The Politics of Jesus

"In Tight Israeli Election, Leading Parties Face Tough Path to Power,” so reads a headline in the New York Times. As a non-subscriber to this American newspaper, reading a few free digital articles, the message is like a continuation of yesterday’s news. Nobody knows! Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing coalition and Gadi Eisenkot, a former military chief of staff leading an opposition bloc including many non-Zionists and Arab citizens, neck in neck in a vote too close to call yet. Votes still being counted, leaders already giving victory speeches, and journalists writing about what it would take to form government. [i] This reads something like Alberta media in the week following the recent referendum regarding our place in Canada – and nine conditionals and opinions thereof. Election results in the holy land read precisely like election results anywhere else, so it seems.

Our one Canadian province of Alberta and yesterday’s election in Israel is not really an adequate starting point for so lofty a comparison, as my political science friends would say. True, very true, but I still say this year’s holy land election is interestingly similar to elections in other places. Recent elections in our (so far) Canadian province of Quebec, or in Germany or France or upcoming midterms in the U.S., all of them further illustration. Lots of talk and lots of graphs for anybody who cares to get into some detail (besides baseball World Series or beginning of NHL season).

This is what’s going on in our world. And it is my thinker, admittedly a weathered thinker, more trained in theology than politics, which still wades into things I know not much of. But there are others who do the same thing. We live in an environment of talk these days. As indicated in previous posts, there are many ‘expert’ fellow retirees holding forth on how the world is going to pot just because this or that is being done wrong by this or that administration or organization or politician or ...?  

Who was the needed one then, and who is the one now? Among the many conversations with the ‘experts’ of today, I recall one only a few months ago with a longtime friend, a fellow Christian, a Zionist dispensationalist, which I am not. According to him, today Israel is right there beside the Mediterranean Sea, tiny country facing the nations of the world, the Battle about to begin any day. No mention of the Lamb of God. 

My opinion? There are indeed many battles these days, and we may even encounter another big one (WWIII?), but the politics in that little country of Israel are same as everywhere else. The only claim to fame of Israel is that it is the place of the birth, life, death, and resurrection of the One who came among us and, is available still for each and every one, “neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” [iv] That is the gift from there; no apocalyptic rank for the nation of Israel.

Among all the electioneering and auctioneering, the invitation is out. And it contains no Republican, Democrat, Likud, Yashar, UCP, or NDP conditionals.

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[i] “When Will We Know who will be Prime Minister?” Ephrat Livni, New York Times, October 28, 2026. If no clear winner, party leaders must negotiate to cobble together a 61-seat coalition in a 120-member assembly known as the Knesset.

[ii] Revelation 4:1-8.

[iii] E.g. O.T. Isaiah 53:6, and N.T. John 1:29.

[iv] Galatians 3:28.

What's with all the Tattoos?

Tattoos seem to be everywhere. The tattoo parlors or ink shops must be doing a booming business. Where or when is the beginning of these things? My query goes to Google, the quick 'n easy research, and the answer somehow does not shock me. According to a recent find in the Italian Alps, archaologists determine that tattoos have been inscribed on humans for about 5300 years! So much for my observation that tattoos are a new trend.

In my previous ‘tome’ critiquing us noisy oldtimers, I was kind of saying that we can blame ourselves for some of today's things we don't like. This time however, I must absolve us old guys, sharing instead a concern about a younger generation's lean toward tattoos (idolatry)? What impetus is it that requires big dollars to employ a tattooist to poke owies into a customer’s skin? Or who are the ones willing to submit to this, and what brings on the occasion? Is it after heart-to-heart conversation, or therapy sessions where the client perhaps cries some heartfelt tears and the artist interprets and transcribes? Is it self-mutilation or self-indulgence, transferring emojis or slogans onto skin? Mom? A Bible verse? Or? I do not have answer to these questions because I have not yet felt free enough to ask personal questions of these moving tubes or billboards. Whatever the answers, I'm guessing it's about ... communication.

What is communication? The province of Alberta comes to mind. A referendum has just been completed – ten questions to identify the people’s feelings about our place in this country. Do we like our place within Canada or should we begin a separation process? The response was an overwhelming affirmative; we stay in Canada, but the nine questions on immigration, health care, and economy issues ended almost all in the 50-50 category, and much challenge ahead for our premier! At this point the topic seems more about stance than communication. 

Therein lies a challenge. The house across the street from us has new owners, and recently yielded their referendum vantage - Let Alberta Decide - posted on the front lawn. We, ahem, us longtime residents, have exact opposite point of view. Also, for the last number of months there has been a blue Alberta flag flapping just a bit down the back alley behind our house. We are of a considerably strong opinion that the current separatist vantage is self-centered, including similar opinion about a government that would posit these divisive possibilities at mid-term. Not only a terrible waste of money, but to me the psychology of it all is even more damaging. Money is at the heart of Alberta separatists (including our premier) because apparently we are spending disproportionately in support of other provinces who don’t pay their fair share! My thinking, how dare one of ten provinces lift itself above the others, claiming no fair. Arrogance and independence thinking does not work for the benefit of a country.

Now back to the new neighbors across the street. We also have something in common, recently discovered they also are Christians, and attend a new church meeting in a local theatre. By now they also know that I am a preacher – retired obviously. They don’t know all my sentimental pastoring memories, but our faith commitment is a common bond already talked about, and they treat us very nice, just like the other neighbors who know an old preacher lives here! Something about this connects with my tattoo thoughts. The old preacher may just be a clergy stereotype (watch your language), or possibly some confusion (he wears jeans a lot, and he used to be a trucker, parked his big truck in the back alley), etc. What have I communicated during these last thirty-six years living here? Tattoos, referendums, lifestyle and families; it would have been good to just speak openly and honestly about all this; better than looking at signs.

These statements on young arms and necks and faces and legs and torsos (yes also on one arm of the young man across the street); how might we speak honestly and perhaps honorably about this? I know communication is much more than words. This time, however, seems that words are important, complete with eye contact. Wrong beginnings can of course lead to lots of miscommunication, the very thing that makes for threats, brawls, calling the cops even! The right words, however, can accomplish amazing things. In other words, be aware of your own frame of mind, “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6).

So even among new trends utilizing old modes, why not just kind, enquiring words? Perhaps this corner of our city will yet become a village – another old time idea - where we know about and care for one another, understanding not only weird pictures on our arms, but also the separatists, and even why this old preacher used to park his truck in the back alley. 

Handy Distractions

Among all the things one reads about, including the huge neverland of Artificial Intelligence possibilities, suddenly an old word comes to mind, raised out of foggy college memories. It is Baalism, right there in the Old Testament, book of Judges, and it hasn’t crossed my thinker for eons. This morning’s devotional reading accomplishes all that. The writer is Kathleen Kern [i] and “Idol Talk” is the title. Judges 4 is all about the people of Israel in the good surroundings of the land which had been promised to them, and they getting comfortable therein. Rather than attention to the ritualized focus on Yahweh they became fascinated by gods more localized, immediately obvious via things like storms and animals and fertility. Things seemed to be going well for these original residents even with their array of gods. 

Kern’s vantage is easy to relate to. She tells us about unpublished novels she has written, and an audience who love reading her stuff, and then her sobering reflection, “I go into fantastical thoughts about movie contracts”, she says. It's not quite idolizing her work, but she acknowledges that it distracts from her relationship with God and other people.

Good point. It's there among us. I occasionally rant about fellow retirees indulging in noisy talk shows in restaurants and coffee shops because they are most interested in themselves and their own stories, the going-with-the-flow Baalism effect is there – and easily lands on my plate too. Many of the profound thoughts and accomplishments that us retirees dwell on, are really only another chapter in the competition, in the circle (Indigenous?), in the stages (Erik Erikson, Richard Rohr?), in the hard work (Mennonite) of life. If we do it in a creative way, all this life reflection can be satisfying, even if only self-indulgent. Kern thinks about best-sellers and fame and movie contracts; I think about good cloud security for my blogs so that they won’t get erased even after I die! Disgusting actually.

So it is that for me this almost forgotten old word is not only refreshed by this morning’s devotional read, but it brings to mind a possibility of new distractions. For example, I have already been thinking – and even tentatively writing –[ii] about AI’s intrusion into the world of writing. It's handy to let Google answer the detail questions. Is this possibly a modern version of the Baals creeping into our thoughtful diligence even about faith things? Similarly we read or watch podcasts or sermons profoundly explaining today’s need for greater inclusiveness and charity to “the least of these” with little or no reference to God. Woke language these days, loving everybody, lauding vegetarians who don’t like to kill animals, or environmentalists who don’t want to rob the earth of inherent minerals or pollute the air, etc.etc. This brings on the scattered menu of politicians much larger now than the old left-right, socialist-capitalist options. It comes today with despots and autocrats, drug cartels, increased militarism and distrust of political leaders of almost any stripe (e.g. yesterday’s election in France).

Have nothing to do with those slippery Baalists (Judges 2:2), the people of Israel were warned. Have nothing to do with latest trends, us Christians might also be warned. Retain your worship of Yahweh, was the O.T. warning. Retain your worship of God and not the environment, or chosen political leaders, and do not forget the One who is “the way and the truth and the life” (John14:6).

Even as I caution myself and whoever reads this, I write as one who fellowships not only with Christians, one who cooperates with and fellowships with people of other faiths in community service projects. In recent years this has helped me to be even more focused on the worship of God, and even more inspired by the life and teachings of my Savior. But even to myself there is a reminder, "if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!" (1 Corinthians 10:12).

How do we retain purity of covenant? I was born into an Old Colony Mennonite farm family. Church services were divided 😏, women on the left, men on the right, young people on benches around the outside edge, sermons in German, and none of this handshaking and coffee in the foyer on the way out (or in). After worship we were instructed to go home and think about the service we had just attended! [iii] Perhaps, that was our way of making sure we were not participating in Baalism!

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[i] Rejoice! (Harrisonburg, VA: MennoMedia), Vol. 62, no.1, 2026.

[ii] ”Of Learning and Truth”, https://www.jcfroomthoughts.blogspot.com/, July 20, 2026.

[iii] This is not to say fun was not allowed! It just needed to wait until later! Sunday afternoons often included unannounced family visits to cousins or others, lots of outdoor play followed by delicious faspa.

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Thinker on Overtime

One of the ironies of life is being demonstrated here in Alberta right now. It is now one year since a teachers' strike which fizzled when they were legislated back to work on October 27 with scant attention to union demands of smaller class size, better wages, and increased support for students with complex needs. A Notwithstanding Claus [i] was invoked to get them back on the job. Today the teachers continue not only as babysitters of the children of single-parent or two-parents-working families, but also as therapists, mediators, and motivators for older brothers and sisters looking for friendships and new life, many of them immigrants in this wonderful country of Canada.

The other thing right now is a provincial referendum, October 19 coming right up, unavoidable everywhere. You see it in headlines digital and print, on lawn signs, social media, along with flags Alberta or Canada flapping off balconies or improvised flagposts in the 'hoods. And to ‘help us’ there are information circulars provided by many, including the government, not necessarily neutral on topic. Details and more details. This referendum is at instigation of our provincial government, the verysame source of the disrespect to our teachers but a year ago! Perhaps on October 19 many will be so grateful to the government for helping us to answer these ten (yes 10) questions, that we’ll mark a bunch of yeses to the strategically worded questions. Yes? No?

All this as the next school year gets underway, teachers wondering where did all the kids come from. Something about the referendum seems kind of democratic, like a government seeking some extra perspective as they go about their work. On the other hand it begs the question, is this government looking for permission to overstep the mandate given to them at the last election? [ii] Definitely a confusing time, to say the least. The referendum questions look consultative but also ambitious - seemingly a strategy in pursuit of unmentioned goals. Profit, independence, political ambition, and pride are all in play, raising cynical questions and even challenging friendships. Is this democracy? Or is this a subtle move towards autocracy?

At a recent meeting in our neighborhood locale of Calgary’s Interfaith Council, a fascinating comment was made by a fellow Christian, a retired Lutheran pastor. His philosophic comment came casually at end of a service project planning meeting as we were pushing back our chairs and ready to go home. “Democracy is a luxury,” he says, “and it’s actually quite recent. It was not there during Bible times, anything but democracy during the time of Jesus, and it sure didn’t get the church started.” There were some smiles. He is ever so right, and neither does history give us a demonstration of democracy; it's mostly inquisitions and wars. As we departed, it was us, his Mennonite, Anglican, Mormon, Muslim, Unitarian, and Seventh Day Adventist friends, all of us kind of thoughtfully in agreement, also thankful for the democracy we still have.

Lots of things to think about, not only to fix this Alberta referendum, but additionally an opportunity to witness something also humbling and perhaps more important. Today, September 30, is also Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day, a solemn time dedicated to honoring Residential School Survivors, thousands of Indigenous families impacted by an ungodly colonialism taking over and claiming land and lifestyle from those who were here long before we got here.

The best of our future will not be accomplished by one referendum. Democracy, or pretend democracy, can be utilized for all kinds of purposes. It was, after all, an early version of European democracy which had the English, French, and Spaniards competing with each other while taking over the land and lives of the original residents here. A little thinking on that is probably more important than one province at this time duking it out just to prove a point, whatever it is.

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[i] Provided by the Federal Government of Canada, Section 33 of Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms allow provincial legislatures to override Laws for up to five years before they must be renewed. Google.

[ii] This alongside an almost deal with the federal government to complete a Pacific Link to the Trans Mountain Pipeline, so Alberta oil can make it to Asian markets avoiding intrusion on Indigenous land in northern British Columbia.

Seniors Gibberish

… putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbours, for we are members of one another (Ephesians 4:25).

Be careful of the coffee shop you walk into. This morning my preferred quiet time was interrupted by a noisier than usual scraping of chairs at a nearby McDonalds; a couple of old guys getting settled. Two minutes later they recognized another patron, more scraping of chairs and resettlement at another place, then noisy entrance of a few more. None of this is very unusual, except that it was only the beginning. Full room volume needed no greetings, as they probably knew each other “since Adam,” with tones of voice becoming the announcement of everything going on in their heads. Now I was learning of what Ottawa is trying to pull over on Alberta. I tried to concentrate on the Canuckle game before me, but it being an easy one today, in short order I had it solved, and then back to the room volume, unavoidable, especially with my trial hearing aids doing a good job! I hastened an exit outa there.

Of late I have also become a bit of a grump regarding ‘after church lunches’ in local restaurants. Topic of these meetings are not politics or even religion, because we like to be friendly and there are varying flavors and tastes, so we talk about nothing, usually moderated by the one with the loudest voice.

So what gives? Is it just characteristic of this old preacher on pills, or is this perhaps a trend worthy of a little thoughtful commentary? I am choosing the commentary option, probably because of one of two reasons: One, I prefer speaking plainly about things, “I says it as I sees it”; or Two, the biblical reason, “I cannot but speak of what I have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20). Here we go.

Us seniors are the problem. I have posited in previous blogposts, that at this point in the first quarter of the twenty-first century, us threescore and ten plus seniors are the good lifers. We were born just after World War II, and most of us have not lived with the trauma and uncertainty of our parents or grandparents, no dirty thirties and no world wars. Therefore, almost all of us are pioneers of a new freewill, free to do as we pleased, most of our parents pleased to have us able to make these important decisions, and so we pursued education and/or careers as per our own choosing, most of us happily paying our own way. 

We are the architects of the Canada or America we now live in. This is the reason many of us in churches or social clubs have the wherewithal to go for dinners whenever wherever we please, go on vacations as per choices, and of course treat our children and grandchildren with all those special things we did not quite have ‘when we were little.’

This is why the volume in coffee shops, restaurants or watering holes is so loud. We are these goodlifers talking with growly know-it-all voices. Many have it well worked out with their financial planners, and now support politicians and businesses in keeping with those values. This is why the socialists are unpopular even in church crowds – including the fundamentalists and also the liberals. Got to be careful, y'know, good stewards of our resources, the things scraped together by the sweat of our brows, can’t get too soft on those homeless and the druggies because they are living with consequences of choices they made. So we theorize and tell loud stories, all the while avoiding the pain of a few drug addicts or alcoholics in all of our families. This goes on among the churched as well as the unchurched.

Except for one thing, and this is where my little rant mustneeds tone itself down. There is in fact something known as the grace of God. A Bible school verse memorized many years ago is now slapping me upside the face, For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God — not the result of works, so that no one may boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). Also now I remember a sermon preached about a year ago in our church by one of our own, and a financial planner at that! It was the gospel story of a vineyard owner who at end of day paid all his workers the same, the early risers and the latecomers, same shekels at the end (Matthew 20). Not only was this an excellent sermon about the equalizing power of God's grace, but I also enjoyed it appearing from among us, especially significant in my tradition the Mennonites, where we believe the authority of the Word rests in our midst, as easily and legitimately proclaimed by a layperson as by an ordained pulpiteer (Matthew 18:20). The message came loud and clear to and from our midst.

And so it behooves me, it behooves all of us, to be a little less cocksure of our analysis of things going on these days. It is by God’s unmerited favor that those of us who call ourselves Christians live and move and have our being. In this grace I venture some occasional half-baked ideas. Then also I must be willing to hear the response of others, whether in agreement or disagreement. To think of it this way could well lower the volume of many coffee klatches. Come to think of it, there’s a Bible verse for that too!

Many Things the Same

“They’ve been there 250 years since 1776. The Dene and the Cree fought over the location. Then the French came along … and on & on,” says my wife in a WhatsApp family chat, referring to Ile-a-la-Crosse, after a visit to the birthplace of our daughter. Then a telling reply from Sheila, our son’s mother-in-law, “Oh Verna, it does go on and on. I believe we might all meet up again after this life. In the meantime, we have beautiful memories. Love you all.”

This little family exchange has suddenly become meaningful to me, after yet another significant gathering for Verna and I. Not only good digital chats like this available across the kilometers these days, but also this past weekend we met with some 50 persons, a sizable portion of our 1966 – 68 Bible School years. Organized by a few diligent fellow-retirees, it was amazing. Long and somewhat drawn-out by repetitious details, those five hours will now be a historic moment even as most of us will likely be dispatched to that next chapter in the near future. “On and on” is a significant comment on this the morning after, as I sit here with my laptop in an upstairs bedroom which I shared with my brother in the farmhouse which sent us off on the adventures of our lifetime(s).

It’s a rainy morning, wonderful rain ever essential on the prairies, except it’s harvest time, and a little dry weather (drejh wada) would be helpful right about now! Coming home to our original farmyard (quick trip to nearby town for a morning coffee – bad habit yes) I see some things exactly as they were, caragana hedge between the highway and the garden, pastureland out beyond the barn, and cows standing in faithful discomfort. Everything still in place as per my memories. And then it’s all different. Turning into the yard, there are signs, Sunnyside Dairy, even on a rainy Monday morning already a few customers to pick up their exquisite pasteurized-but-not-homogenized high quality milk! It’s a high-end product on the market, especially available for those who can afford it and willing to make the trip from the nearby city. This sentimental yard is now a business place, complete with employees and all that's involved with complex business ownership, managed by my sister and brother-in-law. 

Only two months ago we lost our daughter, adopted into our family, a six-week old bundle of joy some 51 years ago. She has been a part of literally everything each time we visited this place, grandma and grandpa’s farm, loving and being loved by all and everything that happened here. This was one of the happiest places in her life. My wife and I have just returned from a trip up North to visit the place where she was born.

Earth shaking, but really earth-shaking for us only. The Metis community of Ile-a-la-Crosse has history, really old history, even before us colonialists came along (yes even before Canada)! In the village of Adrianne's birth we saw teen-agers and middle-aged and elders, living life probably similar to the way it's been for many years. She was child of a teenager. Whether she would have enjoyed or benefited from a trip up there we do not know, but we are delighted to have made the trip. It’s helping us somehow in our grief journey. Grieving goes through its stages, as I have known for years. At this moment Verna and I are comforted to celebrate those many years before the addiction got to her, and grateful for the love and supportiveness of Bible school and church and family friends in this last while.

Life is going on as before. Even with a new emptiness, at this time it is the trees and the farmyards and the villages - exactly what we need. Rest in peace dear daughter!

News and Heartstrings

The news has been unavoidable in our city these last several days. An eleven year-old boy, autistic, neuro-diverse and non-verbal, went missing. It seemed like the whole city got involved, including the Province allowing an Amber alert even though no suspected foul play. “Keep Hoping” was front page of Calgary Sun on July 21, and finally, ten days later Parker’s body was found. Now we read, “Hug Your Kids” and “Tough Time” in the latest two issues[i] after the child was found in a drainage culvert. It is a tragedy which softened the headlines and relegated usual front page articles to page 4 or later.[ii] I’m wondering if it has also softened our heartstrings.

I am only one citizen in this local population, but ... some thinker material. In addition to reallocation of newspaper front pages, I was fascinated by the absence of Parker’s parents’ names even as they were referenced and even quoted. It may be their wishes or a media constraint, but my heart missed the names of the devastated parents. Similarly and kind of confusingly, the sympathizing tears of our police chief were easily included along with samples and pictures of thousands in this city participating in the hunt, details not much talked about. This may be professional decorum, but I found myself with some questions about how to communicate a public tragedy like this. So, what follows here is not more info, and certainly not critique, but still I am the curious one (nesheah, as my parents said) who sometimes wanders beyond the comfort zone!

I wonder about this along with some previous wondering. In my previous blog I wondered about the authorship of a book I had been reading; [iii] was it Artificial Intelligence or a real live author? In my mind the evidence pointed to AI, for some pointy reasons. That meant of course, some evaluative comments like, not much of a plot, practically written in outline form, logics alongside a generalized appeal to love and sensitivity for the good of us all. I was somewhat confused and less than convinced, as though there were a Truth somewhere between earth and the heavens. On the occasion of this mysterious book and the missing boy, I must reflect just a bit on the subject of autism. 

Scientific and medical studies say autism is an increasing phenomenon at this time (1 in 38 eight-year olds on Autism Spectrum Disorder). I wonder about cause, and my theory is that it has something to do with the normalcy of individualism which more and more seems to show up as isolationism. For example, conversations around most tables give way to innumerable fact-checks, cellphones consulted and pictures circulated to illustrate whatever. It’s us human beings young, middle-aged, and even the elderly, engaged primarily with the cell phone. Walking in the mall or down a sidewalk the oncoming traffic has a slightly stooped head position looking down at something in the right hand, eye contact a rarity, and a smile or hello is a special gift.

Is it possible that the human's dependence on the digital, which obviously contributes to social isolationism, eventually enters the genetics, hence the increasing presence in the population? And also, for further reflection, I have noticed that some neurotypicals are especially gifted at relating to those on the spectrum, often utilizing AI as a communication tool. That is a good thing, and possibly much to learn on that. It actually reminds me of a Bible passage in one of the New Testament epistles (1 Corinthians 12:4-6). I realize this is only the perspective of me, apparently a neurotypical as per a test taken a number of years ago. Who knows, if I were to be retested on basis of latest research?! 

I shall now cease and desist the academics and new relational possibilities of autism, or on speculation of AI-human authorship. In these latter days it may become acceptable to let AI write your essays and may even become the acceptable assistant to help students graduate from college. What? Just a little more for me and my thinker. 😇

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[i] Calgary Sun, July 31, Aug 1, 2026.

[ii] Ibid., “Trump slams Canada with new 50% tariffs”, July 31.

[iii] James Stephens, Humanity’s Departure from the Creator and the Return to Truth: Restoring the Truth that was Lost  (Los Angeles, CA: James Stephens, 2026).