be redeemed by positive future decisions. Your present can make sense when you say yes to only that which you aspire to be like. And your future is as bright as your faith. As Napoleon Hill said, “Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve.”

But only if you act in accordance with that future vision.

Hence, Zig Ziglar was famous for saying, “You’ve got to be before you can do and do before you can have.” You decide who you want to be and act accordingly. If you don’t act accordingly, you’ll signal to yourself that you’re someone else, because you are what you do. More directly, you are what you say yes to.

You decide who you want to be. But that decision is only a real decision if you do what that decision entails. Otherwise, it wasn’t really a decision. The decision is only a decision if action aligns with it.

Conclusion

“If you have more than three priorities, you don’t have any.” — Jim Collins, Good to Great

In the book, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, Greg McKeown states, “You cannot overestimate the unimportance of practically everything.”

Most things should swiftly be said no to.

To repeat the quote from billionaire Warren Buffett: “The difference between successful people and very successful people is that very successful people say no to almost everything.”

Similarly, Jim Rohn said, “A lot of people don’t do well simply because they major in minor things.”

Most people say yes to minor things. Hence, most people live minor, not major lives.

Who will you be tomorrow? That depends on what you do today.

ON GETTING RID OF WASTE-OF-TIME REGRETS

I discussed needless regrets with a friend not long ago. That got me thinking...

Regrets: Ah yes, I've had a few...I think we all have.

Drop the name "Sinatra" in almost any conversation and people my age will know you mean Ol' Blue Eyes, the Chairman of the Board, leader of the Rat Pack...The late Frank Sinatra.

Some of the lyrics to his signature song "My Way" can move you to tears. "Regrets, I've had a few, but then again too few to mention…" for example.

It is not common knowledge, but "My Way", which became a classic anthem of sorts, was originally the creation of two French composers -- Jacques Revaux and Gilles Thibault -- along with Egyptian-born French singer Claude François. Canadian singer Paul Anka added the English words to the song, turning it into one of the all-time favorites we all now know and love.

The original French composers, along with Anka and Sinatra, may have had "too few to mention," (or admit to) -- regrets, that is -- as a way of justifying having lived life their way...and the jury remains out on that one.

But I am the first to confess to a long string of regrets and it includes not doing, as well as doing, a lot of things...Some of which I could attribute to "doing it my way."

Come to think of it, missed opportunities––the roads not traveled––may even outnumber mistakes. And we make matters worse for ourselves with the woulda, shoulda, coulda lament that is as old as the Bible itself.

Right off the top, I can assure you that in truth a) we all try to make the best decisions possible in life using the information available at the time, and b) we all mess up from time to time. But it doesn’t help the pain to point that out, does it.

Regret is sorrow or remorse over something that has happened or that we have done. Regret can also be a sense of disappointment over what has not happened, such as regretting wasted years.

Either way, regrets can be nasty things that we impose on ourselves.

How many decisions do you think you make during the average day? Dozens? Hundreds, perhaps? Psychologists believe that the number is actually in the thousands. Some of these decisions have resounding effects over the course of our lives (like whether or not to go to college, get married, or have kids), while others are relatively trivial (like whether to have a ham or turkey sandwich for lunch).

Some of these choices turn out to be really good while others end up being not so great.

So as you look back at your life and think about some of the poor choices you have made, you might find yourself wondering why you made those decisions that seem so poor now in retrospect.

Why did you make a certain decision? Why did you say something hurtful to someone without really thinking? Why wasn't I more attentive? Why didn't I show more compassion? Why did I over-react? Why didn't I try harder...?

If only I could take back certain things...If only this and if only that...

I am reminded of a story told by a man named Will Ream who recalled trying to figure out what was best for his children, and having some regrets about how things worked out with his family and marriage. He knew he could have done some things differently...and he was feeling very abandoned, even by God.

His children were the one thing that had kept him going up to a point when desperation finally got the best of him. He was on the brink of committing suicide. With a knife on his lap and his feet dangling over a cliff, out of nowhere he suddenly heard the voices of his children pleading: "Pray dad, pray!"

..."and I did!" concluded a mercifully unburdened and very much alive Will Ream as he recalled the lowest point of his life and how God pulled him out of it...In the nick of time.

To be human is to have regrets because making mistakes is a universal experience. The Bible gives much instruction that, if followed, can help us get over our tendency to second-guess ourselves -- to be weighed down with regret.

God’s commands and boundaries are written down for us in His Word, and the more we adhere to them, the less we have to regret.

Having regrets is a waste of precious time. It impedes the joy of life. So stop beating yourself up for things in the past that you cannot change. If you haven't already, get it/them off you mind once and for all with a simple, heart-felt, repentant prayer to the Holy Creator.

Forgiveness is there for all of us...All you have to do is ask for it...You'll be glad you did!

NOTE: I'll be elaborating on the subject of "regrets" later this month during Sunday worship services at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Chatsworth and Geneva in Chesley.

MY FISHER-PRICE PLUTO POP-UP KRITTER TOY IS 83 YEARS OLD

Among the very first 16 toys made by Fisher-Price in 1931 were the ever popular Pop-Up Kritters (Patented October 5, 1926-No. 1,601,983) that were made of bead and string construction allowing the Kritter to spring to life when the strings are pulled tightly, squirm and sway around as the strings are loosened, and laying flat when the strings are loosened all the way. Pop-Up Kritters are mounted on a paddle and the control strings have metal loops on the end to allow easy maneuvering. 

Five years (1936) after the first Pop-Up Kritters were released, a new Kritter was added to the line in the form of Disney's Pluto. To the best of my knowledge, Santa Claus brought me the "Pluto" shown in the above photo for Christmas in 1940 and I still have it in virtual mint condition. 

Now an antique collector's item, it remains one of my favorite toys and I still get it out and put it through its paces -- just for fun -- often as a stress reliever. Some kids never grow up, I guess.

Pluto is made of yellow wooden beads, he has a black beaded tail, black oil cloth ears, and a red collar around his neck. He has a 50-pound test fish line through the middle, he pops up when the string is pulled, goes limp when released. Pluto is mounted on a BLUE wooden guitar-shaped paddle. Marked "W.D. Ent.". Measures 7-1/2" tall, 5-1/2" high, 10-1/2" long paddle.

Other Information:
Was the best selling Pop-Up Kritter of all time.
Copyright Walt Disney Productions.
Patent No. 1,601,983.
The suggested retail price in 1936 was .25¢.
The suggested retail price in 1948 was .50¢.
Today it is priced at $25.99 on eBay.

The following poem can be found in one of Fisher-Price's mini-catalogues regarding the #440 Pluto Pop-Up and the #610 Tailspin Tabby:

It's Pluto the pup, chasing Tailspin Tabby
To the top of the fence and over, maybe
The lovable Kritters mean lots of fun
For the lucky youngster having one.

THE GENEVA BIBLE STORY...

Well-worn antique Bibles, thanks to Wright and Ruddick ancestors.

The first human author to write down the biblical record was Moses. He was commanded by God to take on this task and he naturally wrote in his native language -- Hebrew.

During the thousand years of its composition, almost the entire Old Testament was written in Hebrew. But a few chapters in the prophecies of Ezra and Daniel and one verse in Jeremiah were written in a language called Aramaic. This language became very popular in the ancient world and actually displaced many other languages. Aramaic even became the common language spoken in Israel in Jesus’ time, and it was likely the language He spoke day by day. Some Aramaic words were even used by the Gospel writers in the New Testament.

The New Testament, however, was written in Greek. This seems strange, since you might think it would be either Hebrew or Aramaic. However, Greek was the language of scholarship during the years of the composition of the New Testament from 50 to 100 AD. The fact is that many Jews could not even read Hebrew anymore, and this disturbed the Jewish leaders a lot! So, around 300 BC a translation of the Old Testament from Hebrew into Greek was undertaken, and it was completed around 200 BC. Gradually this Greek translation of the Old Testament, called the Septuagint, was widely accepted and was even used in many synagogues. It also became a wonderful missionary tool for the early Christians, for now the Greeks could read God’s Word in their own tongue.

By way of translation, we now have The Holy Bible (His revelation) in our own English language and in 2,300 other languages as well. Today we have the very Bible that comes to us from the original three languages. Truly we can say, “God speaks my language!”

In the post that follows, I take a look at the long  journey of the Christian Bible that forms the basis of our faith today. Some of it is not common everyday knowledge, including the fact that at least one English version actually preceded the King James Version found in our churches and homes in the 21 st. Century.

When Pilgrims arrived in the New World in 1620, they not only brought along supplies and tools that would enable them to forge a new existence for their families, but also a consuming passion for advancing the Kingdom of Christ, and the Word of God. Clearly, their most precious cargo was the Bible – specifically, the Geneva Bible.

All but forgotten in our day, this version of the Bible was the most widely read and influential English Bible of the 16th and 17th centuries. A superb translation, it was the product of the best Protestant scholars of the day and became the Bible of choice for many of the greatest writers and thinkers of that time. William Bradford also cited the Geneva Bible in his famous book "Of Plymouth Plantation", regarded as the most authoritative account of the Pilgrims and the early years of the colony which they founded.

“The Geneva Bible was translated by members of John Knox’s English Puritan church in Geneva, Switzerland, during the last years of John Calvin’s ministry there. This was the Bible of the English Reformation. William Shakespeare, John Bunyan, John Milton, the Pilgrims, and the Jamestown settlers, along with most other English and Scottish Protestants, used the Geneva Bible almost exclusively….The Geneva Bible was not only a popular and readable text because it was translated into the language of the common man, but it also had commentary on each page that was reflective of the theology of John Calvin, John Knox, and the Protestant Reformation with significant political and social applications.”

The Geneva Bible is unique among all other Bibles. It was the first Bible to use chapters and numbered verses and became the most popular version of its time because of the extensive marginal notes. These notes, written by Reformation leaders such as Calvin, Knox, Miles Coverdale, William Whittingham, Anthony Gilby, and others, were included to explain and interpret the scriptures for the common people.

Geneva Bible with characteristic 
commentary notes in the margins.

When the Pilgrims landed it was The Geneva Bible, published in 1560, that they had been using for years and was the most popular Bible in the English language at that time. Dr. Marshall Foster writes concerning the Geneva Bible, “Nearly forgotten by the modern world, this version of the Holy Scriptures was researched, compiled, and translated into English by a team of exiled Reformers in Geneva, Switzerland, between 1557 and 1560, and was destined to be the major component of the English-speaking people’s rise from the backwaters of history to the center of civilization…The Geneva Bible surely was carried aboard their (the Jamestown settlers) three ships that sailed from England in December of 1606. The New England Pilgrims likewise relied on the Geneva Bible for comfort and strength on their 66-day voyage aboard the Mayflower in 1620, and were even more dependent upon it as they wrote the Mayflower Compact, a document unique in world history and the first constitutional government in the western hemisphere….It is no exaggeration to say that the Geneva Bible was the most significant catalyst of the transformation of England, Scotland, and America from slavish feudalism to the heights of Christian civilization.” 

Prior to the Reformation, ordinary believers did not have access to the Bible. It was not until the printing of Luther’s German Bible in 1534 and the printing of the Geneva Bible in English in 1560, that the Christian public could own and hold the Bible in their own hands for personal and family reading and study. (At one time it was a capital crime even to read the Bible in England in the English language.)

William Tyndale, risking his own life, translated the New Testament into English and published it for the first time in 1526. Tyndale had said to a clergyman, “…if God spare my life, ere many years pass I will cause the boy that driveth the plow to know more of Scripture than thou (a theologian) dost.” (p. xxiv, 1599 Geneva Bible) This New Testament was smuggled into England from Belgium. For this great work of Tyndale, he was hunted down in Belgium and captured and on March 6, 1536 was burned at the stake. His Bible, however, did not die and made it to some English preachers and even to King Henry VIII himself who became a supporter of Protestant reformers. The English Bible, however, was still reserved for pulpits and was not yet available to the people.

In 1553, Mary Tudor became queen of England and had resolved to force England back to Roman Catholicism and ordered the burning of all English Bibles. Marshall Foster writes, “She caused more than 300 reformers, pastors and Bible translators to be burned at the stake, well earning her for all of history the sobriquet Bloody Mary.”

Because of her persecution of protestants, approximately 800 English scholars had to flee from their country. Many of these went to Geneva and studied under John Calvin. They were “some of the finest theologians and Biblical scholars in history” relates Foster. It was these Bible Scholars who translated the Geneva Bible between 1557 and 1560.

They not only translated the whole Bible into English but also included their notes with it. Foster writes, “The completed Geneva Bible was published in 1560 and dedicated to Queen Elizabeth, who had succeeded her half-sister Bloody Mary to the throne and, at least for political reasons, supported a definitive break with the Church of Rome. The Geneva Bible captured the hearts of the people with its powerful, uncompromising prose and more than 300,000 words of annotations in the margins to aid in personal study and understanding.” It went through many editions and was an instant hit with the people who could finally have their own personal Bibles to read and study. 

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In 1604, the year after he claimed the throne of England in 1603, King James I hosted and presided over a conference pertaining to matters religious, the Hampton Court Conference. While the Geneva Bible was the preferred Bible of Anglican and Puritan Protestants during the Elizabethan Age, King James disliked the Geneva Bible and made his views clearly known at the conference: "I think that of all [English Bibles], that of Geneva is the worst." Apparently, his distaste for the Geneva Bible was not necessarily caused just by the translation of the text into English, but mostly the annotations in the margins. He felt strongly many of the annotations were "very partial, untrue, seditious, and savoring too much of dangerous and traitorous conceits..." In all likelihood, he saw the Geneva's interpretations of biblical passages as anti-clerical "republicanism", which could imply church hierarchy was unnecessary. Other passages appeared particularly seditious: notably references to monarchs as "tyrants". 

It followed that the need for a king as head of church and state could be questioned also. James had been dealing with similar issues with the Presbyterian-Calvinist religious leaders back in Scotland, and he wanted none of the same controversies in England. Also, if annotations were in print, readers might believe these interpretations correct and fixed, making it more difficult to change his subjects' minds about the meanings of particular passages.

Toward the end of the conference two Puritans suggested that a new translation of the Bible be produced to unify better the Anglican Church in England and Scotland, James embraced the idea. He could not only be rid of those inconvenient annotations, but he could have greater influence on the translation of the Bible as a whole. He commissioned and chartered a new translation of the Bible which would eventually become the most famous version of the Bible in the history of the English language. Originally known as the Authorized Version to be read in churches, the new Bible would come to bear his name as the so-called King James Bible or King James Version (KJV). The first and early editions of the King James Bible from 1611 and the first few decades thereafter lack annotations, unlike nearly all editions of the Geneva Bible up until that time. Initially, the King James Version did not sell well and competed with the Geneva Bible. 

Shortly after the first edition of the KJV, King James banned the printing of new editions of the Geneva Bible to further entrench his version. However, Robert Barker continued to print Geneva Bibles even after the ban, placing the erroneous date 1599 (see photo above) on new copies of Genevas which were actually printed circa 1616 to 1625. Despite popular misconception, the Puritan Separatists or Pilgrim Fathers aboard the Mayflower in 1620 brought to North America copies of the Geneva Bible.

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Title page in 1840 King James Bible.

I frequently refer to my collection of 1800 vintage Bibles and Spiritual Books (a number of which my pioneer ancestors brought to Upper Canada from their native England and Ireland) and it is interesting to note the wording of the title pages of the early King James versions i.e. "The Holy Bible containing Old and New Testaments: Translated out of the original tongues; and with the former translations compared and revised. By His Majesty's Special Command. Appointed to be read in Churches." That wording has only slightly been altered in subsequent centuries.

During its long history the King James translation has been revised in accordance with changes in English speech and our growing knowledge of the original text of the Scriptures. The work has made its way to a position of primary acceptance among clergy and laity and continues to hold that position after more than three centuries.

Meanwhile, The Geneva Bible was fairly recently republished in 2006 by Tolle Lege Press. In his closing remarks in the introduction of this new edition, Dr. Marshall Foster says, “Many people have forgotten, abandoned, or rejected the great lessons of the Reformation and the Biblical theology that inspired the greatest accomplishments of Western Civilization. We fervently pray that the re-introduction of this powerful tool of Godly dominion, the Geneva Bible, will, with God’s favor light the fires of another powerful reformation.”

Time will tell.

NOTE: My interest in the history of the Geneva Bible, has been sparked by a number of older Presbyterian Churches still carrying the name "Geneva", including one in the neighbouring community of Chesley, ON founded by Scottish settlers in the mid 1800s.

THE NECESSARY AGONY OF YOUNGSTERS IN CHURCH SERVICES

As parents of two daughters, Anne and I were blessed...Debbie and Cindy were shy by nature and rarely said a peep in public. They were especially quiet when attending public gatherings like concerts or church services and in all honesty, I don't recall ever having lectured them on the subject of behaviour outside of the home.

Lucky us, I guess! Unfortunately, not all parents are that lucky

In my capacity as a lay preacher, I am particularly sensitive to kids' behaviour in church these days and die a thousand deaths with now all-too-few committed and commendable young parents who have to contend with squirming, vocal, two and three-year-olds who have no other outlet for their emotions or discomfort with present circumstances other than to let it hang out for all to hear, regardless of the time or place.

Just this past Sunday I had competition from two crying tiny-tot brothers (about a year apart) who had grown weary of the church thing during prayer time and I paused long enough for mom to remove them from the source of their agony.

Lord knows, in order for church to survive in this day and age, we need a generation of children in the pews. The future depends on it!

At the same time we know too well that it is easy for young families to find excuses to stay home on Sundays, but even on the most stressful mornings it is important that Christian parents bring their families to church, even if they feel like they are going through the motions. Children see what parents do and the regular struggle to attend worship reinforces to our children that church is a priority.

"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6.

Whether you interpret Proverbs 22:6 as a promise for raising your kids “in the Lord” or a warning about not doing so, there’s one thing we know: what you do as a parent matters and it will lead to results. Our children are going to become adults, whether we want them to grow up or not!

I recently learned of an excellent study of the book of Ephesians by J.D. Greear. In the study, he talks about how God uses common relationships – marriage, family, work – as “laboratories” to make us more like Himself. A study participant described one of these laboratories as the family, where children learn to obey God by obeying their parents. “When we are young, our parents represent the authority of God to us. In a way, they stand in for God for a time. We first learn to obey and submit to God by obeying and submitting to our parents,” he explained.

Greear describes this relationship like training wheels. “When you’re learning to ride a bike, training wheels are critical. But the training wheels were never the point. Riding the bike was. In our relationship to our parents, the goal isn’t mere obedience. It’s a healthy and honoring family relationship—and, more importantly, a trajectory toward God.”

The years our children are in our homes are critical. These are the formative years when they are developing their entire worldview. The majority of adult Christians became Christians before turning 18. Actually, many follow Christ between the ages of 4-14. On the other hand, we’ve all seen the troubling numbers of young people (the “nones”) who are much more likely to lack any religion at all. Belief systems tend to form early, and while they can – and do sometimes change – it’s critical for parents to have an active role in a child’s spiritual development early on.

It’s not likely that Proverbs 22:6 is a guarantee of success for committed, Christ-following parents. But, it is important to recognize the truth the verse contains. God has given us an incredible responsibility by placing children in our care. The family is a primary mechanism God uses to grow His kingdom and grow His people. As a result, it’s our duty to teach our children about God. We are in an influential position, and what we do today will matter in our kids’ lives tomorrow.

"If we wait until we have perfectly well-behaved children to bring them to church, it is likely Jesus will have already returned," commented one mother consulted for this post. "Looking back, things only got more difficult for my parents as my sister and I got older. I have distinct memories of my dad sitting in the station wagon idling in the driveway while my mom herded us out the door."

"Once I could drive we would often take three cars to get four people to church because nobody could get out the door on time to suit my father. But we followed his lead," she added. "Going to church wasn’t debatable, and nobody had to tell us that. It was this habit that pulled me through as I doubted my faith in my adolescence."

It should be recognized that salvation is not dependent on behavior, so we should not make church attendance behavior-dependent, either. Our children need grace, and so do we. Regardless of how the children are acting during worship, if worship involves entering the presence of God, then what better time than with screaming children to experience such a grace.

So dear parent, rest easy. While Sunday morning might feel more like a wrestling match, a battle of wills, or a circus, your time, efforts, and distracted worship are worth it. Even the messiest and most frustrating days are not wasted. Thank God for his grace—and keep on bringing your kids to church...We need them!

In a way, they need us too.

It takes a village...and always a church or two!