Neill Blog

Would You Believe This?

2006-05-02T22:53:00.000-07:00

Auntie Joan, missionary of 38 years, and I (a pastor-preacher type of none of your busness how many years!) are going tomorrow night to watch the Flames play game seven against the National Hockey League Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. Those readers of this blog who do not live in this tight little corner of Alberta may have been in need of parts of the above explanation.

I admit to having a friend unwise enough to email me "Go Flyers!" Good Brother, but silly fan!! When Philly Coach Hitchcock gets fired, you will have heard it here first.

Now as to the tickets for tomorrow night's game--I had them in my sweaty palms but for a few minutes, before they were snatched away by the keepers of the family rules--good old Dad can'tbe allowed to even look after these precious tickets overnite!! But I had them long enough to see the price tag of $225.00 on each one of them. And I am told, on ebay, they could bring a thousand each!! Silly, silly world.

Son Tim has been in the papers too--as the compassionate, well-dressed lawyer, charitably inclined, who is representing the 12-year-old girl for a minimal fee. She is charged with killing her parents, and there he was in the paper looking for all the world like me--(except for that silly whatsit in his ear!). Pardon me while I brag a bit--he is a few pounds heavier!!

Now all of this is happening with Mother Marilynne celebrating her 66th! Getting cards from all over, except from me, the ever devoted husband who has neglected that little item so far.

Will the Flames win tomorrow night? Not sure. I know they should. They probably will. But if not the world will not end, even for Mikka and Iggy.

Time to say that the spiffy seats are certainly nice--the seats will be appreciated and the game will come and go. The final whistle will sound. It's nice to know there are some things more enduring and worthy. Like knowing who God is and welcoming Him into your life for the really serious matters which duly, eventually, finally have to be considered--like the tomorrows of eternity.

A Bloogy Mess

2006-04-26T15:06:00.000-07:00

The headline is intended to say "bloody," but I don't quite have the guts to make that word part of the title. Nevertheless I do mean "bloody!"

It happened this way. Last night we were on the way home from son's place where we had watched the Flames on his big screen. (They won, of course! Yeh, Flames!) I entered our house about 11:30 pm, but neglected to turn on the lights. I did, however, dog-silly man that I am, reach down in the darkness to let Bijou out of his kennel, where, due to his age--need I explain further?--he now resides when we are away.

The screen door of the kennel popped open, and I reached for the dog. So far, so good. However, attempting to get to the exit, I tripped over the screened door of the kennel and plunged headfirst into the semi-darkness. (Marilynne was still in the garage.) My elbow landed on the marble-tiled floor. As I picked myself up, and noticed immediately that there was blood seaping through my jacket. And my ribs were seriously strained if not torn. (Enough so as to bother my sleeping last night). However, I was still not finished! With the fnal spill, all these spills in a nano-second, as I was falling headlong, I banged my forehead on a door jam! With that, more blood spattered. About that time, Marilynne opened the door just in time to witness the final smash!

I finally managed, with her help, to get up. I looked in the mirror. My face looked like a Calgary Flames fighter after a melee! I now have the second dressing on my forehead--tenderly applied by my wife--and look forward to a Board meeting at the church in about an hour from now. I'm fine--really I am.

The whole episode reminds me of a time I was playing hockey at 11 pm on a Saturday night in Chilliwack years ago. (I was the assistant pastor). A stick on my temple spilled a lot of blood--I had five preaching assignments the next day!

Oh well--that was then, and this is now. All is well, but "all" would be better if I was not such a dog fanatic--and so enamored of great hockey! (Yeh, Flames!) And yes, I'm fine--the biggest lingering problem may be the ribs!

Iran's President Playing With Fire

2006-04-17T09:24:00.000-07:00

The new president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has been making various pronouncements about Israel since he came into office. Israelis should all go back to Europe. Israel should be wiped off the map. The holocaust never happened. These statements coming from a head of state are troubling enough. But adding Iran's nuclear ambitions, pronouncements and threats makes for a Middle East situation that is increasingly explosive.

Iran's new intent to fund Hamas, the democratically elected and recently installed revolutionary government of the Palestinians complicates the situation even more.

But why is Iran's president playing with fire? Because there is another factor involved in the Jewish future. That is the Bible. There is a troubling Scripture with which to contend if one is filled with hatred toward the Jews.

It is this one: "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse." This is called the Abrahamic Covenant, pretty well illustrated by history. Hitler set himself on a self-destructive course against the Jewish people even as Haman of old did in the book of Esther. The results have been self-evident.

Cursing the Jews or even the Arabs as children of Abraham is not the smartest thing in all the
world to do. Especially since both descend from Abraham.

Back After A While--Coyotes in Arizona

2006-04-10T17:58:00.000-07:00

It's a while since I have been blogging--but the good thing about stopping blogging is that all my loyal readers complain and press me to get going again. I have determined not to be a slave to any blog--hence the absence.

Then I forgot the user name and the password so I had to get Cheryl to tell me all over again what they were. Then I spied the very same blog info in my phone book--duh!!!!!

But I am determined to get to the coyote! Still, I must mention in passing is that Jeff and Veronique are moving soon into a different house! That will probably be another blog--but as to that coyote, well it was this way.

While in California, we headed off to see Jim Sellers (the singer of Nakamun camp fame) and his new wife. We have been longtime friends and knew his first wife Mary Jane very well. She has been gone for a while, so now Jim is remarried to Millie. Well, after spending the night with the Sellers, we wakened for a lovely breakfast--looking out into their Arizona Room which just happened to be nicely screened. As nature ordered it, there were a couple of rabbits out there running hither and thither as rabbits do.

Suddenly, the fox, er, coyote appeared. It was totally intent on the rabbit smells still wafting through the garden of sand, gravel, cactus and fruit trees. Soooo, it didn't pick up the human smell at all, though we, all four of us, were watching the coyote intently all the time.

All this happened in the heart of the suburbs of Phoenix--so now I know why their hockey team is called the Coyotes! And, yep, the rabbits got away.

Explaining Bijou's Bounce

2006-02-26T03:54:00.000-08:00

Followers of this blog know that I presently alternate from politics to Bijou to hockey to Stephen Harper and President Putin. Well, here goes another dogscapade--how's that for coining a new word to go along with bounsing? My bounsing dog is off to Pet and Brew to be lovingly kennel-kept till March 22 and we are heading to California this morning for some sun and hot springs!

Now the bounsing. My investigation led me to reread again my little piece on "praying for pets" in Plain Prayers and Small Miracles section of the web page (www.kneillfoster.com). There I was reminded of a signal event in Bijou's life. He had been handed over to the vet for an operation and he nearly died. But after his somewhat remarkable healing, he became a somewhat rejuvenated dog.

Better yet, if you recall my dog prose, he started bounsing. I now conclude that his bounsing began when he recovered through prayer. I invite all readers of this blog to come by after March 22 and see for themselves. This fifteen-year-old dog is an incurable bounce!

And if you want to see your dog bounce too--here's the plan--let him/her get sick, get operated upon, and then get well through prayer. Inevitably, in my view, you will have a bounsing dog. They love life after having nearly lost it! This could even apply to the odd human.

Gretzky's Fatal Flaw in Hockey Choices

2006-02-25T05:46:00.000-08:00

Team Canada's ignominious exit from the Olympics at Turin, Italy have caused a lot of hand-wringing and a lot of blame-assigning. Here I go with my share. There were some spiritual issues in the whole hockey mess.

For example, Todd Bertuzzi has barely gotten his job back for the Vancouver Canucks after being out of action for over a year. Steve Moore, the victim of his now infamous on-ice mayhem still doesn't know if he will make it back to the National Hockey League.

Now hockey may be religion for some, but it is not a religion and is not supposed to be.

But there are some spiritual overtones. Gretzky and pals did not listen to all the writers and fans who wanted younger players. No listening to those who wanted Staal and Crosby.

And especially, no listening to those who pointed out the obvious flaws in Todd Bertuzzi who is still trying to rehabilitate himself in the game. Who, it is said, besides being an innately threatening hulk, and unreconstructed really, has a tendency toward dumb penalties.

Well, Todd Bertuzzi's dumb penalty in the Olympic knockout game opened the door for kid whiz Alexander Ovechkin's goal and spelled the end of Canada's Olympic hopes.

Not listening about hockey doesn't mean much, but not listening to God, and His servants in things that really matter can be forever flawed. Gretzky may be loyal to his old friends to to a fault, and the buildup of his grandmother's death, his mother's passing, the alleged gambling of Rick Tocchet and his wife's supposed betting all add up to terrible pressure.

I doubt that Team Canada's misfortune can be attributed to stress. But it surely points to not listening!

Fear of the Muslims--A Remedy

2006-02-20T18:53:00.000-08:00

In recent days, all over the world there have been demonstrations against the Danish cartoons about the Prophet Mohammed. Curiously, the cartoons were published last September and the fuss is now. Secondly, several cartoonists did the caricatures, not just one.

Violence worldwide has resulted in demonstrations and death. The other day as I was walking my laps around the gym, I wondered who was getting killed in all of this violence. The answer I found later in a headline of the Calgary Sun. It shrilled: "Christians Murdered." Shopkeepers in Nigeria were the unfortunate victims in that newspaper account. But a lot of other headlines could have been written.

There may have been many other hapless victims other than the Christians--but probably many of the victims really have been Christians. What is new about all this is that the news media in general, with some exceptions, like a couple of magazines in Calgary, Alberta, have been afraid to publish the cartoons.

The fear has been leveraged into North America and the West. Freedom of the press and freedom of speech have been supplanted by fear--Threats have been made against the cartoonists and large sums of money have been offered for the revenge killing of the offending artists.

The electronic media of the global village makes it certain that every threat is amplified. And fear multiplies once again. Decapitation and throat slitting are the usual methods urged, megaphoning the fear yet once more. All this in the name of deity and religion.

Thankfully, fear does not come from God, not at all. "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." This is the beautiful promise in a scary world.

First Nations Suffer Discrimination in Canada

2006-02-15T23:14:00.000-08:00

A very naughty news story is bouncing around Alberta this afternoon--and it will quickly spread far and wide. It has to do with Mrs. Ralph Klein being a Metis person who, it is alleged, is trying to get Ralph to continue on as Premier. She has been painted as an over-reaching woman who wants to manage her husband's future (and her place in it). Because, she will, it is alleged, be "just another Indian" once her husband steps down.

The cut is beyond distasteful and unkind. It is an intolerable racial slur on a public person.

Clearly, real discrimination is alive and well in Calgary, the rest of Alberta and across Canada. It's also prevalent in the United States too--but that's another story.

While the Americans discriminate against black people, it is different in Canada. Blacks in this land become hockey and football stars, all free of discrimination generally.

But the Indian and Metis populations suffer the unhappy wounds of racial discrimination. It has been that way in Canada for generations, and no amount of wasted government money is ever going to get it changed.

This kind of poison flows from toxic hearts still unredeemed. After all, isn't it the human heart that is "desperately wicked?" "Who can know it?" the prophet asked.

Putin's Opening to Hamas

2006-02-10T22:16:00.000-08:00

Predictably, after the terrorist group Hamas was democratically elected among the Palestinians, many authorities including Israel declared that no one should ever deal with terrorists until they had denounced terror and recognized the state of Israel's right to exist.

No one has been holding their breath, waiting for that to happen.

Gradually, some parts of the world are softening their attitudes toward the terrorists. Including Russia. Initially, Russia formally recognized Hamas as the new government of the Palestinians and President Putin has now invited Hamas representatives to Moscow.

All of which reminds me that this should not be unexpected. Those familiar with prophecies of the Old Testament will know that Ezekiel prophesied about a northern kingdom that would one fateful day invade Israel from the North.

Do the Israelis know something? Do they intuitively sense that Putin's push may be in part, an early shadow of another fateful day. My guess is that they do.

Perhaps they know as well that when Russia finally comes down from the north, many nations will be allied with the Great Bear. (Ezekiel 38 is a fascinating read.) It does tell us how it will all turn out.

Family News for Winter 2006

2006-02-10T04:38:00.000-08:00

Spent last weekend up Grande Prairie way, made the seven-hour trip up Highway 22 to Mayerthorpe and then beetled for Beaverlodge. Dropped in at Normie and Cecil's for supper and then over to Norman and Gladys' to spend the night--was reintroduced to Missy the dog. She clearly was wanting affection (from Norman probably) so was very vulnerable to the masculine touch. It is clear she wants to come to our place when Bijou passes on. There is no sign of that however, since he is as bounsy (intended spelling) as ever. I found it refreshing to be once again in Beaverlodge--loved it.

The Mali Team was returning from a lengthy visit to the mission field--they had a lot of exciting stuff to tell but clearly Joan Foster had made an impression--it was a kind of brag session on her missionary career, then I visited the chili lunch downstairs--and of course it was great.

Sunday evening, we observed the Annual Meeting of the Evangelistic Enterprises Society of Alberta and on Monday it was back south to Cochrane on Highway 22.

Joan is coming home from Africa some time in March, but we will be away in California for what could be called our winter retreat from the reality of the cold. This time we are staying three weeks at Sky Valley near Desert Hot Springs. Should be enjoyable--we are planning a trip or two into Los Angeles and probably one to Yuma and Lake Havasu in Arizona.

So now you have the Family News for Winter 2006.

The New Hitler--A Sombre Reality

2006-01-27T21:58:00.000-08:00

Memory, being what it is, recalls for us the things that we know. I am old enough to faintly remember the Second World War and the death of President Roosevelt. I do remember all about the atomic bomb and the radio dramas that stirred up my young imagination.

Hitler I do not recall, though I learned plenty about him. The Korean War, I recall fully. The Iraq wars are part of our world today. The emergence of America as the world's lone superpower has been on my watch.

Which brings me to a foreboding conclusion--never in my lifetime have I remembered the configuring of world events to be so ominous as they are now. The Cuban missile crisis was nothing like this. The election of a terrorist movement among the Palestinians coincides with the rise of a President in Iran who aspires to obliterate Israel and wipe it off the map. He is also apparently closer and closer to nuclear weapons. And Pakistan is only one military coup away from handing over its nuclear weapons to Islamic fundamentalists.

These days, I conclude, are dangerous days. Marilynne and I may get to live out our days in peace, our children and grandchildren may not. Your indulgences I beg for this morose moment.

That is why, I suppose, we carefully pray for all of you, our friends, loved ones and the extended family--and I surmise we ought, all of us, to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem."

Stephen Harper--Ordained of God?

2006-01-25T21:08:00.000-08:00

Well, the Canadian election is over and we all participated, more or less in the national self-conciousness. I found watching the poll in the Globe and Mail so fascinating that I changed my whole morning coffee habit for about ten days. Ordinarily, I don't read the Globe and Mail because I have not liked its bias. Imagine my surprise when the Globe and Mail endorsed Stephen Harper. I also learned to like the Starbucks coffee here in Cochrane.

Stepping back a bit from the election, let's pause. Paul Martin, like Stephen Harper is a bearer of a Christian name--Paul. More to the point, Scripture says that "the powers that be are ordained of God." So, had Mr. Martin won, in one significant way, theological, not political, it would have been the same as if Mr. Harper had won--(which he did as we all know.) The biblical view of politics is that God controls the leadership of the nations. He lifts up one and sets down another. That's why Christianity can flourish, no matter who is in power.

Let me paraphrase, the heart of the king is in the Lord's hand--God's hand is always involved in these matters. Which leads me to say, its ok to say Stephen Harper is ordained of God. That is the theological fact. Even Mr. Duceppe or Mr. Layton, had they been chosen, they would likewise have been ordained of God. We're talking about God's sovereignty here and I find it fascinating.

The Calgary Herald says he is a Protestant, from Presbyterian stock and that he has an affinity for the Christian and Missionary Alliance. I like that of course, because I see our family kind of like that. But when the next Prime Minister shows, he (or she, Belinda??) too will be ordained of God. That's what we have to keep in mind.

Bouncy Feller

2006-01-13T13:45:00.000-08:00

As most of you know I have diverse interests and they get into my blogs one way or the other. In this case, I am blogging again because of all the harasssment, especially from Shuana and Veronique. Such sweet pestering they deliver!

My subject is once again my dog--mainly because we are about to change his name--not really, but almost, since he has become a total bounce. He never goes anywhere except with a bounce. Out to do his business outside--there's the bounce. In from outside, heading for friend wife's chair, a bounce process along the carpet for ten yards or so is the regular. Sometimes a bounce process over to his dish. Yep, it is bounce everywhere.

Now you have to realize, he's an "old man." Going on fifteen--it's like he's two going on fifteen.

And you can believe me or not on this one, but it seems to me he never once bothered to bounce at all, until one of his keepers (at a certain kennel) offered her professional opinion. "Both of those dog's need to be put down." (That was Bije and Bijou.) Now I have not heard a word about Bije except he had a stroke and has recovered, and that once up on a chair he's too blind to jump down.

But Bouncy, er, Bijou has unfailingly extended his life by unexpected agility. He may have been bounsing (Love that spelling, don't you?) all of his natural life, but I expect my memory is somehwat selective. I like it this way. He's still a happy dog. And you can guess whether I am happy or not :) :) :)!!!!!

An Army of 200,000,000?

2005-12-31T13:00:00.000-08:00

Sometimes as I look out on the North American scene, dissolute and decayed as it is, I ask myself the sombre question: "What will the Chinese do with this land when they get it?" Sometimes I even voice the question, and the response is always laced with incredulity.

"You are crazy." "That could never happen here." These are the silent responses.

But as usual there are some bothersome Scriptures which pop up. For instance, in Joel 2:2 there is the reference to "a large and mighty army [which] comes, such as never was of old nor ever will be in the ages to come." It sounds like another Scripture with which I am familiar, " The number of the mounted troops was two hundred million" (Revelation 9:16).

The apparent absence of the United States in the prophetic scenario could lead us to believe that something catastrophic has happened to America. Right now, China's economy is increasingly energetic--growing and growing. And if the world's lone super power is destroyed, what would there be to hinder?

Not much. Especially if all the Christians, and their restraining influences are gone as some suggest(2 Thessalonians 4:17-18).

Know Yourself--A Key To Life

2005-12-26T06:54:00.000-08:00

Knowing yourself is a life-long study of the quirks of human nature--your own. But ever since I heard about "knowing yourself" I have been more at peace with myself, our family and the world in general.

Not everything is consistent. For example, I love to hunt and we all know that a successful hunt ends in the demise of a beautiful animal and of course provision on the table for months to come. A lot of men like hunting, I think, because it satisfies a primordial instinct to pursue and provide.

But then there are pets--animals also. We are watching over a fifteen-year-old dog whose end is not far off. I have to touch him several times a day, I talk to him though he does not understand, and in the end I will likely be emotional when he passes.

Another passion is hockey specifically, and sports in general. I try to stay alert to various sports while concentrating only on one--I don't want to surrender too much to any of them. The Calgary Flames are my present enjoyment.

Then I am a newshound--I read a lot of news, avoiding the most liberal press by habit. Certain columnists (my favorite is Anne Coulter, an acid tongued blonde) get my loyalty so you are becoming aware that I am an inveterate reader. My blog, website and books all attest to that.
In fact, it is not just reading but writing that absorbs my time.

Then I am a theologian--I think theologically without any help--my mind seems to work that way. This morning I read the phrase in the prophet Joel--"Declare a holy fast;" and I immediately began to wonder, "What is a 'holy' fast?" Since I am to preach on fasting January 21-22, expect the "holy" fast to get some attention.

Then there is humor. One of my great joys is to make Marilynne laugh. Why do you think I have Phil Callaway on the website? I honestly try to write humorously, sometimes. Making fun of myself is a lifelong pastime. (Others have made it an art-form as well.) In my preaching, humor gets in only when I make it a matter of prayer beforehand. Will there be any humor in the upcoming sermon of fasting? I'm hoping so.

I could go on here to a fascination with business and money--but garrulousness (annoying talkativeness) is a habit into which I can fall--so I'll stop--the main point of this ramble being, obviously, know yourself. I am getting to know me.

My Own Christmas Present To Me

2005-12-24T10:51:00.000-08:00

Well, I have been working to get Christmas redirected away from moosemobilia (I have always enjoyed that), but with the house and office filling up with moose stuff I began to place Christmas book orders such as "Roger's World," about the hockey coach, Roger Neilson, and whatever could be bought in that genre. It has since arrived, and I am three-quarters of the way through it. I am also still collecting the "Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture" to add to my current ten volumes. (No sign of it arriving as yet.)

But now to the heart, or shall I say the belly, of this blog. With a somewhat "flatter" (Double entendre intended!) belly these days, it is now possible to wear a big belt buckle without one's gut flopping over it (How's that for gross?). So I have my eye on a buckle I saw in a western store--it has the map of Alberta on it, and is so constructed as to fit on any new belt. Soooooo, here's how I am maneuvering through Christmas! I have invited Friend Wife to help in this Christmas project. However, knowing her, since Boxing Day is liable to offer considerable savings on such items, I will have to wait just a bit before closing in on the prize!

Then, couple that with now being able to fit in a pair of jeans into which I could not get for a very long time, and with my scruffy old cowboy boots now adorning my feet, and with my flatter belly, my new belt and new buckle, I will be able to strut in some kind of sartorial splendor--and, what's more, I will have managed my own "Christmas Present to Me."

In rereading the above, it comes across as a bit pompous. (Joan, my missionary sister, always said, "Neill, you're stuck up!") But, I ask you, who wouldn't be, under these circumstances, celebrate a little with a new belt and buckle?! Can't help it--sorry. :)

God's Final Plans For Jerusalem

2005-12-23T15:04:00.000-08:00

Text: "Jerusalem will be holy; never again will foreigners invade her. . . . Judah will be inhabited forever and Jerusalem through all generations" (Joel 3: 17b, 20).

The continued Arab mutterings about Jerusalem are troublesome--and the Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon has been rumored as plotting to give part of it to the Palestinians. Indeed I remember when the battle weary King Hussein of Jordan admitted defeat as the remainder of his troops were driven out of Jerusalem.

That was then, 1967. And this is now, politically speaking. The Israeli army, one of the most powerful in the world, gained the Holy City by force of arms.

But now, the threat is to turn tiny Israel into a nuclear desert. Iran is possibly offering itself as a massive target for Israel's nukes.

As a reader of the Bible and a believer in the inherent truth of the old Book, there are some refrains in the various prophecies that keep ringing true. I do not know whether this secular nation of Israel will be incinerated in a Second Holocaust-- or not. I do not know if Islam will again exert temporary custody over the land--or not.

But I do know God's final plans for Jerusalem. A day is coming when foreigners will be gone. A day is coming when Judah will be inhabited forever, and a Jewish Jerusalem, through all generations is in God's plan.

It is a comfort to know.

Wiping Israel Off The Map

2005-12-16T22:07:00.000-08:00

The news lately has been startling--the new President of Iran, Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been making public pronouncements about Israel that have been remarkable to say the least.

First, he suggested that Israel should be wiped off the map.

Then, in a milder pronouncement according to some, he suggested that room be made in Europe for the Jewish state. When he reached back in history to support the Palestinians, the Israelis reached farther back in history to make their own claims.

Lately, the same gentleman has been suggesting that the Holocaust never took place, and that it is an imaginary event.

On the last pronouncement, while we were living in Germany, we as a family visited Dachau and saw for ouselves what was done to the Jews.

Governments such as Germany and the United States are offering stinging rebukes to the Iranian President.

But that the events take place is not surprising, not at all. There is one prophecy that hints that in the time of the end everyone will turn against the Jewish people. That would seem to be taking place before our eyes.

Further, as the Jewish people are denounced and threated by the Muslim nations, particularly Iran, we are reminded of another Scripture which says, in effect, "I will bless those that bless you (Abraham) and I will curse those that curse you."

Failure to bless the sons of Abraham is to invite divine retribution.

183--Down From 214

2005-12-10T08:20:00.000-08:00

Apparently the extended Foster family has not noticed the weight loss! The first encouragement in my ongoing struggle came the other evening from someone who is not a relative. Janet, our genial host at our Tuesday prayer meeting at the church said something like this, "You're looking skinny." I swelled somewhat with pride! Family members are apparently unwilling to get me chattering! And of course, who can blame them. (Marilynne tells me that the lack of notice is simply because the process is gradual. Apparently that's good!)

But there are battles. Two weeks ago, there was the combat with a jar of caramel-coated peanuts. (I soon found out that I was in double trouble--Marilynne was planning to take that jar to the Christmas Eve potluck!) So I lost wonderfully--and disasterously. This week I had a couple of days when my blood sugar felt low. So I twice grabbed a Reese's peanut butter and chocolate biscuit. My sugar came back up in a hurry. Of course the expeditions to the sin bin had their inevitable result. At weigh-ins this past week, I was up on two occasions. Yuk! Oh well, the passion to persist remains strong! Guess that's good.

Next weekend, Toad, Donna and boys will be up here at Calgary for Christmas so I am already getting ready for "the test." There will be lots of eating and celebrating, of course. My objective is to stay the same weight thru Christmas without being a prig! (Especially the prig part! No smart remarks, Normie. I lead a much happier life since you and Maxine left off persecuting me!)

That Christmas agenda may take, will take some effort. My track record in Africa tells me that you can enjoy missionary cooking and eating out in Niamey restaurants without suffering unduly. I came back from Africa down one pound! (Marilynne says I sweated it out!)

So who cares how much I weigh? Not very many of you--but some do. I have prayed a long time for a way out of my overweight, and it seems that now I have found the way. My young Irish doctor is plenty pleased about the downward spiral of my blood pressure!

The Saints At War

2005-12-07T19:49:00.000-08:00

There is a book out that you ought to get hold of and read--"War on the Saints" it is called, authored by Mrs. Jessie Penn-Lewis and Evan Roberts. Mr. Roberts was a key figure in the Welsh Revival of 1904 and Mrs. Penn-Lewis is quite well known as an author. I will say the book is not for novices in kingdom walking.

Well, the short story is that Christians of the believing type are combatants in the invisible war between the "powers," between Christ and the devil.

And sometimes, as in our recent trip to Niger, the combat is fierce. It is in that context that I came across a verse in Daniel 7:21-22. First, the saints are presented as in a war in which they are suffering defeat, verse 21. As I pondered that first verse, I felt a wave of discouragment roll over me. I have on more than one occasion suffered defeat. The "horn" mentioned symbolises the enemy.

I should have known better--just read farther, in this case read verse 22. Judgment is pronounced in favor of the saints by the Ancient of Days (one of God's names!) "and the time came when they [the saints] possessed the kingdom" (A kingdom anyone? A kingdom is for a King!).

This is so like the Bible. It is brutally frank--painfully so. But it is also consistent. Satan is always presented as a defeated foe, even when some of his exploits appear to be prevailing--as one wades through the inspired text.

A Lion Who Is Not Safe But Good

2005-12-06T03:39:00.000-08:00

As some of you know, I was recently in the African country of Niger. And when Marilynne ended up in the hospital, I cut short my overseas trip and hurried home. She was soon out of the hospital and gradually things are getting back to normal. Marilynne did not require open heart surgery, and she had no arterial blockages over 50 per cent.

The rest of the story can be read in the "Prayer Band" on our website www.kneillfoster.com. But there are a couple of things I want to blog about that are not in the "Prayer Band." During the dark night in which I heard that Marilynne had been hospitalized, a Scripture verse seemed to get through the fog of my mind--"Behold, I give you power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you." I have taken that Scripture verse as an anchor in this whole trial.

The second impression I had was of a lion--but I did not know its identity. I had the impression that it had me pinned over the counter edge of a cupboard but I was uncertain as to its identity--was it the devil who goes about "as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour," or could the lion represent Jesus Christ, the "lion of Judah?" Both are biblical figures.

When I expressed my uncertainty about this impression to the class, they seemed to leap into action. They said, in effect, this lion represents Jesus Christ. Quoting lines from C. S. Lewis apparently, they said of the lion, "He is not safe, but he is good." Of course, Christ is not safe--He is the judge of all the earth in the final day, but He is good.

I have not read this C. S. Lewis, nor will I go to the theater for reasons of sanctification, but there seems to something in the "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" with which I connected in Niger. I found it really comforting to think of Christ as not safe, but good.

Getting Reported to the SPCA

2005-12-04T04:39:00.000-08:00

Bijou the dog gets to go outside frequently as all dogs do. Yesterday was no exception. Except it was cold and windy. And complicating that, we forgot him outside!!!

Predictably, after an hour or so out in the elements, he was whimpering and complaining. And especially with the television going, we can't hear him from inside our condo.

Suddenly, there was a thunderous knock on our apartment door. When I asked who was there, an angry woman's voice said something like this, "Your dog is outside freezing and if you don't do something I'm going to report you to the SPCA." I'm very glad that my response was quiet and gentle. "Thank you very much." I immediately marched outside with my bare feet on the snowy concrete and rescued our dog. The lady, by the way, was a visitor in the building.

Then came our apologies to him which he couldn't understand, but we were very sorry to have done that to him. Next, Marilynne got a blanket and wrapped it around the no longer shivering
canine and contrary to his long history of grouchiness and contraryness, he settled in for a relaxing time of people repentance. He even went to sleep in her arms. This from a dog who will not ordinarily allow a people hug without complaining.

I'm just glad the visitor was not a neighbor.

Silly Pooch

2005-12-03T12:20:00.000-08:00

Well, after some long absences, I have reconstructed my blog--I think now that I will not do it so frequently so as to wear myself out. Thanks to Cheryl who helped me construct my entre back into the blogging scene--would you believe I had forgotten how to do it!

My reason for starting up again is that I have some pooch stories to tell, so that is my immediate reason. The bigger and larger reason is that I feel like the Lord is calling me to do this.

Pooch story number one--we had done something, I don't recall now what it was, but we were being punished. Our Bijou sat on his cushion and just looked glum. It only lasted one day, but it was a definite attitudinal non-verbal punishment posture in our direction. Suitably chastened, by next day we were fine again--pooch also.

Pooch story number two--he's getting a bit blind, the old man is, so when he was entering the house from the garage, he rushed in as he tends to do. He ran straight into a door jam and bopped his head loud and hard! Ouch! Then he turned around, dropped his head, lifted one paw and stood there with his head ringing. Not sure about the bell stuff, but otherwise that's the way it was. He stood there pitifully, for a moment or two, and then when he did move, it was awkwardly and unbalanced. It was sad, really it was. And is a picture of getting old too, believe me.

So, I'm back with the blog dog stories--and of course, there will be other kinds too. Several readers, perhaps as many as four have dragged me back to the keyboard!

Back to the Blogger!

2005-10-26T18:36:00.000-07:00

Well, after a nice vacation I'm back at blogging, even if for one evening since I get on the plane tomorrow morning. But I thot I would relay to my blogging audience--all two of you who are complaining about my absence--here's the Prayer Band copy just sent out.

Greetings Pray-ers all!

Tomorrow morning, October 27, at 9:15, I leave for my 13th trip to Africa over what is now many years. God willing, this time I will be in Niger--a new experience. Marilynne will be keeping the home-fires burning while I'm over there. I will return to Canada on November 20.

Please concentrate your prayers on these items:

1. Safe travel--Calgary, Toronto, Paris, Niamey (and back of course).

2. The first ministry this Sunday night--to about sixty missionaries on the subject of what the Muslims call "The Night of Power."

3. Various other ministries include a pastors' seminar and a visit to a hospital.

4. The dates for the course at the African Centre for Life-long Learning are November 7-11. I will appreciate your fervent prayers as I teach "Sorting Out the Supernatural,"--the course includes "Binding and Loosing" and "Islam and the Christian Supernatural."

I am also looking forward to spending some time with my sister Joan who has come out of retirement (she ministered in Africa for thirty-eight years) to pinch-hit for a few months with Samaritan's Purse and later with the Alliance.

Cordially always,

Neill and Marilynne Foster

PS--Have you checked our website lately? There are new treasures there--especially Classic-Christianity. Don't miss it! www.kneillfoster.com

Tangling With the Treadmill

2005-10-11T22:22:00.000-07:00

Before you start imagining a treadmill with arms and legs and other threatening appendages, let me explain what happened today. I was to take a thallium test, which is the injection of radio-active liquid into one's body and then followed by a brisk workout on the treadmill. Marilynne had this test a few months ago and was picked up later by a geiger counter at the US border!

On several previous occasions, I have been denied previous workouts on a treadmill because folks worried that I might have a "cardiac event." After all, there was a silent heart attack back about ten years ago. The doctor at that time said I had scars on my heart but that I was "completely healed." I have taken him at his word ever since and enjoyed good health over the years.

Today, they let me go at it, and I was in my element--I worked the stress number up to 130 which was the desirable number and worked through about two and half stages with the machine. Three minutes at a time, then an increased rate with the treadmill. I was near ecstatic, or at least feeling very good indeed with the rush of adrenalin.

Still to come--after two times of picture taking of the inner arteries--and now another visit to another doctor who will read me the results. He was quite negative the last time we visited, but this test will either change his mind, or reinforce his opinion.

I'm looking at another authority however. "With long life will I satisfy thee." God's word to me years ago. Have already hit the big 70 so I am pleased. Amen.

So I'm Doing Weight Loss

2005-10-07T14:28:00.000-07:00

This has some blog peril, but there was never any doubt that I needed to lose weight, and all of my friends and relatives have kept up a not-too-subtle campaign over the years to save me from my self and save my life.

I have chosen Dr. Birnstein's Weight Loss Clinic which is expensive but effective. One has to go to the clinic three times a week for a weigh-in, a brief lecture/examination by a nurse and a shot of B1-B12. This I have been doing faithfully for three weeks. And I plan to continue until I leave for Africa on October 27. In the interim my blood pressure has plunged.

A doctor on site also calls you in every two weeks for a verbal check up to make sure you are handling the weight loss acceptably. So far, so good. And oh yes, there is a trip to the Medical Clinic (not Dr. B's) where you have blood drawn just to be sure you are undergoing the process well.

And will this endure? That is always the question. One doctor told me, "You will lose weight but you won't keep it off!" That was encouraging. But in any case, if you want to know how I'm doing, get out your calculator.

My age (70) x (3)=a certain number, minus (110) less one half of that number minus one divided by three. Sorry Kev, had to have some fun with you.

As Thanksgiving turkey looms, I have reached the weight where I was years ago when I lived at 1273 Pine Street and I've just begun to lose weight. Will this be an enduring change? With your prayers, it may indeed be just exactly that.

Pitching the Manuscript

2005-10-06T18:45:00.000-07:00

Today was the day we mailed off copies of Islam and the Christian Supernatural to about 26 publishers in the hopes that we will have a "taker." These publishers are mostly in the United States although one is in Canada and one is in Britain. This event will take a couple of months to unfold. Conceivably, I might get more than one acceptance, or none.

Then, if this does not work, I can go the agent route--securing an agent whose skill is lining up the right manuscript with the right publisher. There is a lot to that.

Then if that doesn't work, I could list my manuscript where it is read by editors and managing editors on line--with this system, everything is electronic.

Then we could just publish this online--that is mount it one our website and give people access to it for a fee. For example, we could ask for a $10 credit card purchase of reading rights. I am curious about what would happen, but I surmise that it would be effective, given the continuing interest in the Islamic world and the War on Terror.

Or we could reenergize Horizon House Publishers and publish it ourselves. How many publishers are there with a Calgary or Cochrane address?

Finally, one could self-publish if it comes to that. Distribution is the problem. So there are plenty of options. I'll keep you all posted of course. Appropriately, this is an item to remember in prayer.

Hello Thunderbird

2005-10-03T19:12:00.000-07:00

Well today is "Hello Thunderbird" and goodbye to Outlook Express and Microsoft. I have been battling a loser with Microsoft's Outlook Express email program for some years. It is over as of today.

Here's what happened. Al Willems, our webmaster phoned me and as we talked about my lengthy and ongoing problems with email, we got to the subject of getting the email program that goes with Firefox Mozilla--(that's my browser) and it (the browser) is totally terrific--hardly any spam at all!

Thunderbird is the email program, so over the phone, we installed the free new program and "Voila!" I have a new email program which imported all my old information and is now working like a charm. I have to restrain myself--I want to email everybody.

So here's the scoop--first get Firefox Mozilla--the best server I've run into and then get Thuderbird. Imagine, emailing with no worries, no frustration and no spam!!!

How this work's over the long run I'll let you know. ml/n (more later, neill)

Edna Foster Laid to Rest

2005-10-01T20:30:00.000-07:00

This day is over, the funeral is past, the refreshment before and after the service is a thing of the past. Edna has been laid to rest. And, as usual, one learns things about a loved one at a funeral.

In this case, Edna was repeatedly affirmed as a woman of good humor--one who laughed and joked a lot. And that was true. Every tribute and eulogy seemed to say, "Grandma was happy and funny."

Another item that emerged was her frequent saying, "We're not perfect, just forgiven." That in is various forms was a refrain this afternoon. Thank God for that.

Her affection for pastor's wives remerged once again. We celebrated her propensity to peel away some cash and make sure it got into "the ministry." How many $50 dollar bills she spread around we'll never know.

We knew her also as a woman of prayer and that was affirmed again this afternoon--she was re membered as women who could shift from proper anger to hopeful love in a split second. She could forgive the childish pranks and thank God for everybody.

One of the special blessings God gave her in death was the presence of Lois, her daughter who was visiting in Ladner. With no though of her mom's homegoing, Lois came just to visit and shared the cup of joy--her mom's final days.

God is so good, really He is. What a celebration was ours today!

A Good Day on the Book

2005-09-29T21:44:00.000-07:00

There are mopping up operations with a book, just as there are mopping up operations with a battle. Today was a good day on the book after weeks of making calls and ransacking the web, one prime source finally phoned me and we spend a long time talking. At issue were published statistics at variance with what I was seeing elsewhere in my research.

A second call also reaffirmed some data that I have had for a while. Then I made a call to a local professor here at Nazarene University College who was willing to meet with me tomorrow to discuss dreams in the life of a Christian. There are final parts of what is something like a jig-saw
puzzle. It finally comes together.

The professor suggested that western culture is ordinarily unable to register the significance of dreams, whereas Islamic culture legitimizes dreams. The western culture deligitimizes dreams, visions and supernatural events. And it is not hard to see the two disparate worldviews talking past each other.

So, some key nuggets for the book may drop into place. These are not whole new chapters, or even paragraphs. But they are thoughts here and there which will help my project.

The significance of dreams is amply illustrated in Genesis, Daniel, Matthew, Mark and Acts. And some places elsewhere.

Flames Win 5-zip

2005-09-28T22:58:00.000-07:00

Well, hockey is back, and when Kelly offered me two tickets to take Zack and me to the Saddledome, I accepted. It was nice to sit just three rows back from the players' benches right on the red line. Zack was with me and we enjoyed ourselves immensely.

I was particularly watching Reggie Regehr since both he and his brother, Robin Regehr were born in Brazil to Mennonite missionary parents. Robin is an established NHLer who is considered to be one of the Flames best defensemen. I thought that Reggie was bigger than his brother, and I was fascinated that Coach Sutter was giving the younger Regehr a tryout in a preseason game.

I'm not the Coach of course, but I must say he impressed me greatly. If he gets shipped down to the minors in Omaha, you'll know how good my judgment is. He showed great poise, maneuverability and flexibility. He got his name on the assist sheet too--more than Jerome Iginla did. I'd say he is a strong contender to join the Flames on the blueline.

You'll probably see rather soon what happens to Reggie.

Edna's Funeral Set

2005-09-27T22:15:00.000-07:00

Mrs. Edna Foster will be buried this Saturday at Three Hills, Alberta. The viewing will be held at 12 o'clock noon and the funeral itself will take place at 1 o'clock. The place will be at the Bethel Fellowship Church, one mile east of Three Hills, proper. Apparently there is another Bethel Church in Three Hills, so we need to be careful of course.

I have been asked to give a tribute to Edna which I will be pleased to do. She has been my step mother these many years now and it is my honor to affirm her life and ministry. We do not know at this point where she will be buried, but we think likely at the side of her first husband, Murray Kirk.

We know that my brother and I, with our wives, will drive out from Calgary for the funeral. Other details from the immediate family are not available, I will post a full report. Like the blogs listed below, this text will possibly be updated as new information becomes available.

Adding Details About Edna

2005-09-26T05:08:00.000-07:00

This is a brief post--just to let you know that I am building a tribute to Edna for her funeral and will be posting revisions as they are made. Your contributions welcome--post a response and I will get it. The funeral is on Saturday in Three Hills, time to be ascertained. More later/neill

Edna, Prayer Warrior Always, Is At Home With The Lord

2005-09-24T21:29:00.000-07:00

Edna--At Home with the Lord

"Edna is with the Lord." That was the essence of the message I received from Merlin last Saturday morning. He put it plainly: "We have lost our Mum." It was the painful admission of a now motherless son.

Edna was my step-mother--and I have many memories of her. One of the first ones goes back to the sixties when a team of us were dealing with a case of demonization. Edna and Murray were not afraid to take the demented girl into their home. From then on, I knew Edna to be a fearless prayer warrior. She also stayed in touch with our preaching and writing ministries.

Edna's sweet spirit was a blessing to many--so prayerful, and generous too. She truly had a ministry heart. Our niece-in-law, Cheryl, herself a pastor's wife, remembers Edna tucking a few dollars into her hand--"Just for you, Cheryl," Edna would whisper.

When my Dad came into Edna's life and began to court her, Edna didn't quite know what to do. One day she went to a ladies meeting, as was her custom. There, on her placemat, was a map. Her plate was on Beaverlodge! She took it as a token for good.

Dad and Edna had eighteen years together. She was an "angel" in his life. Their best years were the Grande Prairie ones that included a scheduled--and often fervent--prayer time. Our family appreciated and coveted those prayers.

Dad and Edna also enjoyed going to Wendy's for lunch. It was just a few blocks from their Grande Prairie home. Later, when they could no longer get out, Marilynne and I sometimes arrived with a Wendy's lunch which they quickly and eagerly devoured!

We first enjoyed getting to know Edna in Palm Springs-- then Pentiction, Beaverlodge, Grande Prairie, Calgary, Airdrie and Ladner. Edna was always her own person--spiritually tender and disciplined, but with a quick and enjoyable sense of humour. She often managed to tuck a giggle into the conversation.

Now she is gone--Edna has slipped away to be with the Lord. Our memories are delightful--warm embraces and always a kiss. She was a romantic after all. We could not help but know that she cared about us and our children. We will miss her prayers.

My own dear Mum has been gone for many years--Edna helped to ease the pain. Now she too is gone. We are honored to have known her. We believe that her prayers will produce answers for years to come. Forgive me, but there's one thing I would like to know: "Who will pray for all of us now?"

Tracking Down Bill Bright

2005-09-23T22:24:00.000-07:00

Though I never once saw Dr. Bill Bright, the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, today I was able to track him down. One of the vignettes in my book tells the story of whole groups of people having the same dream about Jesus Christ--coming to the Lord all over the place, an astounding response among Muslims.

I was worried about the story's truth because I found it only on the internet. The web, as you will know, is mostly unedited and tends to be unreliable. This story purported to have been written by Bill Bright and was posted on the internet by "Ocean," 2001.

My telephone search led me to the 714 area code, I still do not know what city, but I found there a man who had been a colleague of Bill Bright for thirty years. He knew some of the people cited in the vignette, and after listening to me read the quote, he said something like this--"that is Bill Bright. I know the details. This is an authentic quote."

When the phone call was finished I was elated. Another part of the puzzle that is God's invasion of Islam by the power of the Holy Spirit is being seen now. Truly, God is at work, and Jesus is appearing all over the Muslim world, especially in North Africa. We are living in amazing days.

Picking Co-Authors

2005-09-21T21:00:00.000-07:00

Co-authors are a breed apart, and thus far in my life I have had the good fortune to meet three of them. Eric Mills was under our employ when we received the call to go down to Toccoa Falls, Georgia, to record the flood disaster. We worked as a team, interviewing for ten days, and then I wrote furiously for three days. The book was done. Tweaking it took three months and then we were in print with Dam Break in Georgia. Some on campus were afraid that we were going to sensationalize the story, but when it came out, one of the most apprehensive, a southern belle said, "I could hug his neck." My neck that was and I assume Eric's.

The second co-author was Paul L. King. in the process of writing Binding and Loosing there was the need for research. I hired him to do the research. And later decided to include him on the cover. It was a good decision because it has given him recognition and credibility. He has gone on to write his own books and as I look back, I realize that Paul King was one that I was able to mentor in a number of ways.

The third co-author is Abdallah Ibraim, a psuedonymn because of physical danger in Muslim culture in the Arab world. It has fallen to him to verify and authenticate that which I have researched and written in Islam and the Christian Supernatural. But the book has more wallop when the North American (me) can turn to an Arab Christian, minister of the gospel, and a pastor evangelist. His MA helps too.

It seems to me that these co-authors, in each case, have fit in to enable a book project. It is totally true, "one shall chase a thousand and two put ten to flight." I am happy--for the third time with co-authors.

Paul Bartel--Missionary Hero

2005-09-19T21:27:00.000-07:00

Paul H. Bartel is with the Lord, as is his wife of many years, but in my visit to the Edmonton Chinese Alliance Church last weekend, I began to rethink their lives. Though they had lengthy missionary careers, they came in mid career to serve briefly on the faculty of the Canadian Bible College. He served as Academic dean and she served as dean of women.

The curiosity of God's providence is that the Bartel's ministry coincided with the arrival of the pastor from Hong Kong, Augustus Chau. Only recently have I realized that just as a woman named Ruby was used to spark the movement among the Chinese, so Paul Bartel became a Father among them. Perhaps a little before, perhaps a little later, they were colleagues together. They made a missionary journey together to Latin America to plant Chinese Alliance Churches there. In these very days, those new churches are springing up.

And, coincidental with all this, as I have mentioned, is the ministry of RubyJohnston. We spoke of her yesterday, but she became a mother in Israel to the Chinese. She labored in faith and prayer until there were converts, until there was a pastor from Hong Kong and when she died, she was buried among the Chinese with whom she had become identified.

The Chinese work in Canada has matured and grown. It has reached all the major cities and beyond. The work has far surpassed its original vision of 50 churches. Pastors and missionaries are themselves emerging from this first and second generation church. The Acts of the Apostles has not ceased nor will it ever.

The Chinese Alliance Church in Canada

2005-09-18T21:07:00.000-07:00

I have just returned from a Transformation Weekend in the Edmonton Chinese Alliance Church. They are celebrating their thirty-fifth anniversary and they had 782 in their services last week, perhaps more this week. It is a marvel to behold. The congregation has just purchased twelve acres on the western perimeter of Edmonton and is pondering its future.

My mind goes back to events that began 50 years ago and more when Ruby Johnston's passion for a Chinese ministry in Regina was surging up within her. She had several of us students begin trying to teach Chinese immigrants English. It was a tiny start that has mushroomed into something very large. A few conversions led them to begin praying for a pastor to come from Hong Kong. Augustus Chau was a layman in Hong Kong praying that he would be able to come to Canada. God put it together with the help of a Chinese Church in the Philippines, Davao City.

Chau's vision from the first was to plant 50 Chinese Alliance Churches in Canada. The work has surpassed that by far with over 100 or more churches all across the country. Luke Poon was the founder in Edmonton. He died of cancer many years ago now, but the work continues to flourish. I told his widow today that I remembered him.

When Ruby died, the Chinese buried her among their own. Hers was a life laid down. She could not have dreamed where the Chinese ministry would go, nor how much it would grow. Augustus Chau is in a nursing home now in the Vancouver area. But his vision continues to expand.

And oh yes, the property which cost more than a million dollars was paid for in saved up cash. These wonderful, wonderful Chinese Christians!

Some Things We Can't Or Shouldn't Say

2005-09-15T21:04:00.000-07:00

Today was a curious--even exciting day. But after some thought, I realize I can't talk about what happened. That is a crime isn't it, especially if one is curious. There were in fact, two bloggable events.

Why did Jesus heal people and then tell them not to tell anyone? Perhaps because talking tends to be sinful anyway, and He wanted to spare them. Marilynne thinks that blogging is too much talking. And she has a point, since the Book says, "In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin." Too much talk gets us into trouble. Even with the blogs, I have erased one or two.

Then there is the matter of timing. "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him." So, it seems to me, there are secrets, which if held become a blessing, and while if spilled too early become like old manna in Israel's Old Testament wanderings.

And intuitive guidance we have just hinted at one blog back--there are times for that too. I have kept some things a long time--like twenty years before being free to discuss a matter.

So there were definitely two events which deserve a blog, and in both cases I have clammed
up! It may not be for long, or it may be! God is the only one who knows.

Anyone can blab, as I have done too often, but a person of self-control is a person I have determined to admire. James made it clear that those who control their tongues are able to control their whole bodies.

We Know Things Intuitively

2005-09-12T22:50:00.000-07:00

Many long years ago up by Quesnel, we determined to drive all night. We didn't think we could afford a motel so we just drove and drove. At about 5 in the morning I turned over the wheel to Marilynne. She drove the station wagon for a while and then she began to doze off. Suddenly, I heard the front wheel on the right catch the gravel and over the side she went.

As she drove into the ditch, I announced, "I knew you would do this." What a comfort that was. Tim was sleeping in the front seat (We were just three in those days.) The heavy wooden vibra harp case was bouncing in the back. But I knew ahead of time.

Fortunately, there was a wide open ditch in Quesnel country. Not too many of those. There could have been a lake, a cliff, a huge rock--anything.

The light brown station wagon was never the same after that, we have never tried even once to drive all night since, but we learned a valuable lesson.

Which leads to another intuitive event--the Alliance Life told us they were going to use an article from our new book in the October issue. But, they declined to use it though it seemed to fit. Even though they were on record as intending to probably use the article, I knew intuitively that they would not. And they did not--we found out today-- since the October issue is well along.

One of the realities of spiritual life is that sometimes we know things! Sometimes it helps us through awkward moments. It can lead us finally to believe in Him.

Processing Out the Cross

2005-09-11T20:36:00.000-07:00

Today was the last service in Calgary's First Alliance Church's present location. And there was a lot of emotion involved. Imagine the marriages and baptisms and funerals that had been conducted on that site. Enumerate all the conversions, add in all the blessings and spiritual advances incidental to worship and one gets a small idea of what is involved in vacating a much-loved and long-used church building.

The part of the service most interesting and blessed to me was what they called "Processing Out the Cross." As the final act of the very last service, some of the members went to the cross on the wall at the front of the sanctuary--detached it gently from its moorings and then solemnly carried it down of the platform, out the center aisle, and out of our sight for now. It later will have a place of honor in the prayer annex of the new building.

It was a symbolic "lifting of the blessing" placed upon the building when it was dedicated many years ago.

And it was kind of personal for me in that while we were at CPI in PA, one of the things that came up was the editorial revision of the Pastor's Handbook, a little black book containing all the ceremonies used by pastors in their ministries. The "lifting of the dedication" had been in the Pastor's Handbook, it had been taken out of the book in a previous revision, but in our revision, we saw to it that the "lifting of the dedication" went back into the Pastor's Handbook.

The ceremony today was not actually out of that Pastor's Handbook, but it was a reaffirmation of a congregation's need to lift the blessing before an old sanctuary is offered up to the bulldozers or turned into an office complex or some other use for a sacred building is undertaken.

The exit processional of the cross was a profound blessing to both Marilynne and me. We were greatly touched. Amen.

Rain is Depressing

2005-09-10T22:17:00.000-07:00

September rain in Alberta always seems to come. I remember earlier days in the Peace River Country when my living was more closely tied to agriculture, if ever it was, I noticed that the September rains always came, and it seemed to me at that time that harvest was always August and October.

This year may be like that. The rain for the last couple of days has seemed cold and blizzardy. It hasn't helped that our ceiling was leaking like the proverbial sieve.

So let's talk about the cure for depression. It is praise to the Lord--sometimes gritting one's teeth praise, but still, determined praise turns into joy. On Saturday night we go to church and praise of course was what we got. Plus a truly great sermon. Plus communion. Plus an opportunity to worship by giving. Plus the warmth of Christian fellowship. Plus our loved ones were there too. It was enough to set one singing. Which it did.

And of course, that's what we feel like now--the depression has lifted. The sun will return and we will be able to see the mountains once again. And, yes, the leak will finally be conquered, even by those who have seemed so half-hearted up till now.

The Leak is Back

2005-09-10T04:45:00.000-07:00

We had hoped that we had seen the end of the summer leak--but the leak is back even though the summer has ended. Heavy dosages of the hose on the front door of our neighbors front door upstairs has revealed that the scourge continues. And today's rain makes it all clear.

Eleven weeks without a response from the builder--all they have to do is peel off the siding and accompanying boards and the leak will show.

But people are reluctant to make repairs when it costs money.

And therein lies the lesson. We have been following the biblical example of the widow who just kept coming and coming until the unjust judge gave in. We're hoping someone gives in soon.

We could go to the local newspaper and get some free publicity--that wouldn't be very nice. Or we could go to the Alberta New Home Warranty and get that going--but both of these make other people pay--so we linger and wait--but I am confessing to some impatience.

Surrendering To THE Editor

2005-09-08T21:33:00.000-07:00

The punctuation in the headline is intentional. And here's the story behind the headlines. As you may know, Marilynne, also known as mom, grandma and "wifey" is an editor. There have been two significant events in our lives that relate to her role as an editor.

The first incident was when I surrendered Binding and Loosing to her sweaty little palms. I could barely make myself do it, and the reluctance showed everywhere. Fortunately, the book turned out to be one of the best-edited and thus best-written books I have done.

Incident number two, a second volume came along and again the hour of surrender arrived--I had to turn over the text of Sorting Out The Supernatural to the editor. I was again fiercely independent and incredibly stubborn, but alas, reason prevailed, (hers) and she edited another key book.

Can you sense what is coming? Those of you who read this blog already know very well what is coming. She has gotten hold of it!! The new book, I mean. And this time, before a shot was fired, she won the day. After she had given the text a "wonderfully terrible" working over, I just plain surrendered. I just said, "Go to it!" I know absolutely she will ruin my precious and totally inspired prose, but never mind, it has to be done.

And today, she is in the process of "doing" it. The third event! So I went golfing!!

Chelation Today

2005-09-06T22:07:00.000-07:00

I have taken chelation for several years and I am not exactly sure how many sessions there have been. Let me explain what it is--it is an intravenus process, injecting into the blood stream the material that has been used to clear up lead poisoning. It is an acceptable medical procedure and must be overseen by a physician, an MD.

Now I don't have lead poisoning but I have had a heart attack about ten years ago, and I have had type 2 diabetes for perhaps 20 years. Not long ago, my physician here in Calgary said that in his opinion I would not ever have to take insulin. That was ancouragement to me. I credit chelation for being a "rotorooter" in the bloodstream, cleaning out my arteries. Toxins are taken out of my body every month. I sense a feeling of well being in the process.

A popular book about this alternate medicine is called Bypassing the Bypass which tells you pretty well what all this is about. In Australia or New Zealand, I am not sure which, all heart procedures must start with chelation.

It is nearly three years since we found it here in Calgary, but I already had about 80 treatments in Pennsylvania. In fact, there had been a man in our church in Palm Springs who benefited greatly from chelation and had his life extended for many years. I'm convinced.

Serenity on Labor Day

2005-09-05T22:14:00.000-07:00

Today we were invited up to Caroline, Alberta near all the big gas plants to a farm owned by Grace and Derek Cooper. The site was hard to find, but we managed and ended up parked near a fire circle surrounded by majestic evergreens. The James River was just a few yards away. The day was idyllic.

Eating was managed twice though I am sure once would have been enough. The fare was potluck. Of course the offerings were superb.

Even the trip out there and back (an hour and a quarter) was splendid. The country is green from all the rain over the last months and in the brilliant fall sunshine the foothills were gorgeous.

Auntie Joan and Daisy made their way out there too--we think Grace had not met Joan but Grace has been making all kinds of booties and dresses for the Niger babies Joan will be going to see in a week.

Even the trip home in the sun's last rays was beautiful in the extreme. Probably Bijou enjoyed the trip too--but a truly great time was had by all.

The Dog Dusty Was Fifteen

2005-09-04T20:26:00.001-07:00

As the painful scenes after the hurricane unfolded on television, I was caught with Geraldo's encounter with an older woman as she was rescued. She had saved up drinking water and was not in too bad a shape. Even her dog Dusty was rescued. As I watched Dusty trudge across the tarmac following his mistress, I saw Bijou all over again. The gait was the same. The lack of energy was the same. Even the color was the same, white. The tail the same too--drooping with lack of energy.

I assume 15-year-old Dusty made it, but "our" dogs around here are all on the homeward trail. Bije sleeps almost all the time on his cushion behind Tim's chair. He maintains a low energy life style--loved by all, cared for by mom. Fourteen they say.

Then there is Otis. Spoiled of course by Jeff. Doesn't see too well. And he's absolutely snazzy when trimmed. (Veronique hasn't said how she was greeted when she got home), but Otis gets special treatment--he does. And I'm his friend, I know that. But he's 14 too. Since Veronique is home I'm bumped down to number 2 on the care totem.

Bijou, of course. He's a Dusty look-alike. My relatives hint that he will need to be put down, but I will pray for her even though she said that missionary naughty! My positive take is that that dog Dusty was 15 and the spitting image of Bijou. Our creaky, 14-year-old Bichon is gonna make it another whole year yet.

The toughest pet item with the hurricane was a small boy who had to leave "Snowball," his cat behind. He threw up, he was so distraught.

What pain and trauma. And these are just pet stories from New Orleans.

Off For a Drive to Millarville

2005-09-03T20:45:00.000-07:00

There are days when a drive in the country is in order. This was one of those days.

We started off by looking after some matters in the town of Cochrane, driving by the rodeo which we have yet to visit. Then straight south it was to Bragg Creek. Then we angled off in the foothills, south toward Millarville. All we knew was that it was a place that had cancelled its rodeo.

Do you get the idea that rodeos are ubiquitous? Well, it turned out that the drive through the higher foothills in these parts was absolutely gorgeous. And Millarville turned out to be a tiny town surrounded by the houses of the wealthy--that is my thumbnail sketch.

We now have three sites to take our company on short drives from our house, --up to Banded Mountain along the Elbow river, the Kanaskis Peter Lougheed park, and now Millarville. The green was spectacular. The homes and ranches were likewise spectacular. For September 3, it was very, very green.

We will go back soon! Marilynne loved it--and so did I.

Hurricane Participants Wrestle With Culture

2005-09-02T21:10:00.000-07:00

Huricane Katrina has done an immense amount of damage to New Orleans and presently America is well into the blame game. New Orleans was a very wicked city, as was Sodom before it. Who is to say that the disaster is not God's wrath? Perhaps God's punishment is being visited.

But something else is surely happening. These people are poor and black. In many cases they could not afford the gas to get out of town. All the studying I have done over many years makes me believe that the government was wrestling ineptly with cultural barriers.

Let me give you an example. Western people tend to form lines to get services. But go to Africa, (my 13th trip coming up) or to Latin America and the people form blobs around the ticket agents. It is everybody for himself. Missiologically speaking, the black poor who have suffered so much are part of a people group. American (Anglos for the most part from the North) do not understand these people--and do not understand why they would not have forty dollars to fill their tanks and flee or why they would be so hungry after just a day when literally they live from day to day, or why they would shoot at helicopters and firemen.

There is racism and hatred, yes, but this cultural gulf is a real obstacle. That, in part, is why this whole relief effort has gone so badly. I plan to make a donation in church this weekend to Hurricane Relief. It is the least one can do.

Fixing Our Leak

2005-09-01T21:15:00.000-07:00

For those who have not been following our blog here, news of our leaking ceiling will be minor news. But as you all will realize, there was a major flood here in Alberta about ten weeks ago. The Jumping pound was reconfigured with all the water that went crashing through.

As for me I began the process of "harassing" the developer to get my leak fixed. Ten weeks (or so) later there is sign of progress at last. They kind of adopted my idea finally, if you know what I mean. We poured water through a hose on the roof--no problem, water on the flat deck above, --no problem. Finally we sprayed the hose on the front of the neighbor's door and side panels and siding upstairs, and voila, we found the flat out driving rain was coming in slanted. Our ceiling leaked when the hose was applied frontally and would leak when the rain was driving..

So now it appears we have isolated the point where the water flows in. Tomorrow there will be another hose session, and hopefully no leaks. If there are still leaks, we will have to keep at the process. And when all of this is over, then there is the inside which suffered water damage. More later, I suppose on this. By the way, we prayed about this matter just once at prayer meeting, and behold, results!

Veronique is back I believe, but have not phoned since I know she has to get over jet lag! But we have missed her cheery comments! Welcome home Veronique!!

We have been sustaining Otis somewhat in her absence.

My First Round of Golf This Year

2005-08-31T21:15:00.000-07:00

I have lots of golfing relatives, not the least of whom include Tim, Jeff, Normie, Norman, Jesse and Tanya plus others such as Kevin, Zack and Tyson and others. Since I owed Tyson for a game previously unplayed, we went yesterday at the Cochrane 9-hole golf course.

It is nestled in the hills surrounding a saw mill right within the environs of Cochrane. I have been thinking about going so yesterday was the day. $Twenty two for a child, (Tyson) $Twenty two for a Senior (me) and $16 for the cart. So the day set me back $60--or look at this another way, investing eighty dollars in a grandson is ok--really it is.

Its so long since I rented a cart, I didn't know how to start it but even I finally figured that out. We scored 78 and 86 I think. My number was 76 and it isn't too bad until one explains that it was a 9-hole course.

Still, it was a great time--and I have been thinking about a membership. But I am not sure that I will golf enough to make it worth while--But then, I guess Normie could advise me--I might even get some lessons. When one turns 70 things do change--maybe even my golf game.

For extra pizzaz, we played Arnold Cook Winner Take All on the last hole. We tied at eight shots each--pretty good for an old duffer and a young whipper snapper.

Home Sweet Home!

2005-08-30T22:38:00.000-07:00

We are back from America (where we enjoyed ourselves greatly) and we are back at the book polishing. Already have the material back from the scholar at Nyack. He has written pages of general and sometimes academic critique.

The road home was pleasant though I must admit that my wife drove most of the way. I was tired from the trip down I guess.

And our ceiling leak--finally we have found where the water has been leaking in--not through the roof and not through the deck above us but apparently the water has been coming in sideways, through the siding and trim. Took an old fashioned water hose to it and the old-time method soon isolated the exact site of the leak.

This is nine or ten weeks after the floods of June 20th or thereabouts.

Compared with Katrina, nothing happened here in Calgary and Cochrane at all. In the end, the hurricane seems to have done a very great deal of damage, reminding everyone Who is in charge, after all.

And Ronnie, she's back very soon--maybe tomorrow. Miss her bigtime!

m/l
neill@kneillfoster.com
www,kneillfoster.com

Another Visit to Beau

2005-08-29T21:04:00.000-07:00

Since last blog we have down to the States and back, with a major objective of seeing wee Beau. And he is a beaut, I'll have to admit. At thirteen months he has caught on to the ability to entertain. He does it by mimicking.

Precisely, he screws up his face and makes his hands into two little fists--and then he squeezes his hands tight as he puts on a "look out for me, I am tough and I can wrinkle my brows as long as you will laugh at me" act. Well, he did it enlessly and no one knows where he learned it.

Grandma is sure he is certain to be precocious child, and as for me, I get a great kick out of watching wifey laugh--almost uncontrollably. So we all win.

And Grandpa? What do I think? I laught too, plenty and I hope he grows up to love the Lord and he has a good chance to do that. I want him to learn to seek God's will and walk in it. That's all, but that's enough. We did publicly participate in his dedication to God and we are believing that God's faithfulness endures. Certainly He has created a very happy wee boy!

ml/n

The Title of My Next Book Will Be Invisible Leadership

2005-08-24T21:03:00.000-07:00

I've just attended a Bill Hybels leadership seminar here in Calgary--it was kind of like an old fashioned Camp Meeting, many of which I have attended. I hardly swallowed it whole, but I liked it. I realize now that my leadership style over the years has flowed from the Authority of the Believer. As I mentioned yesterday, the best run was thirteen plus years in Camp Hill. I went from being uneasy with the board to comfort and confidence.

Let me give you an illustration. There was a board meeting in which a certain board member was about to cause problems. I was wary of his presence on the board, but I had no right at all to exclude him, even though I perceived him to be trouble. On the drive out to the camp ground at Mahaffey I prayed through it all, admitting to God absolutely everything about his rights and privileges as a board member, and making every effort to discover what was bound or loosed in the heavenlies.

Then, even though he was a board member in good standing, and even though he had every right to attend, I forbade his attendance at the upcoming board meeting in the Name of the Lord. I made sure I was theologically correct in the prayer--and then I forbade his presence at the upcoming event in the Name of the Lord.

When I got to camp I got a phone call. The telephone message was as follows: the gentleman in question has a sore back and is unable to attend the board meeting.

The only emotion I felt was fear--fear of God. It was kind of unbelievable! My underlying premise was: the enemy or the flesh often plans to get trouble going in boards. Binding the enemy is essentially what is often necessary to assure serenity and peace.

See the chapter "Binding and Loosing and Politics" in my Binding and Loosing book.

Subjects of the Books

2005-08-22T21:18:00.000-07:00

These books have had general subjects which are interesting as well--revival, spiritual gifts, evangelism, discernment, spiritual warfare, binding and loosing, sorting out the supernatural and finally missions and the supernatural. It seems, when I look back that each one has had its role and purpose.

Which makes me wonder--what is next? What kind of emphasis will be in the next book? I already see patterns where one book leads to another. Anyone among my readers ready to predict where I am going next?--or better yet, where the Holy Spirit will be going next so we can discover where He is going and go there? There is no doubt in my mind that following up with another missionary story would fit my own passions rather well. Or it could be a second book on Islam as we have all moved into a new world since 9/11.

My life goal for writing books is set at 12 so I have a few to go yet. If I published the daily devotionals on my website as a book, that would make nine books. If I added up my academic articles, that would make a good lengthy book too, that would make ten. So then if it takes me two full years per book, I would have four or five years to live--let's see--70 plus 5 would make 75! Actually, I am computing my life according to the will of God, alone, but these are interesting thoughts, are they not?

As for now, at 70, I am packing for the final journey!

The Best Book Is?

2005-08-21T21:56:00.000-07:00

All this discussion about books continues. I still have not said which one is the best book. That will be determined by sales and Binding and Loosing keeps the lead. Islam and the Christian Supernatural may challenge, but time will tell.

I always prayed that I would be able to write one evangelistic book--and I think that has already taken place--Dam Break in Georgia. The story of the Toccoa Falls flood is, whatever else it is, an evangelistic story. All the heroes die, but it is indeed evangelistic. Also, curiously, it was a quick book to write. Eric Mills and I interviewed for ten days, I wrote for three days and basically, we had the book. (Oh yes, it got tweaked for three months but it was a very quick book--under four months from start to finish.) Circulation is somewhere over 300,000 copies. Best numbers so far.
It is still available on e-Bay.

Why do book contracts always seek to sign up the author for his next book? The reason is that an author tends to write several or many books. I like to write percolating books, thoughtful books--so that is why I take my time. But this present book is near the end. I need your prayers that we will be able to finish it well.

More On These Books

2005-08-20T22:11:00.000-07:00

These books have a way of sorting themselves out in my mind. I think the best one so far is Binding and Loosing and it has a chance to outlive me I think. Because of financial struggles at CPI right now in Camp Hill, it has been out of print some. But it will be back--strong and soon.

Sorting Out the Supernatural blows people's minds and creates devotees but there are not enough of them. When it nears being out of print I would like to write two more chapters, Dancing and Dancing; Power Encounters and Power Encounters and perhaps more.

I picked up some material about power encounters in other religions than Christianity--for example, Hinduism and Islam with Islam coming out the winner after the confrontation. There were spiritual contests between the shamans of the opposing religions with evident results. So that is writing I plan to do. I think there is a third chapter I will add to Sorting but I cannot remember just now what it is.

The power encounter we are most familiar with is Elisha and the 400 prophets of Baal, but there are many that have taken place. Very often missionaries in primitive situations have great stories to tell!

The Flask that Wouldn't Break is one of those stories. Find it in the book Seventy Years of Miracles.

Book Completion is Nigh

2005-08-19T21:29:00.000-07:00

This is my eighth book--and here's the list of them in order, Revolution of Love, The Third View of Tongues, Dam Break in Georgia, The Discerning Christian,Warfare Weapons, Binding and Loosing, Sorting Out the Supernatural, Islam and the Christian Supernatural. As I look back over them, some stand out--though I have enjoyed them all.

Some have been better than others--but this last one may be more strategic than others I have written. I think it is certainly in sync with what the Holy Spirit is doing in these days. Henry Blackaby who was a young pastor in Saskatoon in 1971-1972 was a Southern Baptist recipient of the Canadian Revival.

He is now one of the foremost spokepersons for the revival movement. And his major principle seems to be, "Find out what the Holy Spirit is doing and go there." I think it is a wonderful rule and one I want to live by. The new book will find its role there.

If one legitimate missionary agency is involved with a church planting movement that is baptizing 7,000 Muslims a month, then God's Spirit is at work as He has never been among the sons of Ishmael. I'm excited to encourage and stimulate that movement with my writing.

Getting Industrious Again

2005-08-17T21:11:00.000-07:00

Blogging can be a drag--especially when there are other things on my plate. So, finally, I am back. The fiftieth anniversary of Mel and Marion was totally delightful. Perhaps 60 people were in attendance--it was a time to reminisce and greet old friends.

The resident fox was up to some new antics--friend wife saw it in apparent near mortal combat with another smaller animal. She watched the goings on from the front window. It might have been a badger or something like that. A badger, though smaller might have killed the fox. But no such luck, it loped off looking as if it was pleased the confrontation was over.

Then there is the matter of our leaking roof. Fortunately, the house is still under warranty but the struggle for repairs is now about seven weeks long. Promises fail, and just today the roof leaked some more--all the gift of the June floods and rains here in Alberta. I do expect some results soon.

Last of all, my book is nearing completion. I am going to send away the manuscript to some key academics who are informed on Islamic matters. One is at Nyack, NY and the other is at Trinity Western in Langley.

Finally, there is some movement on our fall schedule--we should have clarification of the dates in Germany soon. And yes, I'm taking the odd trip up to see Otis since Ronnie is over in France for holidays.

ml/n
neill@kneillfoster.com
www.kneillfoster.com

Mel and Marion

2005-08-12T21:06:00.000-07:00

It is fifty years ago today, more or less, that Marion Samoila and Melvin Sylvester were united in marriage in Regina, Saskatchewan. Those years have been eventful--and memorable.

Like a very few of us here, I knew Mel in his pre-Marion years. Our families were friends, and we would often spend Sunday afternoons together, playing catch and reading books, to ourselves in each other's presence. We were part of the Beaverlodge Young People's group, loved and cherished by a great pastor, Ervin Jane.

Mel was a harem-skarem lad (double entendre unintended) who memorialized his exploits in great detail. Always a great story teller, he was a bit older than I--he actually had had some girl friends, while I was an apprentice, a shy understudy, who would presumably grow up some day.

There was one buxom lass whose name I have forgotten. Then there was a Norma who was a very fine young lady--just not the right one.

Then Mel went off to CBI (Canadian Bible Institute) as it was called in those days. There he came in contact with a gorgeous creature named Marion. He was smitten, totally smitten.

He spent the next summer persuading me that I was to go to Regina--for two reasons--they had a place for me on their hockey team and he wanted me to meet Marion. So off I went to Regina.

The hockey team was nondescript, but Mel was our goalie and his glovehand showed plenty of speed. The real project, however, was Marion. Mel had an agenda which he pursued relentlessly. I should know--I was his roommate for two years!

The Ford car that might have comfortably wintered in his father's garage in Beaverlodge spent a frigid winter in the open in Regina. Mel literally wore his dad down all through that summer and fall. If I recall, his mom and dad had to go to church in the old farm pickup. Mel had to have that car at Regina! His dad finally relented, and so a gang of us went to Regina with Melvin in his family car.

The car's real role was the SP schedule--SP was short for Social Privilege. Mel was allowed to take dame Marion on stately dates with dad's car, all the while advancing his agenda. It was that same car in which we went home for Christmas in Beaverlodge. That trip home was uneventful until we reached the Smoky River. Then as now, the hill was long and even more tortuous.

We arrived at the hill late at night, scooting along in overdrive over the hard-packed snow and ice. I was driving. I started down the Smoky Hill--a carload of young people from the Bible school. Most were sleeping though Mel was not. In those days, the overdrive meant there was no gear to hold back the hurtling car. Mel sat there silently, not uttering a word. He watched as we went faster and faster. As we approached the bottom of the long hill, I was elongating the curves by taking the inside and then the outside. We finally reached the bridge at the bottom and crossed it with not one wobble. We had survived a very close call. Mel's agenda, and our futures--and now our extended families of today--were all intact in the providence of God.

On another accasion at CBI-CBC, we were roughy-housing, as young men will do, in another of the rooms not too far from ours. Mel put me in a necklock and cranked me into unconsciousness over his hip. Then he let go. I dropped to the floor like a stone, my head hitting the post of the iron bed on the way down. I was out cold. Mel was sure he had killed his roomate. I did recover, Mel was suitably apologetic--and oh yes, his Marion-agenda continued.

I began to ask him, "Have you asked her yet?"
Unfailingly, he replied, "No, but I'm going to."

The SPs continued through the long winter and I kept asking. Then one fateful night, in the old Ford car, Mel asked Marion if she would consent to be his wife? (His agenda was approaching its completion!) No doubt, outside the dormitory, the old Ford muttered contentedly. It too had done its duty!

As for me and the usual question, "Did you ask her yet?" I forgot to ask on the very night he had popped the question.

At this point, Mel grabbed a pillow and, hugging it ferociously, danced around the room. He had asked the question, and the answer was "yes." If the truth were told--and this is the truth--that night Mel went to bed with one sock still on! Mission accomplished.

Mrs. Paul Bartel was one of the teachers--I was not in her class, but Mel was. After class he burst into one of the men's rooms and excitedly announced a new truth for him, and through him and Mrs. Bartel, a new one for me. Said, he, "One of the greatest secrets of the Christian life is to stay balanced. " Thanks, Mel, and thanks Mrs. Bartel.

When Mel and Marion were married that fall in Regina, I stood up with him, as he did with me a few years later when Marilynne and I were married.

Over the years, our lives have diverged. Mel and Marion went through pastorates, television ministry, superintendencies, and the presidency of the Church. For our part, we went through pastorates, evangelism, language learning, publishing and authoring books. Mel became a chancellor, and we did academics.

After marking our first 25 years in ministry in Canada, I remember the abundance of emotion that swelled up within me as Melvin, my boyhood friend, became the leader of the Church. I felt, I hope in the proper way, very proud.

It is curious that they and several of their children and grandchildren are here in Calgary now--even as our family, including 7 grandsons, are gathered around us.

It seems to be that these latter times of our lives are the days for which the first were made.

He's After Me Too

2005-08-11T21:17:00.000-07:00

My readers, all 11 of them (you) know that I am writing a book, and you also know that the book is about Islam and the Christian Supernatural. There are dreams and visions that keep ocurring in the mystical people called Islam.

It may be a good time to tell a different kind of story since Hindus are not Christians and do not follow Christ. But they are religious.

In any case, a cultured Hindu woman arrived in Dubai when the Canadian/American evangelist Ravi Zacharias was holding meetings there. After the service, she determined to ask Ravi a question.

It was, "Do you pursue God or did He pursue you?" His answer was, "God pursued me." To that the Hindu woman replied, "Then He's after me too."

The Scripture is this one: "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him."

That is why the lost who are still not found very often feel God's pursuit. It is a kind of joyful agony. It goes away by being found.

ml/n
neill@kneillfoster.com
www.kneillfoster.com

Old Friends, Updated Fellowship

2005-08-09T21:19:00.000-07:00

Today we met our friends from years past--a lot of years--Al and Anne Walters, from High River, Alberta. We started out in the ministry, they were in Horseshoe Bay when we were in Yarrow. We used to travel together to District Conferences in those days. Interestingly, as couples, we each decided to give our children to the other in the event of a disaster. If one set of parents were to be wiped out, the other set of parents would raise both sets of children. We talked about it to our kids and pointed out the Walters to them "in case something happened to us."

Well, even though parents make these kinds of decisions "in the event of" we are grateful that everything has worked out through the years, and no disasters have occurred.

Today, we were back with Al and Ann, and were doing a picnic at a favorite site under the Band Mountain Peak. Because of the clouds, we couldn't see the banded peak but that is where we were.

After a three-hour or so picnic in the sunshine by a cool pool of mountain water from the Elbow River, we bolted back to Bragg Creek and Cochrane to get the Walters some moose meat and a book he wanted to borrow. By five o'clock we had had chocolate ice cream and a great day.

These are people we can begin talking with and pick up where we left off years ago, even forty years ago. Of course we have been away from them for twenty years, but now suddenly, in our "Old Dude" years (the hat also says "Made of Achy/Breaky/Parts") we're suddenly connecting once again.

It is a delight in the Gospel for sure.

Beau's in the Hospital

2005-08-06T22:43:00.000-07:00

Things that go around come around. Baby Beau is in the hospital in Great Falls. Donna is there with him, so he's in good care. Toad, (his dad) is back at the house with the other four.

The phone call came in this evening late, and I could soon tell that his dad was worried. You see Beau has an infection in the throat that threatens to close down his breathing passages. I was pleased to pray over the phone with Toad, and frankly, I think he was relieved to pray as well. His amen was heartfelt.

Then MEF got into the conversation since she had only one voice up to that point. She called Donna direct in the Great Falls Hospital, and there were further elaborations and remembrances. Tim, I then recalled, as our first-born had had the same kind of attacks--and he had survived, we knew, of course. Once Grandma remembered, I remembered too.

So an MEF call to Toad further extended the remembrance and the comfort of forty-five years ago. Things that go round, do come round again.

And in the meantime, do pray for wee Beau. We love him dearly. And he will get better we know. Luv, gramps.

ml/n
neill@kneillfoster.com
www.kneillfoster.com

Seven Acres of Critters

2005-08-05T22:15:00.000-07:00

This is proving to be a very lovely place to live--we are enjoying our condo and its excellent view of the Bow River right out our front door. In fact, no one can build between us and the river. It was new two years ago, but Calgary real estate as it has been, we think the price is escalating gradually.

But the critters--we didn't even pray about this--but there are so many of them and they keep showing up at the most appropriate times. Crossing the Jumping Pound bridge the other day, what should I see but a doe with two fawns, all three standing in the Jumping Pound just south of the Simpson bridge and all three sipping fresh water that I would drink myself.

So we have deer, the bear that was visiting has been caught and relocated--that's the second bear deported in these two years. Now let's count them: eagles, coyotes, lots of red foxes, ducks, ducklings, geese, goslings, snakes, at least one beaver, squirrels, cats that are larger than the house cats, maybe bobcats, hawks and blackbirds, at least one skunk--this place is serene and green but it also is alive. We love it. We love the scenery, and we love the animals.

It is not a place to let your housecat out for a run. Nor is it a place to tie small dogs to a leash outside. So we are careful with Bijou.

This blog is all about critters and it was fun to write.

ml/n
neill@kneillfoster.com
www.kneillfoster.com

More Details on the Bull Dozed Church

2005-08-02T22:24:00.000-07:00

Research has its rewards--and if you are reading my blogs you will know that they are often connected with each other. The essence of the story I shared the other night. Now the more accurate details of what really was a "power encounter," an event that takes place when God powerfully intervenes in a situation where He seems to have been powerless.

The bulldozed church took place in proximity to the Eisenhower administration in the US. Apparently, the president had never been baptised as a Christian so he wanted to attend to that. Also there was the dedication of a new mosque in Washinton DC. One thing let to another, and the idea emerged of having a church in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan.

Eventually it was built, apparently with Western architecture. In the process of time it became too successful, and the Muslims made plans to bulldoze it. A German functionary, learning what was intended, made a prophetic prediction. To the 227-year-old kingdom, his word was--"If you bulldoze this church, your government will fall."

The bulldozers did their work. The church was demolished. And that very day, the 227-year-old reign in Afghanistan ended. It was a high-profile power encounter in this modern era.

Today, many Afghans are opening their hearts to the Lord. The Lord Jesus Christ.

PS--I found a pastor's sermon on the internet and he had added a detail which might prove true--they dug a deep hole where the church had stood. They had heard there was an
"underground" church!

ml/n
neill@kneillfoster.com
www.kneillfoster.com

The Llama Farm--Encounter in the Boonies

2005-08-01T22:05:00.000-07:00

Well, Cochrane is a town in the country even though it is just outside Calgary. In fact, it is a 22-minute-commute to our church. That's shorter than many others have it who live within the city. When the day got so hot, the only alternative we took was to go for a drive in the country. Yes, there was a detour by the Dairy Queen and then there was some parking in the shade along side the river while we enjoyed the coolness of our truck and treats.

Then we started out toward the north east. We found ourselves a country road called Camden--and eventually we ran right into a Llama Farm. I had seen these animals in Latin America, so I was familiar with them. There were a lot of them, recently clipped, so I assume first of all is that they have been kept for their "wool." Not sure what else to call them or it.

Across the road, there were six llamas with their coats still on--they looked as if they were sweltering in the 30 degree heat, and they seemed a little irate with our inspection of them. Their eyes seemed intent and angry. They looked like they might be the "bulls" of the species--but it was their aggressive behaviour toward our truck that made me worry some.

We decided that this drive-by look at a Llama Farm would be a grandson destination at the earliest. It's kind of funny what you find on a hot night.

ml/n
neill@kneillfoster.com
www.kneillfoster.com

Another Scorcher

2005-07-31T22:21:00.000-07:00

Another scorcher--I think the temperature was close to 30 degrees and air conditioning was hard to come by--church was air conditioned at First Alliance so that was nice--It was good to renew acquaintance with Bill and Diane Finnemore, missionaries from Poland--it is great to see them.

We're also invited out to a farm for Labor Day in September--that should be a pleasure. Our hosts are Derek and Grace Cooper.

I won't be long after that that we head for the First Alliance Chinese Church in Edmonton for a weekend in which we hope God will use us.

Went for a drive--mostly to get into our cool truck--but we meandered our way around the Cochrane countryside and came upon a llama farm, most were freshly clipped, but some were still laden with wool--they seemed to look aggressively toward the truck so we didn't bother them.

ml/n
neill@kneillfoster.com
www.kneillfoster.com

Afghanistan's Only Church--Bulldozed--Govt. Falls

2005-07-30T22:17:00.000-07:00

There's a story I'm going to track down soon--I have read about it and know about it--but I can't go to the written source just yet. There was one Christian church built in Afghanistan. It was built by missionaries and perhaps a few lonely Christians in the populace. There are expat Christians there--that is from other countries but either no Chistians or very few in the whole country.

The Muslims then threated to bulldoze the church.

The Christians protested. Finally it got so severe that one Christian announced prophetically, "If this church is bulldozed, this government will fall." That seemed a far fetched idea in that the regime had been in power for something like 150 years and hardly seemed in any danger.

So the bulldozers came and church was gone. The same day the government fell, in a dramatic fulfillment of a word from the Lord.

There are many now in Afghanistan who are coming to believe Isa (Jesus). A wonderful story is unfolding. Now the invisible Church is being built!

Sweating Out the Summer--Sneaking in the Air Conditioning

2005-07-29T22:32:00.000-07:00

I've been in a few hot places in my day. Once, in Mali we were having a conference in what I was told was 140 degrees in the shade! That case was so dry that we stayed outside to sleep and covered ourselves only with a single sheet in the cool desert night.

The Philippines, in my view, was the hottest place I have ever visited--only 90 degrees but with near 100 per cent humidity. The constant change of shirts was Filipino ritual.

And I will admit that once in Palm Springs, it got to 120 degrees but we were wise enough to go on vacation at the time, so we missed that..

Now 27 desgrees or whatever it is in centigrade temperature is not too bad for Cochrane. The Bow out front is there as our resident air conditioner, but the house heats up anyway, enough to make me irritable.

So friend wife and I are discussing air conditioning! My advice is stay tuned. It can be quickly installed. More later. Maybe.

ml/n
neill@kneillfoster.com
www.kneillfoster.com

Pulling My Pooch--Getting Done With the Pooh

2005-07-28T21:58:00.000-07:00

I have just discovered that sincere Muslims who become Christians may not have dogs as pets--it is a cultural "no no" and would be highly offensive. That makes me happy that I live in Cochrane.

And as my dog gets ready to mark his 15th birthday, I'm getting adjusted to helping him along on our morning walks. In fact some it is very cute indeed. He always starts off "bouncy" as bouncy in the garage. He soon realizes that this will be another of those journeys. In fact I am adjusted to his slowness--and he stops for a couple of reasons. I give him an energetic pull and he swings ahead for a few moments. Once on the way home, there is energy and some delight in getting home.

The funny stuff is his piddling. His hind legs are no longer capable of what I shall call the water hydrant stance--so he stops abrubtly and lets his water go, hunched down to the ground, obviously putting himself at ease, and refusing to move an inch until matters have been handled.

Getting his pooh done is another matter. Since his back legs are erratic, if he has to do his pooh on his own, he sadly drops his terds everywhere. But if he is on the leash he soon finds a way to brace himself against the leash on the front. Front legs help out and even his back legs now seem more orderly. He eases back, enters into the function with serenity with closed eyes and a look of solid comfort, if not accomplishment. As he plants his terds in order for proper pickup, he is just plain funny.

I do know that when his hind legs give way, the end will have arrived. I'm so glad right now that I'm not part of a church where dogs could not be loved in their old age and where funny stuff can make up the start of my day. This blog is for Normie and Veronique. The rest of you are onlookers!

ml/n
neill@kneillfoster.com
www.kneillfoster.com

Three Score Years and Ten

2005-07-26T21:46:00.000-07:00

In about an hour from now, it will be my birthday. The big 70. I have not looked forward to this exactly, but now that it is here, I'll enjoy it. My hero I suppose on the age 70 was Dr. Richard H. Harvey. He wrote Seventy Years of Miracles and we published it. And what a remarkable book it was. He also had a saying which I intend to wear out in the future--"I'm living on borrowed time--I hope it is not yours."

Another preacher had a novel way of handling 70 as well. Dr. Warren Thompson wrote a little book that surely has gone the rounds--"Packing for the Final Journey." That has a nice ring to it, so I'll make use of that saying as appropriate.

Then there is the Scripture--"as thy days, so shall thy strength be." Life has been good to me, and I'm enjoying it. "With long life will I satisfy thee." It is the Lord, my family, every one, my friends and my dog in that order!

ml/n
neill@kneillfoster.com
www.kneillfoster.com

Three Stents And Out

2005-07-24T22:05:00.000-07:00

Choosing Beaverlodge instead Grande Prairie meant that Marilynne had care 30 minutes sooner--which may have made a difference in her prognosis. After about a day in Beaverlodge, Marilynne was moved to Grande Prairie--and after about a week there she was flown to Edmonton and that same afternoon, she underwent angioplasty.

The question had been--"Do you want open heart surgery?" Apparently it was that close. We had discussed that possibility so were prepared to reject that alternative. But they did insert three plastic stents into her arteries--she was awake all through the process. She stayed in the hospital overnight and was dismissed to go home the next day.

The whole way home was a cautious ride--we didn't know how to handle the stents. But over this first year, she has been more and more adjusted to them. One year later her vital signs are good.

We are slower than we were but we are grateful--happy and contented!

ml/n
neill@kneillfoster.com
www.kneillfoster.com

Marilynne's Heart Attack One Year Later

2005-07-23T22:12:00.000-07:00

Last year was a dramatic year at our house. Mef (Marilynne E) had her heart attack. I had one about ten years ago but I cannot remember exactly when it happened--they call it a silent heart attack. In any case I have scars to prove it, and when the doctor said you're perfectly healed, I was off running.

Now back to Mef's heart attack. It was on July 21 as I recall. We were sleeping in the suite in Norm's basement when she wakened me. She had a pain in her chest. After prayer, and when it did not abate, she wanted to go to the emergency.

We got in the car and headed for the highway. I intended to go left to Grande Prairie but she said, "No, Beaverlodge." So right it was. Within minutes she was in the hospital, the doctor was there and minutes after that she had had a blood test. And minutes after that, in Beaverlodge they were already talking about damage to the muscles. Talk about God looking after us

I was savvy enough to know that that meant a heart attack. Then I called the kids--and I was doing fine until Veronique asked me, "How are you doing?" I lost it then. And when Donna called the doctor, he said, "Your dad is in shock." I suppose I was but those are traumatic moments which you do not forget. I remember them as yesterday.

We've had a slowed down year, but I did take my trip to India and gradually we are bouncing back. Mef recently had a test in which she carried a blood pressure monitor for 24 hours. She did very well.

"Stop Or You Will Die"

2005-07-22T21:40:00.000-07:00

This is more on my book--filled with stories about Muslims who are coming to Christ--this will be short but very much to the point. A young man had become a believer but the Muslim pressure, especially through his dad was getting to him. The missionary was afraid he was going to turn back.

The lad had endured beatings from his father, who also put him in chains.

So the missionary prayed that God would give his father a vision. And that is exactly what happened.

In the night, there was a divine presence manifested. With a message.

"Your son is following after the Truth. Stop what you are doing to him or you will die." That was the end of the vision and the beginning of the father's conversion. He was not going to mess around!

ml/n
neill@kneillfoster.com
www.kneillfoster.com

Something is Going On--the Where is Not Available

2005-07-19T22:45:00.000-07:00

The blog last night was about church planting movements going on in the Muslim world. For security reasons, the exact locations are never given. But one story has come out that I really like. I'll be including it in my book.

Missionary types decided to load up about 5,000 Bibles and then tour down a river where they hoped to get rid of them. Before they had gone far, a very excited woman appeared on one bank. When they got her quieted down, they found that she had a dream about foreigners appearing on the river with Holy Books to give away. Imagine, can you, her joy.

Not long after there appeared a young man with the same story, the same dream--go down to the river to receive Allah's book of Truth. (Allah was the name used for God in the Arabic Church even before Mohammed was born.) They took a picture of the young man with God's book in his hand.

The Holy Spirit is at work! Do you find this exciting? I certainly do!!

ml/n
neill@kneillfoster.com
www.kneillfoster.com

A Half-Million Muslim Believers? Something's Going On

2005-07-18T21:46:00.000-07:00

I've been writing a book entitled Islam and the Christian Supernatural. While I have been doing that--since 2003 basically, things have been changing. Where once Islam was extremely resistant to the Gospel, in recent years that has been altered. One authority has said that thousands of Muslims are coming to Christ. And I believe that. And now a book review has nearly blown my mind, if you know what I mean.

"Consider this. One church planting team claims 250,000 baptised Muslim Background Believers (MBBs) with over 8,000 churches established by the end of 2003. A February 2005 survey indicates the 250,000 has now grown to half a million. In addition it is stated that a total of seven thousand are being baptised each month. A separate newer outreach, more foreign missionary based, has seen fifteen thousand Muslims baptized and eight hundred churches planted. . . .[the reviewer] can attest to the credibility of some of the people involved, but not these huge numbers . . . we can still rejoice if even ten percent of the numbers are accurate" (Parshall, "Camel Training Manual," EMQ, July 2005, 384).

The main point of my book is that Muslims, 75% of the time when they are converted, receive visions, dreams, and healings. This account, if its reliability bears out, changes the template altogether.

Just thot you'd like to take a peek at where my mind is focused these days!

ml/n
neill@kneillfoster.com
www.kneillfoster.com

Dancing With Daisy

2005-07-18T00:10:00.000-07:00

I'm on a roll--the more I write about dogs, the more comments I get to enjoy--I didn't think my last blog on Otis was so very good, but it touched a chord I guess.

Well, I have been on dog duty once again and the only term I can think of is "dancing with Daisy." (This is not a defence of the dance! But it does start with D.) She belongs to my missionary sister Joan. I was conscripted to watch her while Marilynne and Joan were off to see the end of the Stampede. As soon as Daisy's mistress left, she (Daisy) set up a series of dances that were spectacular. First, she barked pitifully for Joan and contorted herself into a little black and white pup who felt very sorry for herself.

N0w here's the dance part--she sets up like a penguin and begins to talk (unintelligibly of course). She is upright as she goes thru a routine. I was told that such antics meant she had to go outside to pooh. Tho I doubted such was the case, eventually I took her. She piddled with no additional result. Then not too long after that I got back in the house with Daisy in tow. Predictably, she began another series of waltz-walk-chatter. All unintelligible. But very cute.

My interpretation was--she just wants out. Finally she did get out and she dutifully did her dainty duty. But no pooh. And there was a rabbit to chase and later stuff to bark at. I got the feeling she was running things and I was just the monkey on the string.

She was successful in another way. "Bogos" is an African word for beatings. I am always promising her bogos, never delivering of course, and tonight when I could have beaten the poor wee thing to my heart's content, I forgot all about it!

ml/n
neill@kneillfoster.com
www.kneillfoster.com

Minding Otis Develops Dog Definition

2005-07-15T22:16:00.000-07:00

Today, we were on Otis duty--that is we amble over to Jeff and Ronnie's place while they are off galivanting with Kevin, Cheryl and tribe. The object was to take in the Passion Play which runs every year in Drumheller.

Otis is always amiable and friendly. He has aged to the point that his grey hair shows to advantage, especially after he is clipped.

And being fourteen, and member in good standing among the geriatric canines in the Foster connection, there is coming a day when he too will be no more like the rest of the aging pups. We all try not to think about that.

But he has been pulled back from crisis by prayer. He's cheerful though he doesn't see too well. But as soon as we arrive on scene for the dog care, he is his gracious, agreeable and a bit creaky self. We love him too, of course. He's never harmed a soul and he has lavished his love on his keepers and the rest of us too. That is a pretty good definition of a dog.

ml/n
neill@kneillfoster.com
www.kneillfoster.com

Throes of the Prairie Dog

2005-07-14T21:54:00.000-07:00

This blog is not for the queasy. If you'd like to escape an unpleasant read, bail out now.

Today in our travels over to Joan's house, we came upon a prairie dog in the midst of its death throes on the highway. Our car missed it as did my daughter's SUV ahead of us. Someone undoubtedly came along after us to help the "poor wee doggie" die.

But seeing the mortally injured animal haplessly thrust its legs in all directions was almost too much to take. I wish I had never seen it. I did not like it and I wanted for a brief moment to try to save it.

Life is fragile, even for people. It is handled with prayer. And the Bible as always says it memorably. "It is appointed unto man once to die, and after that, the judgment." Payday is coming for us all. The good thing about today, if you're still in this blog, is that the the prairie dog was finished with life and faces no judgment at all.

ml/n
neill@kneillfoster.com
www.kneillfoster.com

Under the Shadow of Banded Peak Mountain

2005-07-12T20:36:00.000-07:00

This day has been a lovely one--under the shadow of Banded Peak Mountain, southwest of Bragg Creek, Alberta. Its just a few miles from here and our day was perfect--ten of us in all--we pulled off Highway 66 into a campground where we found a pool of clear, clear and cold water. There was a grassy bank, the water was perfectly clear sparkling creek water.

Extra time with our grandchildren. A perfect summer day to spend with Beau, the one-year-old beamer. Benjamin Cody Foster, belonging to Tim and Kelly wriggled onto this item with all the Bleskin Tribe and he seemed to especially attach to Granma and Grandpa. No dogs, just a passle of kids.

There were no fights, no squalls, and there was a picnic of considerable amplitude. And I am the person forever complaining about no picnics. Well, this was a picnic. Type A, high level, A+ grade, --everything about it was right especially including the pool of water--ideal for kids to splash in.

I managed several naps in the unfolding easy chair, and just generally, we had a glorious time!
Thanks Marilynne and Donna for putting together a picnic!

A Great Time Was Had By All

2005-07-11T21:13:00.000-07:00

Hi, everyone:

The family gathering for 2005 is over, and it was great fun--the kind of a picnic with no planned program at all, really, but with the usual sports, chatting, renewing acquaintances and several special celebratory cakes, etc. Who all was there? In no particular order here is the list:

Kevin and Cheryl, 3 kids and one friend: total: 6
Tim and Kelly and tribe--6, cumulative total 12
Jeff and Veronique--2, cumulative total 14
Jesse and Tanya--2, cumulative total 16
Neill and Marilynne--2, cumulative total 18
Norman and Gladys--2, cumulative total 20
Normie and Cecil--2, cumulative total, 22
Janet and Roger--2, cumulative total 24
Auntie Joan--1, cumulative total 25
Rob and Rhonda and two kids, cumulative total 29
Rod and Deanna and Baby Josiah, cumulative total 32
Doug and Lynne and two girls, cumulative total 36
Donna and Toad and five children, 7, cumulative total 43

So that's it, folks (I think. Let me know if I missed anyone!)
We did have a great time.
If you're not on this list, we hope you can make it next year.
Remember, mark the first Sunday of Stampede on your calendar.
You will be notified with more detail as early as possible next year.
Organizing team next year, Jeff, Ronnie and Joan

PS--only complain so far, dogs left out!
Apologies to Bije Foster, Bijou Foster, George Goosen and Daisy Foster!
Hoe this suffices! Ahem. Ahem.

More later.

neill@kneillfoster.com
www.kneillfoster.com

The Family is Gathering

2005-07-09T06:19:00.000-07:00

Jesse was in looking around in our condo for the first time. It was nice to have him around--Norman and I had a pizza out at Boston Pizza yesterday--today I am having breakfast with my son-in-law Toad. Donna and their five children, Rudy, Kelsey, Dustin, Dylan and Beau are all camped out with Tim and Kelly and their four, Zack, Tyson, Jake and Benjamin, and coming in thus evening are Kevin, Cheryl, Paige, Danae, and McKenzie. Normie and Cecil are somewhere around the city here today, and Joan and Gladys are hanging out. As are Tanya and Jesse over at Jeff and Ronnie's. Rod, Deanna and Josiah are on deck. It is quite a gang and I have not mentioned Doug and Lynne, and their girlies, Cassandra and Alayna, nor Rob and Rhonda along with Matthew and Ben. Janet and Roger too.

I probably should not have started mentioning names but these are folks that may show up at the annual gathering of the Foster clan. Some names may be inadvertently missed or not spelled correctly, but this is, nevertheless a one time event every summer that everbody loves.

Family is great. Mom and Dad's greatest bequest to us is a gathering like this! Tomorrow is the big day. Three fifteen in the afternoon to be exact.

Watching Out for Snakes

2005-07-06T22:07:00.000-07:00

This development called "River's Edge" has some features about it that deserve mention.

Being close to the rivers means that we are close to anything else that is there as well--like snakes. One of our friends announced that she had just in the last few days seen a snake two feet long and one inch in diameter. It was not a rattler, obviously, but she saw it at the juncture of the Bow and the Jumping Pound. (The Jumping Pound gets its name from the Indians who drove buffalo over the high banks down into the river bed where the injured animals were killed and turned into meat.)

Now back to that snake. It apparently was quite colored, and had a need for water. All this happened at exactly the same site where a year ago we went fishing with Jeff, Veronique and their young nephew Jesse. We were using easy chairs, drinking soda and generally having a good time. No fish were caught but they could be seen in the Bow, looking at the hook.

This account will change one thing for sure--Veronique will be far less willing to go fishing at our fishing hole! Enmity has been placed between the serpents and the human race. I will be able to preach a wee sermon too--it is God that puts enmity between man and the serpent--thus it has always been since the creation. No wonder we shudder and avoid these creatures. Always.

The Family Picnic is Coming

2005-07-05T21:41:00.000-07:00

Dad never did get to the Family Picnic. He knew about our first one last year, but he was too weak and tired to make it. We suggested that he fly down for it, and all that, but it never worked out.

Surprisingly, however, the event itself is taking on his personality anyway. We announced it with a picture of JN--and I suppose anytime we have it, we'll think of him.

Seems to me that Dad always liked picnics. I don't remember a lot of them, but I do remember some. Dad was the kind who would come and sit and talk to Walter or Cornie or Chris. When it was time to eat, he'd down his share. I liked how Mom could make the picnic lunch special--seems to me her egg salads can still be tasted.

Why do families get together? The answer is simple--because they want to. God sets the solitary in families--that's what the Good Book says. And if I am correct, this weekend quite a few of us--maybe 30 or 40--will show up. We'll take pictures, play a bit, laugh together, eat and go home. And we will be deeply happy down inside. I guess this blog explains why I have always begged for picnics and have never had enough.

Missing Camp This Summer

2005-07-04T22:04:00.000-07:00

Camp has been a very big part of our lives for years and years and years. The very first was Bear Lake Bible Camp not too far from Sexsmith, Alberta. I can still remember "Auntie Dora Dyrkach" using her influence to get me to summer camp. It was a good thing she got me there too because I was converted, as a frecklefaced 8-year-old with a cowlick, as they called it, in my hair.

Mr. Charles Hornstraw, bless his memory made sure I understood the Gospel though I was far too shy to talk to him. But eventually I learned to believe, and that was great.

There were camps in the Fraser Valley where the Sutera Twins held court. They were handsome and single. Then came 20 summers at Nakamun Family Camp with other camps thrown in like Beulah Beach and Mahaffey and Summit Grove. It has seemed that for years, one way or another, I always ended up at Camp, Bellevue one of the latest. Not this year, apparently and it hurts a little because I've always done it. Thanks to the many, many invitations over the years.

Tents rippling in the breeze and sawdust on the floor. Those are the images. Food from the cookhouse and cocoa every night--those are the images. But the biggest of all was the feel of sanctification and spiritual power in the air. I have always loved it.

Two Foxes and One Mulie Doe

2005-07-03T15:40:00.000-07:00

We're back to the wildlife adventures that happen around here. Last evening we came home at dusk after Saturday Night church. Two foxes, a larger and a smaller one, both reddish in color dashed across in front of us, caught in our headlights for just a moment, and coming right from the area where all the ducklings are disappearing. I see no reason not to blame these red marauders.

This morning early, it was out to the park entrance with Bijou, and then on his more energetic way back (heading home is always his best pace) what should we see but a doe. She was heading to the convergence of the Jumping Pound and the Bow. She wasn't really trapped, but probably felt like it. She disappeared from view and I correctly surmised she had gone down the steep bank to the Jumping Pound. In fact, she had crossed part of the creek and was out on the small island, just standing in a few inches of water.

When she spotted me and my dog, she went swimming through the heavy current and out the other side. With a big shrug-shake to rid herself of the water, she was into the small brush and gone. As for Bijou, he was on his happy way home.

Life allows a lot of observations--but I remember a friend who had reached seventy years. He was "Packing for the Final Journey." He penned a booklet about his enthusiasm for heaven and spread it around. There is not anything wrong with any of us getting excited about the way home--especially when we can make sure we are going there.

Beau is One Year Old

2005-07-02T22:15:00.000-07:00

There is one little guy who has an immense grin and a sparkling personality to go with it. He's just one, but he had a big bash for a birthday party. Several families of friends and relatives showed up and guess who was the star of the event?

Donna has three boys, Dustin Dylan and Beau. All have their specialties though we are admitting right now, Beau excells in the immense smile. We have his picture on a glass table between our kitchen and living room. It's a high traffic area in our condo and he gets ( his pic, that is) a lot of high quality nods from Grampa.

If you are following the trip, we got to Great Falls, celebrated the birthday and then head home to Cochrane to survey the water damage to our condo. It is under warranty, fortunately. But our living room looks forlorn right now with one wall board tape hanging down five feet--the water just caused it to lose its grip on our ceiling. Still, we're hoping and praying for repairs real soon.

Distracted Yesterday--No Post

2005-07-02T05:40:00.000-07:00

Yep, got distracted yesterday by a serious email about a serious subject. I completely forgot to write the late nite blog--but here goes-- this trip must be finished. We left Moses Lake, drove through Spokane, the narrow upper tip of Idaho and into Montana.

We should have stopped at Missoula--but oh, no, we overestimated our energy and took off over the mountains on route 200. It was lovely, got us to Great Falls in the early evening, but left us exhausted.

We enjoyed the journey through the Blackfeet Indian country, but were blurry eyed.

How much better it would have been to arrive next morning early, more alert and more rested.

So the lesson of the day was--listen to your circumstsances, listen to your body, especially when you are older and listen to your own common sense. We often push ourselves. Even Jesus, it seems was always backing away from the pressure, coming apart and resting a while.

Life is better lived with some silence, some solitude and plenty of rest.

ml/n
neill@kneillfoster.com
www.kneillfoster.com

On to Moses Lake

2005-06-30T21:03:00.000-07:00

Delbert McKenzie and I have been friends for a very long time--Bible school days I guess--and through the years we had had some great times together. He was one of the first to tell me about binding and loosing. When I wrote the Binding and Loosing book, he was the one who told me to be sure to have a chapter on true and false.

This time we arrived at their house early, his directions were very precise, and when we came upon the house, who should be out at the mail box but Jane, his wife. We had intended to find the house and then hang out for an hour, then arrive on time. But how can you do then when your hostess has already met you out front!!

The supper Jane had prepared was old fashioned roast beef and gravy with mashed potatoes. Believe me it was old-fashioned spectacular.

I was just soooo good to spend a day with old friends. One of the gifts God gives is friends who walk through the years with us. Del and Jane are friends like that!

ml/n
neill@kneillfoster.com
www.kneillfoster.com

Whidbey Island--Our Honeymoon Revisited

2005-06-29T21:07:00.000-07:00

We will soon be celebrating our 46th wedding anniversary. We were married in Kamloops in 1959 and the wedding was at The Alliance Church. We launched ourselves on a small trip down the Okanagan, ending up in a small Alliance Church in Seattle on the Sunday. Probably the next day, we invaded Whidbey Island, getting on at the southern end. We found a fishing cabin there for one night--it was scary as I remember it now.

We also went as far north as Deception Point where the ocean currents flow back and forth between rocky points. The huge bridge and the big currents had not changed in 46 years.

For that matter, I have not changed much either--I was time to head home for Kamloops and Marilynn'e folks because I was flat out of money. Could only afford a four-day honeymoon.

Gradually I have learned to manage money, but in those early days, Marilynne was a bride at risk!

Fortunately she learned well and I have finally gotten the message. The all-day journey on the island and off, entering this time in the north and exiting south was a delightful day of reminiscences. Never did find the old fishing cabin!

More on The Trip--Visiting Ladner and Surrey

2005-06-28T21:51:00.000-07:00

This blow-by-blow of our trip will end soon. Sunday morning, Father's Day we found our way to the Alliance Church in Yarrow--after 46 years, no one there knew us at all. Not one familiar face. I suppose there were 30 persons in the second service, maybe 40 in the first. Scott Fornum is the pastor. They came over and introduced themselves, and when they found out who we were they knew all about us--apparently he had heard stories. I didn't ask about which stories! His wife gave Marilynne a couple of cds she had made--I had noticed that she was the author of some of the music when it showed up on the screen.

Then we scooted across the dykes to the Trans Canada and headed out to see Edna, our stepmother, and also on the way back, to see Anne and Paul Unger--she was a bridesmaid at our wedding. It turned out that we took Highway 10 right in to Ladner and had found the Kirk house in no time at all. Edna looked good, but did not seem to recognize us. After maybe three quarter hours there we backtracked to Tim Hortons' in Surrey--just a very short distance from Unger's house, still on Highway 10. Paul was talkative and Anne looked very nice. Then we crossed the border, flashing our US passports. It wasn't long until we were at Mt. Vernon Comfort Inn--and that's where we stayed. Tomorrow--y'all be here--we went over our 46 years ago honeymoon route!

More and More of the Story--Dukabears Explained

2005-06-27T21:45:00.000-07:00

You will understand by now that we have just finished a brief trip through Alberta, British Columbia, Washington, Idaho and Montana--and of course back through Alberta. Traveling through Creston and other parts of south eastern BC, the old memory of Dukhobors came us--hope I am spelling them correctly. They were a sect in that area 50 years ago that used to walk around naked in plain view when their objections to political matters rose to a boiling point.

And that leads me to explain a small habit in our house that still extends to babies and other little folks wandering around in the altogether. We have, in foster talk at least, lovingly called them "dukabears."

No insult intended to anyone--just explaining they way it is--and educating a few of my limited number of blog readers.

Leaving Creston to those forgotten memories, we headed to Osoyoos--especially enjoying the long descent into the Okanagan Valley. The next day it was on to Chilliwack, and the evening, we looked up Arnold and Viola Fast, old time friends from long ago. Corney Fast used to work at the experimental farm in Beaverlodge when Dad worked there. We were just little kids who played together. We saw their new home, visited a while and then began anticipating our next day visit to Yarrow Alliance Church. ml/m=more later, neill

Now The Story

2005-06-26T22:01:00.000-07:00

Well, I am getting probes from Regina--better get at this story. The trip had several objectives. One was to see the Yarrow church after 44 years. Two was to see Edna Foster, our stepmother. Three was to make some connections with old friends, which we did. Four, we wanted to retrace our honeymoon journey of forty-six years ago. And then we had to be there to celebrate Baby Beau's first birthday.

The first day we left Cochrane, headed south on Route 22 and intersected with the Number 3, Crowsnest Pass. Though the day was long enough, there were a lot of small towns especially in the pass and we overnighted in Creston. The next day, in some rain as in the day before, we went on to Osoyoos where the second night was spent. Only incident of significance was our encounter with a snake in the grass--it (the grass) had been mowed by a scythe and was excellent cover for the reptile.

The big story may be Bijou. He was riding with us in the truck, being mothered by mommabear, sleeping in our room nearly every night on his Calgary Flames cushion and just undergoing a personlity change. He has built up a 14-year reputation as a grouch. Would you believe, he has begun to change. Seems that he got to bond with us more and began to soften.

Sinners are like that; as we get close to God we do open up to Him, and though I am not yet claiming Christian conversion for this pooch, there is some movement. Clearly he is a pagan dog--his old life still clings; but there is always hope for us because as we soften up, God gets busy changing us. Heavenly bonding I'd call it. After all, if even a crank old pooch can change, . . .

ml/nneill@kneillfoster.com
www.kneillfoster.com

Home Again--Safe and Sound!

2005-06-25T18:34:00.000-07:00

Yep, home again at 191 Crawford Drive. Our condo is grey stucco so the surging Bow River and all the rain did no damage outside, but inside was another matter. We had two major storms here and in both cases we had a major leaking room. Experts say it is not the deck above us--but right now some tape is hanging down in the living room. Fortunately, we are under warranty. Apparently they say we have had a once in 200-year-event.

The pictures of the flood in the Bow, Elbow and even in our own Jumping Pound Creek are awesome--courtesy of my favorite French blogger--Merci, Veronique! Ordinarily the creek here is several feet below where it is now. Makes one wonder.

Anyway, even at flood tide, the Bow is at least twenty feet lower than it would need to be to get at our house. Hopefully, we'll have everything fixed soon. Oh yes, tomorrow the real story of our trip will start to emerge.

ml/n
neill@kneillfoster.com
www.kneillfoster.com

Sorry--One More Blog

2005-06-15T13:42:00.000-07:00

After the 16 duckling massacre of a few days ago, there is another batch on the pond. Seven wee guys this time. I have seen them on the muddy edge of the pond also--and of course they are doomed as well. I will not be able to report their actual fox-assisted demise till after the trip.

Yes, we could take our lap top Veronique, but prefer to revert to simplicity. Intend to take a book about The Ministry of Intercession by Andrew Murray from South Africa. You all will get prayed for you know!

Mef says I'm very stirred up about this little trip--maybe so--it will be old haunts and reminiscences. Will report on our return, God willing.

knf.m
www,kneillfoster.com
neill@kneillfoster.com

Tomorrow Our Trip--Blogs Must Wait

2005-06-15T06:55:00.000-07:00

We have been planning this little trip for a while--we are heading out from Cochrane and taking Highway 22 down to the Crowsnest Pass--then we head west for Cranbrook and then overnight at Creston. Triple A picked out the motel and arranged for the pup to overnite as well.

Next day, Friday, we (mef, knf, and bijou) head for Osoyoos where we will overnight again. Saturday, we head for Chilliwack where we will stay at the Comfort Inn for three nights. We hope to visit our old church--Yarrow--we were founding pastors years ago. We could see some old friends if they are still around, and we hope to visit Edna in Abbotsford. We could also run into Arnold and Viola Fast--Arnold was a boyhood friend in Beaverlodge-- and also Paul and Anne Unger--she was Marilynne's bridesmaid.

Then on Tuesday we head down into the States, showing our American passports at the border. Will stay overnite with Del and Jane McKenzie in Moses Lake and the next day, Wednesday, the Lord willing we will get to Great Falls to help celebrate baby Beau's first birthday! What a happy wee guy he is.

On Friday, we will be back home in Cochrane--taking the truck, not the car and kind of reliving our big long trip in 2002 when we went to Ontario, Queberc, PEI. NB and NS plus all across the US to arrive home through Coutts to Calgary. This trip is only Alberta, BC, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Alberta.

ml/n
neill@kneillfoster.com
www.kneillfoster.com

Jacko Really Not Guilty

2005-06-13T22:07:00.000-07:00

My headline may surprise--Uncle Neill opining on such a wierd person. Well, we are in the world and we do see and read the news and we do develop opinions.

Not having been at all in the courtroom, but having heard and read enough, I was telling friend wife that he would get off--though internally I admit to wavering.

Bad people do deserve counsel--so even if MJ is a bad person, I argue on the basis of the Old Testament that he deserves a hearing. Further, son Tim is a lawyer for the poor and oppressed drunk drivers. Though I have no sympathy for any of them, I still must argue for counsel.

MJ is wierd, wacko, and probably a pedophile but the proof was not delivered. Even when the prosecutors celebrated early, I thot, "Careful lads, this may surprise you."

The old adage holds true, even for the prosecutors,--"He who thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall."

Darting Through the Traffic--A Whitetail Doe

2005-06-12T22:11:00.000-07:00

Just this morning I was heading into Calgary about 8:30 am to show up at a Grandpa's arena visit when I spied a doe moving toward the line of traffic. There were in fact four lines of traffic--all with lights on. The doe's skin was buckskin brown--what else could it be? She ran pell mell into the traffic but was not hit. It seemed that everyone just slowed down to let her pass so she escaped to live another day--road kill not.

She was a whitetail. Their bodies are more elongated than the mulies' and their hue of brown is one that blends into the background. In fact, as the deer ran across the four lane, she was most visible while in the midst of the traffic.

Once she crossed, she faded into the green background and even though I knew absolutely that she was there on the far side of the road, she slipped from my sight.

Master camouflage. Better yet, the Master's camo. Mother nature is amazing. More precisely, God has been in the camouflage business for a very long time. Intelligent design they call it today. Imagine, losing a deer from sight while she obviously was still in plain view.

ml/n
neill@kneillfoster.com
www.kneillfoster.com

Sleeping Family

2005-06-11T22:03:00.000-07:00

This has been a lovely lazy day--and though I worked a lot on my book, there was time to take a nap. (I have become quite addicted to them, you know.) Only this time Marilynne was taking a nap as well. And besides that Bijou, not exactly family, but related if you know what I mean--anyway he was napping too. So I am saying, sleeping family.

The sun shone brightly and with heat for a while. We decided to cook some steaks, and lay in a stock Diet Snapple Iced Peach Tea. Really was just a very nice day.

Church this evening was again very, very good. Tim Bergman preached and an Iranian gave his testimony. James was his name. You can tell he has really found the Lord and that he is a maturing Christian. So, it was sweet and beautiful. Makes me a happy man.