THIS & THAT

Its hard to believe that Feb. is half over already and I am way behind in so many things. Dec. was a very busy month interuppted by the flu bug. January was a continuation of unusual weather. In fact Eastern Europe is getting our normal winter weather. Tonight we received a warning for freezing snow/rain. January was a challenaging month health wise. In one week I ended up in the ER with major nose bleeds. I jokingly told the Dr. that my apt. esp. the bathroom looked like a crime scene. Finally I was sent to see a specialist who was able to resolve the problem. Though I am of retirement age I still continue to work full time though my manager (and others) would like to see me retire. With the pensions I cannot afford to retire. Now we have gone rather high hi-tech which is a challenage for me as I am Technically Challenaged. From what I am hearing many ( tens of thousands) of retirees cannot afford to quit their jobs. On Feb. 1 I lost a good friend (though heaven gained a saint of God)

Writer's block and exhaustion has affected my postings on various groups though I am trying to do a on-line study on JAMES and have been posting a few lessons to certain folks.

The work I do (Social Work) with homeless men continues to be a challenage. Homeless shelters are becoming more of a business controlled more and more "business" and high tech. The care/concern/compassion is taking a back seat to compassion & care. The issues that we and the homeless are not being dealt with at the grass roots. Hamilton, Ontario where I live has a population of 505,000 and 40% of the folks here are on diability and/or living in poverty. Our Federal Gov't & Provincial Gov't are facing economy/budget problems which will have major affects on most (except the very 1% rich) yet this may not be a bad thing as I see how people are reaching out to each other to help in whatever way they can. In a wealthy nation as ours it is difficult to comprehend why we have so much poverty. Then in a country as Canada we have the the many who are filled with greed,power and abuse. Christ teaches us we are not to seek the material things first but to seek Him first, live for Him serve Him unconditionally. I do not mean to give the impression that ALL rich folks are greedy,power hungry, corrupt, etc. There are many who share with other what they have. What continues t bother me is the increase of poverty, mental health issues, child abuse, crime (almost in every area). Then one hears of economic problems like Greece and Russian hospitals providing drop off boxes for unwanted babies. In Greece parents are literally dropping their young children off at orphanages due to being unable to care for them. Here in Ontario I have a friend who has fallen from the top rung of the ladder of success to the very bottom. Not so much her doing as it was her late husbands. Many of us are reaching out to her to help her. To me my friend is a 21st century Job. Her faith unshakable. There have been many times where she has "walked on the Edge" and surrived. More and more folks are struggling. The Biblical teaching of loving oneanother, caring for oneanother and just being there for oneanother is becoming more meaningful. Let us continue to pray for oneanother. This is one of many things thats great with the Lord's church. The more challenages the stronger we become in our faith in God and in each other.

Edward