Shut Your Pie Hole and Go Home

Now, I admit that we ministers here at SYPH and GH tend to have a lot of negative things to say - granted we are conservative soap-boxers - but there are times when an encouraging word is most welcome.  What I just had the pleasure of experiencing was amazingly simple at most. A gentleman just walked out of my office.  He is not Canadian by birth, nor is he of Christian faith.  I'm okay with that.  We, here in Canada, have been granted the freedom of religion and the freedom to practice our chosen faith.  This man is a successful business man and owns a successful company.  He is well-groomed and well-dressed, well-spoken with an Indian accent.  I'm okay with that. This being the Christmas season, our mailboxes are being filled with requests for non-perishable food items, money, toys, etc. from an assortment of profitable and non-profitable organisations.  Many include small gifts in hope of inspiring us to also give.  A lot of these flye...

I just read an article on CBC.com that opens: "Candidates running for office in northern Saskatchewan's municipalities might soon have to reveal their criminal records to the public under a bill introduced by the government on Monday."  See http://www.cbc.ca/canada/saskatchewan/story/2009/11/16/sask-crim-records.html. Ya think? I am actually speechless, which is not a common occurrence. There was a day - I think - when Canadians looked to their government as an example of fairness, integrity, and a sense of do-the-right-thing-for-our-country.  Granted, there always have been those politicians who are in it for the power, and perhaps looking for an avenue for some shady business dealings, but for the most part these are supposed to be men and women we look up to.  People we trust. But we have to draw the line somewhere. I must admit that I got more than a little bothered when this article went on to say that a candidate with a criminal record would not be disqual...