Welcome to Plaid Eggnog!

Welcome to Plaid Eggnog!

Jul 31, 2012

Aug 1 Sports Devotional - Goodwill and Forgiveness


Good morning, I'm the Rev'd Steven Page, from St Patrick's Anglican Church. August is a big month for sports. The Canadian Football League is in full swing, while south of the border the American pro and college leagues are in full pre-season training camp mode. Baseball is in full swing, with the pennant races heating up. Golf season is at its peak, and the pros will play one of the Majors mid-month. And oh yeah, the Olympics are in full swing in London, England.
With all this sports activity, our daily devotional moments for August will draw our images and metaphors from the world of sports, with an occasional assist from the book “Devotionals from the World of Sports” by John and Kathy Hillman. If you miss any of these devotionals, we will post them online on our blog at plaideggnog.blogspot.com, and on YouTube.
Now, I don't know about you, but I am spending some of my spare time these days watching the Olympic Games from London. I love the national colours, the excitement, the pride, the best efforts from so many fine athletes.

31 July - Quotidian Quotations

Today I came across a very interesting quote:

 "A man of superior talent...will go to pieces if he remains forever in the same place."
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, composer

I do empathize with this one, as I've enjoyed living in different places all across Canada. I tend to get antsy if I've been in one place for a few years, and no matter what, I need to travel every few months to maintain my perspective on life.

But I'm not sure that what the quote says is really true after all. Perhaps all it does it betray a lack of imagination in the one who thinks this way?

Although that may be too harsh - on the author, and on myself as well. Perhaps some of us just need to move around from time to time, or at least travel extensively, because that's the way God has made our personalities. We require the reminder that God's world is vast. Rather than scaring us, the concept fascinates and animates us, reminding us how big and good and trustworthy God himself is.

I'd be interested to hear what others think of all this. Meanwhile, wherever you are today - coming, going, or staying put - in the words of Carolyn Arends, may you "go with God."

- J


Jul 14, 2012

14 July - Quotidian Quotations

"Although you'll find our house a mess,
Come in; sit down; converse.
It doesn't always look like this;
Some days, it's even worse!"

- from a plaque that was always (and may still be) hanging in the kitchen of my very hospitable grandparents, Nelson & Pauline Golding

My grandmother says that she used to turn down opportunities to go out with friends or family, if she had housework to do. But at 88, she tells me that she has changed her mind. Now, when someone invites her out, she drops everything and goes - even if she's just pulled everything out of the cupboards for spring cleaning and it's all sitting on the counters and table. Her reasoning? "It will still be there when I get back."

Thanks, Gram, for the wonderful dose of perspective!

- J 

Jul 13, 2012

12 July - Quotidian Quotations

"Now is the time to depart from your regular routine."

- under the cap on my Jones soda

Hmm, it must know we're going on vacation next week...

;-)

Jul 11, 2012

11 July - Quotidian Quotations

"This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike 'What's next, Papa?'"

- The Bible (Romans 8:15)

Let the adventure continue!

Jul 9, 2012

9 July - Quotidian Quotations

"'Do your own thing' is not so different than 'every man for himself.'" ...and later, in the same article... "Thanks to the '60s, we are all shamelessly selfish." These come from a thought-provoking - and perhaps just plain "provoking" - article in the New York Times on American liberty, which unfortuantely applies to Canada a great deal as well. It's worth a read - and if you do read it, why not tell us what you think and why? Here's the article: The Downside of Liberty by Kurt Andersen, published 3 July 2012. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/04/opinion/the-downside-of-liberty.html

Jul 7, 2012

8 July - Quotidian Quotations

Posting this one early, as Sundays are our busiest days. This is one of my fave parts of the Bible, and a great one to prepare us for worship with our church communities:

"We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise."

- Romans 5:2 (The Message)

Wow!

-J

7 July - Quotidian Quotations

Lately, a number of people have asked me questions about the Bible and money. Things like: Is it OK to be rich? How much money makes you rich? What does God think about money?

It's a tough topic that we all need to wrestle with - and not just once, but all throughout life, as our circumstances, income and maturity level all keep changing.

Here are some wise words that I just came across today, on God and money:

" (G)give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread. 
Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God."

- from the Bible, Proverbs 30:8-9 

May we take this wisdom to heart - and to our wallets as well.

-J

Jul 6, 2012

6 July - Quotidian Quotations

From Mary's song:

“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name."

What great things has God done for you? Please join me today in thanking him for both his constant care for us and those "wow" moments he brings us as well.

Jul 4, 2012

4 July 2012 - Quotidian Quotations

In honour of American Independence Day, and all our friends and family south of the border, here are a couple of (somewhat) tongue-in-cheek excerpts from an article in The Globe and Mail, one of Canada's national newspapers, exposing the conflicted, love-hate and envy-disdain relationship that many of us Canadians have with the USA:

"(C)elebrate this 4th of July by acknowledging what we all, in our hearts, know to be true: Americans have stuff that we want."

...and later, in the same article...

"Canada and the United States are separated by the world’s longest one-way mirror.

Americans look and see a slightly greyer version of themselves; Canadians survey the landscape and see the world’s largest, best-armed shopping mall. We might do them a disservice that way; there are things, from here, we just don’t get.

America is a service not available in Canada."

- Ivor Tossell, "Let’s celebrate July 4th by admitting: Americans have stuff that we want, " in The Globe and Mail, 3 July 2012.


Ouch! This is all too true, in my experience. I suspect both Canadians and Americans do each other a "disservice," as the article puts it, by pinning each other down with these partially true but deceptively simplistic perceptions and stereotypes. 

May we celebrate each other's independence days this year - so close together, with Canada Day on July 1st and American Independence Day on the 4th - by admitting our own country's weaknesses and refusing to point the finger at those of the other country, and by honestly assessing and appreciating both our own and each other's strengths. And most of all, by approaching ourselves and our neighbours across the border with a humble, gracious attitude. Amen.

-J

A prayer for Canada, from the Book of Common Prayer, Anglican Church of Canada, p. 59
ALMIGHTY and merciful God, who in thy wisdom dost divide to the nations their inheritance: We yield thee hearty thanks for thy loving-kindness in appointing this good land of Canada to be our dwelling-place among the children of men; for the wealth and glory of its plains and mountains, its fruitful fields and teeming waters; for the precious things of heaven, the dew, the sunshine, snow and rain in their season, and the precious things of the earth and the fulness thereof; for a land wherein there is bread without scarceness. For all this, and the opportunities thus vouchsafed to us, we bless thee and magnify thy Name. And, we pray thee, grant us grace so to sanctify thee in our heritage that the world may know that thou art our God for ever and ever; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer for the USA, from the Book of Common Prayer, The Episcopal Church in the USA, p. 820
 Almighty God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favor and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Jul 3, 2012

3 July - Quotidian Quotations

Here's one for all those who are concerned about noticing increasing numbers of gray hairs:

"Gray hair is a mark of distinction,
   the award for a God-loyal life."

- the Bible (Proverbs 16:31)

May we grow older gracefully, not denying our age by trying obsessively to get rid of the gray and wrinkles, but rather being convinced of God's intervention and care on our behalf, and thankful for the wisdom and other blessings he's brought to us over the years.