I just posted my Christmas Eve message with a focus on God's unconditional love.  The message will be followed by a soloist singing "I Wonder as I Wander", accompanied by a violinist, and then communion.

My Message for Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve Message, 2012

A young man had a dream.  In his dream he was holding a candle and he was surrounded by darkness.  Jesus lit his candle and sent him into the darkness.  After a little while, his candle went out and he had to go back to Jesus to light his candle.  This happened several times.  He started to apologize to Jesus for not keeping his candle lit.  Jesus said, "Please see that each time you were able to go a little farther into the darkness before your candle went out."

I often listen to on-line seminars from NICABM  (National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioural Medicine) - they're pretty interesting, featuring reputable folks talking about brain science, healing, trauma etc.  They're just starting a new series on Spirituality & Healing ... here's a link in case you're interested.   Seminars are free if you listen at the broadcast time - otherwise a fee is required. 

http://www.nicabm.com/

Some time ago, I submitted a post in which I said the clergy should use some of their sermons tp relate our faith to situations here -     to. for example,  politics. I noticed that the response of clerics ranged from tepid to high Arctic. So let me try an example - using the very touchy issue of Islam, Judaism and Christianity. The core of the sermon would be the meaning and importance of forgiving.

 We are coming to the end of a rather long saga in our Presbytery regarding the sale of our church camp.  I don't really know that is what is going to happen tomorrow but what has been announced in the press is that BC Conference of the United Church and the Regional District of Nanaimo will be making an announcement at 10 a.m tomorrow.  So I guess we can all do the math.  The entire process of this has in my mind been very poorly orchestrated by BC Conference.

I came aross a phrase that I have never seen before. What do you think it means?

"colder than Christian forgiveness"

This evening, on TV, I watched Russell Williams in the interrogation room as he talked about what he had done. I felt sickness and hopelessness and something much more terrible than disgust; and I felt an indescribable sadness.

How does a Christian react to this?

I've often wondered about the story of the returning son in Luke 15.  I realize it's a parable, not a historical event, but the question intrigues me:  What happened after that?  Did the two sons get along after that?  Did the older brother continually rub the younger brother's nose in the fact that he'd been less than the ideal son?  Did Dad do anything to reconcile them, or just sit back and watch?  How would Part II of the story turn out?

I  am a Christian and one of our biggest premises is forgiveness.So. I am confused. If someone asks for forgiveness and we aren't ready to give it, or can't or won't where does the burden lay? On the person who asks or on the person who gives or doesn't.

Jumping onto a thread and saying "I forgive you" to me is a false or empty gesture. It also belittles the action that has been asked forgiveness for., imo. Doesn't make sense but I hope you get what I am trying to say.