If you missed last week’s message from Franklyn Spence, I would highly recommend you consider listening to it: (Franklyn Spence Sunday Service.) Franklyn’s story of meeting with old order Mennonites in the Mt. Forest area is a remarkable story. Having heard that miracles were happening in Franklyn’s ministry, they arranged a hidden late-night meeting with him, in the fear of others in their community shunning them if their meeting was discovered. After going to extensive efforts to hide their meeting, they asked the question, "Is it true that miracles are happening?”

English is so full of idioms. It’s no wonder that it can be a difficult language to master. Just this week, I was journaling and telling the Lord that I felt “out of sorts.” I became curious about the etymology of this idiom and found out that in the 17th century, sorts were the names that typographers used for the letters that were manually inserted into the printing presses. To be out of sorts, meant not having all that is needed.

One of the most compelling biblical stories is the story of Gideon. When the Israelites were being oppressed by their neighbouring nation, a young man Gideon was visited by an angel who addressed him as “mighty warrior” and called him to lead Israel to rescue them from their oppressors. Gideon responded with understandable skepticism, saying “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”

In the 19th century, Maltbie Davenport Babcock, a Presbyterian pastor from upstate New York would often go for walks on the Niagara Escarpment overlooking Lake Ontario. Many times he would tell his wife that he “was going out to see the Father’s world.” Babcock’s words from his poem This is my Father’s world can give each of us hope and assurance.

With the American presidential inauguration, it may well be that Canada will find itself with 25% tariffs on our U.S. exports. This has many concerned on both sides of the border.

Last week as we fasted and prayed for our nation, I was led to Genesis 26 where we find the story of Isaac and his relationship with the Philistine King, Abimelek. It was a difficult time, a time of famine, but two neighbours: Issac with his wealthy family, and Abimelek, made a peaceful treaty that resulted in blessing. As I read this, it seemed to me that this passage had similarities to U.S./Canadian history and indicated God’s intention for the future.

The message of Christmas is that the Saviour born to the world came to rule and reign in justice. His rule means victory over sickness and death, and freedom from oppression and injustice. And He invites us as co-labourers to join Him as He does this. This past Sunday Beula gave us practical ways we can do this as she preached from the well-known scripture Matt 18:18. We can understand this scripture in a new light