Oh Canada...

Recently I was in a public school on one of my rounds, just after 9:00 am. The national anthem was playing and the students are required to stand during the playing of 'Oh Canada', wherever they may be, in class or in the hallway. The version most schools seem to be playing nowadays leaves a lot to be desired, in my opinion. It is a rather pop style song that does little or nothing to inspire allegiance or devotion to our country. I've seen children and teenagers stand during the anthem looking like they just can't wait for it to be over. Their shoulders are slumped and their heads sort of hang to the side as though they're feigning attention to an adults dissertation on the problem of youth today. This just reinforces the view that Canadians just are not very patriotic.

I have noticed over the years that Americans are much more patriotic than we Canadians, almost to a fault it would seem. There was one evening however, where I was proud of my fellow Canadians. My wife and I were at a Gaither Homecoming concert in London, Ont., and about halfway through the evening Bill Gaither introduced a local singer. The performer (I don't remember his name) began to sing our national anthem. By the end of the word Canada, the entire audience was on their feet singing along. Listening to thousands of people singing of our country with much heart and feeling, was quite inspiring indeed.

The group of singers on stage (all American) stood as well, looking about the crowd. with a look on their face as though they were witnessing something never seen before. It appeared they did not expect quite the reaction from the audience, and that they were inspired by it.

That evening, I was indeed proud of Canadian patriotism, and I am always proud to be Canadian.

Well, it's been a really long time since my last post. (I did mention in the header this would be infrequently added to...) Man, over a year and I still don't have much to say. I guess I am not really an avid blogger, huh?

So, has anything happened during my year long hiatus from the blog...? It's getting too late in the day to think too hard, but I can tell you that our oldest son just got his cast off his foot. In the beginning of December he had corrective surgery on his foot and has had it in a cast ever since. Until yesterday that is. He's still supposed to use his crutches for a while, but try telling that to a teenager. (after all, what do adults know, huh?) :-)

Yesterday our niece had her third baby, for which we thank God. You can read about in their Blog.

We thank God for this new life, and at the same time we are asking for His healing mercies in regards to this little one's health concerns.


I suppose that's it for now. I hope the next post won't be a year from now. :-)

Book of My Life.

The following was found among my grandmother's things after she passed away. This was read at her funeral and was wonderful for us to hear. I pray this may bless you too. Rob.

Book of My Life.

The passing year is like a book that is almost finished. I turn the pages, one by one. Sometimes I hesitate, and sometimes I quickly glance back at a page here and there.

The book is dirty, wrinkled and torn; so many things have happened. I see some very dark days about which I would rather not write.

There is so much I had forgotten. Did I really say 'this' or 'that' at that time? How could I so thoughtlessly hurt those near to me?

There was so much I should have done but did not do, because I heedlessly forgot. Oh, how I trespassed your commandments. How little did I serve You, oh God.

When I read back through the book of my life, I am overwhelmed by fear. Even if I paid with my life, how could I ever meet my God?

Have I, against my better knowledge, forgotten the love of my God? Is not every page, which I am now turning, bathed in His grace? And every deed I have ever done and which I see written here, are they not also written in God's book? And there are also written these words: "It is forgiven".

Yes, every sin I have committed, and prayerfully confessed to You, You have forgiven, out of grace. You have paid for them on Golgotha.

It is paid. It is forgiven. I may continue my life and with courage enter into the new year. What will it bring me? I don't know. Perhaps many cares, much pain, and every day more sin and sorrow because so many time I forget my God.

Thank God, I have one surety. It is he who guides my life. If God, my God, will be with me, I will not fear this new year.

Jan. '91

©2006 Zuidema.ws

Found money?

The other day, I was at the doctor's office in the waiting room. A gentleman was called in and a moment later someone had noticed his wallet had slipped onto the floor. The young girl got up and pickup up the wallet and immediately brought it to one of the receptionists to have it returned to it's owner. I thought to myself, "I'm glad to see we still have honest people willing to help others out."

The next day, I was standing in line at a coffee shop when I dropped a coin on the floor. I thought it was a penny, but as I looked down, I noticed it was a dime. I didn't reach for it right away, but out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the man behind me leaned over and picked it up. I acted as though I didn't notice. I expected to hear, "You dropped a dime", maybe because that's what I would have done. But, no, he simply pocketed my dime which he picked up less than two feet away from me, almost immediately after I dropped it.

Now, don't get me wrong, I don't care about the dime, if he needs it that much, I am glad to let him keep it. This just shows that this world is made up of so many different types of people, and some who only think of themselves, and some who are willing to help out others. The real test is what is your motive? Are you just trying to be a good person, or are you trying to display the 'image of God' placed within you? This is the only motive that has eternal benefits.

Charter of Rights

Has anyone read the 'Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms' lately? Did you know that the one line preamble to the charter reads: "Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law:"? Well, it would seem to me that nowadays the country as well as it's government now yields only to the supremecy of the courts. You would think, wouldn't you, that if Canada recognizes the 'supremecy of God', that in it's governing and law-making, our leaders would consult with God and the laws and rules that He has already put in place for us. Instead, prayer is shunned, even ridiculed, in public office, Bibles are nowhere to found, and very few even know the Ten Commandments. Is it any wonder that our society is falling apart. It reminds me of Israel recorded in the books of Kings and Chronicles; when the leaders fail to listen to God, then the nation suffers. If Canada as a nation returns to the 'principles that recognize the supremacy of God', then we will see a return to greatness for this country.

Right to Choose what?

I, for one, will be glad when the Canadian federal election is over this Monday. The attack ads are increasing, and the candidates speak with ever increasing volume. What really bothers me though, is when one candidate or another tells us he is standing up for the values of Canadians. Funny...I don't remember any of them asking me what MY values were! Last night, on the TV coverage of election happenings, I heard one of them mention 'protecting a woman's right to choose'. Well, if he was standing up for this Canadians view, he would have told us what the phrase, 'a woman's right to choose', really means. I am always waiting for them to finish the sentence. Choose what? is my question. What they don't tell you is that they are defending a woman's right to choose to kill a yet-to-be-born child. But they don't want to say it that way because then it doesn't sound like one of our 'charter rights'. If you are one of those who believe that an unborn child is not human yet, my question is, 'When does it become human?' If you were to take the remains of an aborted or still born child to a lab, you could have it's DNA analyzed. You would then find that no matter what stage the fetus* is at, the DNA is human. Moreover, the DNA would be unique, that is, different from the mother's DNA, meaning that the child is not merely a part of the mother, as a spleen or appendix. The child is a unique human being who is simply not able to live on it's own yet, but then again, neither is a toddler. Therefore, abortion is the deliberate taking of a human life, and is not a woman's right to choose.

*Fetus comes from the Latin meaning baby or offspring.

Ansel Adams: Photographer

Ansel Adams: Photographer
For those into photography, Ansel Adams was the Guru of the craft, someone to look up to and aspire to. This is someone's art class project on one of the greatest photographers ever.

Whack-a-candidate

For all you election weary Canadians, try out this website. After listening to all the debates and campaign rhetoric, I think this is pretty much what many wish they could do.

Epitaph

Here's an epitaph that kinda says it all, eh?

Inuksuk

Last year we went camping near Parry Sound, Ontario. All along the highway and throughout the parks along the trails you can find these 'rock people' called Inuksuk. Originating from the Inuit culture, they had many practical functions... they were employed as hunting and navigation aids, coordination points, indicators, and message centers. I think that the original practical and spiritual functions they provided the Inuit are lost to our culture, however, they are quite a sight for travelling tourists. They are also fun for the children to make as we hiked the trails throughout the parks.