Inscribe Fall Conference in Edmonton, AB

My registration for the Fall Conference, held in Edmonton, September 24 & 25, 2010, is in.

I am looking forward to see some of my writers' friends and listen to some great speakers, like Rudy Wiebe and Sigmond Brouwer. There are workshops on poetry, non-fiction and blogging.

It is well worth the long ride from Manitoba to Alberta by bus.

I get inspired when I eat, drink, sleep and talk writing for two days straight.

There will be a banquet with special music, so relaxing. There will also be the announcement of the winners of several contests and our work can be critiqued. It is an altogether win, win situation and well worth planning for.

Hope to see you there. I would love to meet you and get to know more Christian writers.

The Portrait of a Mother

Someone once said that her expression was harsh.

She did not smile very often.

Her face was round; her mouth almost a straight line.

Her brown eyes had depth.

She suffered much pain.

Her memories of a relative who died on the operating table

prevented her from seeking medical help.

She finally had the surgery and survived.

Her love was a jealous and very possessive affection.

She'd spare the food out of her own mouth to feed me.

While in agony of pain she sewed me a coat.

I was only 18 years old when she died of cancer.

On her gravestone it said: "The Lord preserves the simple" (Psalm 116:6).

When I was 19 years old I found out who she really was.

She could never be a mother, but had cared for her niece's child.

She did not want this child to know.

This person was the mother who sat with me

and prayed for me when I was ill.

She cried for me when I was in pain.

Her love was genuine.

I will always remember her as MY MOTHER.

Good Friday

Today a desire of many years came true. I was able to go to the care homes with my hymnbook and a little message. It is not a holiday anymore for the activity workers, so the opportunity was there for me to tell, play and sing about Jesus Christ and what He did for us so many years ago. One lady, who can be very noisy and disturbing was in her wheelchair right next to the piano and she sang her heart out, even when everybody was quiet she gave us a solo and sang "Jesus keep me near the cross." It brought tears to my eyes. Afterwards I gave them all a little token about Easter that they can pin on their message board in their room. I was so blessed this morning. This afternoon I plan to go to another care home, where I normally go on Fridays and will share the same message there. I can only say: "Praise be to God, who made this possible."
This afternoon brought another highlight. Someone came to visit his Dad in the Lodge, brought a guitar and played along with me. It sounded great and everyone was pleased. The young man told me that he fluked some of the hymns, but he sure tried and even sang along with some of them. May the Lord use these old-time hymns to give joy to many a heart today.

Fw: The friendly busdriver

THE FRIENDLY BUSDRIVER

Travelling through the night on a bus is never a very exciting experience. Whenever you fall asleep, that is if you do, the next town is in sight, the lights go on and the driver announces what town we are entering.

Our bus driver was very kind and twice let people off where they wanted to before or after he stopped at the bus depot. After bringing freight to the bus depot in North Battleford some people departed at the edge of town. After that we went on to the highway and our next stop would be Saskatoon, just in time for breakfast. A young lady approached the driver and told him in broken English that she should have gotten off the bus in North Battleford. She was on the phone with the person who was waiting for her there. The driver politely told the lady that they are about 20 minutes out of North Battleford and his next stop would be Saskatoon. Going back would take him too far from his schedule. What was he supposed to do? He took over the telephone from the young lady and after explaining his dilemma he said: "I cannot leave her in the middle of the night on the side of the highway. Oh, you do not have any transportation?" The driver thinks for a moment and answers: "ok, I am coming back to North Battleford and drop her off at the store there on the edge of town. I should be there in about 20 minutes."

When we arrived in North Battleford, the driver got off the bus, made sure that someone was there to pick up the young lady, accepted the thanks and got back on the bus. He was still smiling, even though he was more than 40 minutes behind schedule.

When we arrived in Saskatoon, we were in time for our next scheduled departure. One of the ladies commented on the friendliness of the bus driver and we both wondered if he was a Christian. He certainly was an example to many of us.

Addy Oberlin

Happy Birthday

Today we are celebrating a milestone;
Eighty years have come and gone.
Walter, you crossed my path 15 years ago
When both our lives were at a low.
On our wedding day
I was warned about your way:
The do's and don'ts
And wants and won'ts.
Coming from city life
I became a farmer's wife.
There were adjustments for both of us
Living three years on the farm was a plus.
Now we live in town
And have faced our ups and downs.
My love for you is very dear
I hope to share my days with you for many a year.
With Christ in the center of our life
Every day is more precious for me as your wife.

Happy birthday dear, I love you.
Addy

What does Easter mean to me?

Why is Easter so important? Is it connected with spring and the new life we see leaping up everywhere. When we lived on the farm, we found kittens in the barn and even one time in the combine. The birds were carrying little sprigs or pieces of fluff and we knew it was time for them to build their nests. I have good memories colouring eggs with my grandchildren. We enjoyed wearing a new coat or dress at Easter. The weather is supposed to be mild and the grass is green after the disappearing of the snow.

However all these have nothing to do with Easter. They have to do with spring and God created it this way. Easter is about sacrifice and victory. Just think about the fact that Jesus was hauled into a courthouse, was charged and sentenced to die on a wooden cross. It was the cruelest sentence a criminal could get. Nevertheless Jesus was innocent. God the Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to take the punishment for our sins and His blood was shed on a cross. Romans 5:8 tells us: "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinner, Christ died for us."

But that was not the end. Jesus overcame death and arose as it says in Matthew 28:6 "He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said." Jesus Christ is now sitting at the right hand of God the Father, interceding on our behalf. If Christ had not died and risen from the dead there would not be salvation for anybody, because it is with the shedding of blood that our sins are forgiven.

That is what Easter means to me.