All posts filed under: z333

Citing the divisive impact of mandates, the Canadian province of Manitoba ends restrictions and vaccine passports

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The trucker protests calling for an end to COVID mandates in Canada are having an impact on the country’s political landscape. Since they started, several Canadian provinces have announced a loosening of their COVID restrictions. But in addition to this, Manitoba has joined two other provinces, Alberta and Saskatchewan, and announced it will no longer require COVID passports effective March 1, 2022, and will be ending all COVID mandates by March 15, 2022. Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson announced the move in a Friday news conference (Feb 11, 2022). In her announcement, the Premier focussed on the negative impact these mandates have had on society, stating they have become divisive and are driving families and communties apart: “It’s time for a new normal to begin in Manitoba.” “We need to end the divisiveness between families, between communities. We need to move forward. It’s time to bring Manitobans back together again.” READ: Manitoba to drop capacity limits next week, eliminate mask mandates by mid-March

What? There is no unity in Unity … (Saskatchewan)?

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What is the world coming to? There is a town in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, named Unity. I was there once. I remember a nice hotel, and we stayed overnight. There is a local salt mine, and I also learned, in a previous career, that the mine is used to store small amounts of radioactive waste. When we visited, it seemed like a nice place, and the name “Unity” does not usually get mentioned in the news. Now there is a news story about Unity. According to some people, Unity is divided. There is no unity in Unity. The problem seems to be stress about COVID restrictions and vaccines. One angry statement was posted online about the unvaccinated in Unity; they should “go out there and get sick and die.” So, a group of residents has asked the town council to pass a bylaw against discrimination, including prejudice because of personal medical decisions. That usually means a person is not vaccinated against COVID. Some people in Unity want the discrimination and harassment to stop: …

The Day God Ran

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Years ago, while I was doing security work, an off-duty police friend came by for a coffee. He was wearing a funny t-shirt with the logo: “Bomb Squad – if you see me running, try to keep up.” When those in charge run and panic, where does that leave us? Biblical theology makes it clear that God is omniscient and omnipresent – He knows all and is everywhere. God is sovereign. So, it leads me to the question – If you are God, the almighty Creator of the universe, do you ever have to run, or be in a hurry? Christians often say that God is never early and never late, and Jesus, while He walked on the earth, never seemed to either be in a hurry or panic about anything. I don’t remember Jesus ever running to do anything, ever! I have never found a reference to God being in a hurry either in the Old or New Testaments – except in one passage – Luke 15. Luke 15 contains three similar parables, the …

‘The Passion Translation’ removed from popular Bible site

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According to reports, Bible Gateway has removed The Passion Translation (TPT) from its service. Bible Gateway allows people to look up Bible verses online in multiple translations. According to Christianity Today, Bible Gateway decided not to renew its license for TPT and no longer hosted the version on its website effective January 2022. Bible Gateway provided no explanation on why it did this, other than stating it periodically reviews its contents. TPT was developed by a former missionary and linguist, Brian Simmons, who heads Passion and Fire Missions. Some suspect that TPT was removed because of growing concerns that it was not an actual Bible translation, but rather a paraphrase, giving it a commentary feel, as the author inserted his opinions on what verses actually meant. Though this was not necessarily wrong, some suggest by adding thoughts not found in the original language, Simmons was leading people to certain conclusions, rather than letting the original text speak for itself. In 2016, Christianity Today columnist, Andrew Wilson, stated that TPT has “too many additions to the …

Seeing bravery gives us courage

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The truckers who are in Ottawa calling for an end to the Omicron mandates are giving Canadians and people around the world the courage to stand up to the elitist politicians and mainstream media and say enough is enough. People have been scared to oppose the mandates publicly. A recent CTV article in Canada, started off with these mocking words, “The so-called ‘Freedom Convoy’ protest.” A subtle warning that anyone opposing the government’s mandates will be targeted. Anyone publicly opposing Trudeau’s Omicron mandates should also expect to be labeled as a Nazi or racist by the country’s Prime Minister. The protest started shortly after the Trudeau government announced on Jan 15, 2022, that all truckers coming into Canada and returning had to be fully vaccinated. This included Canadian truckers returning from US deliveries. There was outrage, because truckers simply drive into Canada pulling a trailer, unhitch, hitch up another trailer and return home. The world was shocked, as tens of thousands of truckers traveled across Canada to the country’s capital city, Ottawa, calling for an …

Have Mercy On Those Who Doubt

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By Dr. Michael L. Brown It is true that, in the Bible, Jesus often rebuked people for their doubts and unbelief. But that was because they have should have known better. That was because, based on what they had witnessed and experienced, they should have faith. But at other times, He showed great mercy to those who wavered with doubt. In fact, there’s an amazing little verse in the book of Jude which calls us to “have mercy on those who doubt” (or, Jude 22). When is the last time you heard a sermon using this verse? We should show mercy, not condemnation, not criticism, not censure, not condescending correction, to those who are sincere and yet struggle with doubt. And what, exactly, is doubt? Sometimes it is an inability to believe that God will do something for us personally, as in, “I know the Bible says this, but I’m struggling to believe it will really happen to me.” At other times, it is a struggle to believe that there really is a God, or …