Psalm 111

Praise the LORD!I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them. Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. He hascaused his wondrous works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and merciful. He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever. He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations. The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy;8they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name! The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever! (Psalm 111 ESV)

Che Irony

I spotted a young man wearing a Che Guevara shirt, which is not unusual in Toronto. I was surprised, however, to see him sitting in a Starbucks. Talk about irony!

Egerton Ryerson

"Even at the elementary levels of education, where the new state reigned supreme, the advance of secularism was met by a stern defence of the importance of instilling an unshakeable religious code in the minds of youth. Egerton Ryerson, to whom is ascribed such praise for creating the system of public education, never questioned the necessity of religious instruction in his schools. Indeed, he hoped that the creation of a system of public education would expand the place of religion in the classroom by removing special privileges and creating ‘a common patriotic ground of comprehensives and avowed Christian principles.’"


William Westfall, Two Worlds: The Protestant Culture of Nineteenth Century Ontario, Kingston and Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 1989, p. 6.

A Remarkable Man

Sir Sandford Fleming is a fantastic example of how God has used His people to change the world.

“He took the first soundings of Toronto harbour and beaches, then wrote papers on the geologic history of Lake Ontario and its successive prehistoric ledges. He lithographed other surveys of Ontario towns, selling copies both remarkably accurate and artful. He was a fine amateur artist and often illustrated his own work. He built railroads, designed and engrave the first Canadian postage stamp, and founded the Canadian Institute, He wrote a dozen books, served thirty-five years as titular Chancellor of Queen’s University in Kingston, devised and facilitated world standard time, and finally, the world-circling sub-Pacific cable, which earned him knighthood in 1897.”

Clark Blaise, Time Lord: The Remarkable Canadian Who Missed His Train, and Changed the World. Toronto: Vintage Canada, 2000, p. xiv.

Zechariah 13:7-9

“Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me,” declares the LORD of hosts. Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones. In the whole land, declares the LORD, two thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one third shall be left alive. And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’” (Zechariah 13:7-9)

8.8.8

Wow.

I'm watching the Summer Olympics opening ceremony in China. It is simply stunning.

The Written Word

"People like ourselves may see nothing wondrous in writing, but our anthropologists know how strange and magical it appears to a purely oral people - a conversation with no one and yet with everyone. What could be stranger than the silence one encounters when addressing a question to a text? What could be more metaphysically puzzzling than addressing an unseen audience, as every writer of books must do? And correcting oneself because one knows that an unknown reader will disapprove or misunderstand?"

Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death, (1985) 2nd ed. New York: Penguin, 2005, p. 13.