Skip to main content

March 05, 2025

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Blog.

Most of us may not want to admit it but we like being in control. Overlooking the constant impact of that which we can’t control (like our autonomic nervous system, our internal organ function, our general genetic makeup, etc, etc) we flatter ourselves with our self discipline, fitness and diet values, money management, social interactions, and on and on. We think we’re in control but, of course, we’re not.

The book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible reminds us that pretty much every circumstance in our lives is “seasonal”:

“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace.”
(Eccl.3:1-8).

Much can be seen in these words but one key truth is that we don’t control the seasonal dynamics of life but we “participate” in the broader scheme of things. Ultimately we’re under the control of the heavenly order, where our Father “works everything for our good”. We are not called to control but to trust his loving and sovereign care. Indeed a most excellent slogan for our lives is,” In God We Trust”.

February 19, 2025

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Blog.

I’m sitting by our fireplace in early morning with my Bible and a coffee. As the fire crackles I’m listening to a playlist of sacred music on Spotify. A group of nuns are singing the beautiful Prayer of St.Patrick by Margaret Rizza: “Calm Me Lord as You Calmed the Storm”. The lyrics are powerful:

“Calm me Lord, as you calmed the storm
Still me, Lord, keep me from harm
Let all the tumult within me cease…
Lord enfold me in your peace.”

What a great prayer for us today. If ever the world and our hearts were in tumult it is now. So much seems to be out of control and many of us find ourselves praying “Lord, how long?” How long can this go on? How long can so many millions suffer war, displacement, famine, and sorrow on sorrow?

We need to know that the Lord is sovereign and in control. Nothing surprises him, and his compassions are “ new every morning”. And so I’ve prayed this morning as I do every morning, “thy will be done”. No, my head is not buried in the sand. Rather it is looking upwards.

We are poor small creatures, “born to trouble as the sparks fly upward”, but we’ve been made in our Creator’s image and He has breathed immortal life into us. We’re made for heaven and we pray that the hellish sorrows of our world will soon be healed and peace will prevail. Calm us Lord…

February 05, 2025

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Blog.

Recently as I was researching the comments of Jewish rabbis on the biblical book of Genesis I came across a treatise on what one of them called,”The power of return”. His thesis was that God places a high value on repentance. His grace is catalyzed by the sinner who confesses and then turns his back on his sinful behaviour and turns back to God. The rabbi stressed that the Lord loves to forgive. Indeed He finds repentance irresistible.

Our challenge with repentance is that our pride is offended not only by admitting we’re in the wrong but by the humility that it requires. We don’t like being a supplicant. We don’t want to be seen as needy.

So we continue infected with the toxicity of sin rather than the healing of forgiveness. Better to be in control than at the mercy of our creator no?

This is why so many of us walk with a limp. We put a good face on it but we’re carrying a crushing load.

I remember a little gospel song we used to sing at church when I was a kid,”Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there”. Sounds simplistic but it is profound. Jesus said, “Him who the son sets free is free indeed”. Millions of supplicants over the centuries have found this to be true. Repentance is the open door to freedom. Indeed there is “power in return”.

January 22, 2025

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Blog.

As Los Angeles fires raze entire neighborhoods, the Middle East balances on a razor’s edge, Sudan’s millions face impending starvation, and America swears in a new/old president, we wonder what 2025 will bring. In the vortex of constant change we long for some sort of relief, a return to a semblance of equilibrium, a glimmer of hope for our troubled world.

As I often do I turn to the scriptures. There I find hope- “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea…Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:1,2,10).

Our hope, of course, is not in the tactical or strategic plans of governments, but in the Maker and Lord of the heavens and the earth. He has always been and will always be sovereignly in control. We can rest in Him.

I think of the song we used to sing in church when I was a boy- “In thee O Lord do I put my trust…”. If ever we needed to live those lyrics, it is today. Remarkably, as we “trust in the Lord and don’t despair” (another old lyric) our spirits are raised. Our world is a work in progress and the Architect of history is faithfully fashioning His design.

Sleep well tonight.

January 08, 2025

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Blog.

The new year has come. Who knew we’d see 2025? I remember the prophets of doom warning that the 21st century might never come to pass. Now we’ve already lived a quarter century in this millennium. And, even though there are crises of magnitude everywhere, our world is still turning and there is hope. Nevertheless many of us saw/see room for improvement in our personal lives. Thus the ubiquitous “new years resolutions”, great intentions that soon are lost as we pick up where we left off in 2024.

Perhaps the proven words of the book of Proverbs might encourage us:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.
(Prov. 3:5,6).

Ultimately our lives are in the Lord’s hands. We may have short term resolutions but He has long term plans for us. He is omniscient, provident, and sovereign. Better to put our trust in his lordship rather than our good intentions.

May your 2025 be blessed.

December 25, 2024

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Blog.

I’m writing today (Christmas Eve) in the beautiful Laurentian Mountains of Quebec. We’re at the home of one of our sons. It’s snowing with about a metre already guaranteeing a white Christmas. It’s an idyllic setting.

Our 12 grandchildren range in age from 24 to 8 and when we’re all together it’s raucous and fun with everyone speaking (loudly!) at once. And last night as we gathered the laughter and noise was at its peak.

What was different about this gathering, however, was a moment or two when the kids grew quiet and thoughtful as they discussed the state of our/THEIR world. Theirs is a generation like no other in history in their immediate access to war, famine, floods, fire, earthquake and massive human misery via the internet. They suffer both information and international crises overload. Indeed they feel overwhelmed.

So I was moved when one of the oldest at one point asked to lead us in prayer. He thanked the Lord from his heart for giving us his son to die for our sins and bring hope to us all. Then he prayed for peace.

How meaningful! “Peace on earth goodwill to men…” the angels sang over the slopes of Bethlehem at Jesus’ birth. If ever we needed to hear that song again it is now.

December 11, 2024

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Blog.

Christmas for millions around the globe is the highlight of the year. “Peace on earth, goodwill to men” springs from the intuitive knowledge of God that we all possess. There is an upward call in our souls. This may be the impetus throughout the ages to build churches with a steeple causing us to look above and reach for the heavens.

Speaking of steeples, the sight of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, rising like a phoenix from the ashes after a 5 year restoration, its beauty, sanctity, and steeple rebuilt, amazed us all.

In so many ways it symbolizes hope. Our war weary world needs to know that new life can rise from total destruction. The shattered homes, villages, and cities that have dominated our screens for the past three years, whether Ukraine, Gaza, Lebanon, Sudan, or most recently Syria, will not dominate forever. Our war weary world needs to know that new life can rise from total destruction. Surely God hears as our wrecked world says enough is enough—help us O God. Lord have mercy.

The sages of Israel in centuries of biblical interpretation tell us that the greatest power in the world is “ the power of return”- that is, the transformative impact of repentance, turning away from sin and turning one’s heart back to God. When a nation sets its face toward Heaven it thinks and acts peacefully. Indeed it makes peace. And as Jesus said,”Blessed are the peacemakers…”.

Now is the time for all men and women of faith to turn away from our sins of selfishness and entitlement and renew our covenant to love the Lord and neighbour with “all our heart, soul, mind, and strength”. Love still heals whether it be for one or a multitude. Let love be the steeple of our souls.

November 27, 2024

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Blog.

There’s a lot to be said in terms of this era of the internet in which we live. Information, communication, and interaction globally is literally at our fingertips, our computers and smartphones connecting us instantly to the world. Indeed no generation in history has been so connected.

The downside, of course, is that we’re also connected with a world in chaos with war, famine, and sorrow on sorrow. Little wonder we sometimes lie awake at night praying for peace.

I often turn to the Psalms where King David, who authored many of them, reached out to the Lord for comfort. Psalm 91 is one of my favorites:

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.’
Surely He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with his feathers and under his wings you shall take refuge; his truth shall be your shield and buckler.
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you.”

These words are comfort in difficult days no?

November 13, 2024

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Blog.

I’m writing this brief blog on November 11th, the day when the free world remembers the fallen in two world wars and scores of regional conflicts. For many of us who are a bit younger than those who participated in battle it seems surreal as we hear accounts of the personal horrors that they went through.  And yet many of us have fathers or grandfathers, mothers or grandmothers who fought and survived.

Their stories (if they’re willing to tell them—some aren’t) seem like scenes from a movie, too brutal to be real. But real they are. And you can see those memories come to life in their eyes as they recount what they went through.

The point of it all was winning freedom from tyranny. They fought so that we wouldn’t have to. We are forever indebted. We honour our veterans. We will never forget.

October 30, 2024

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Blog.

I think most of us have read of remarkable people who have accomplished a lot in the face of adversity. Usually that adversity is from without. But there are those who have battled challenges from both without and within.

I blogged last time about the adversity our WOW champions are facing in South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, and India. Drought in Africa, floods in India, food insecurity, disease, and huge gaps in the electrical grid in Zambia and Malawi, and on and on. All adversities from without.

But one of our champions is facing chronic adversity from within. He has come close to death twice in the last three years from major surgeries and massive blood clots, all the while suffering a tumour on his spine. He is in pain all the time.

Nevertheless he soldiers on, ministering to severely abused and abandoned orphans and providing care to 3000 desperately impoverished households. He oversees a paid and volunteer staff of 30 even as he gives loving time and care to his young family. He doesn’t complain. I’ve never heard him demand anything. He just trusts and obeys the Lord.

I’ve told him he reminds me of great saints of God who had every reason to yield to their afflictions but chose to stay faithful. They’re the subject of many books and even the occasional movie. We admire them. They are heroes.

I’m humbled by the calling, character, and tenacity of this WOW champion. He’s one of the key reasons I do my best to raise awareness and funding for WOW.

We’re working with saints.

October 16, 2024

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Blog.

Kathy and I had no idea when we founded WOW 25 years ago that one day we’d be engaged with two of the five most needy counties in Sub Saharan Africa. Zambia and Malawi are in crisis with severe electricity and food shortages.

WOW has a significant footprint in both countries where we’re involved in the care of thousands of widows, orphans, and others at risk of starvation and/ or death from disease and opportunistic infections. With 2-3 hours of electricity a day, and sometimes none for a couple of days at a time Zambia especially is suffering. Malawi at least has hydro. Added to that is the doubling of food costs because of drought and crop failure. There is sorrow on every hand. Indeed the WHO says that 21 million children are potential victims of famine. The UN says, “Southern Africa is enduring its worst hunger crisis in decades due to El Niño.”

Rather than “curse the darkness” WOW continues to faithfully “light a candle”. It is daunting for sure but the faithfulness of compassionate donors is stemming the tide of sorrow for thousands.

We are so grateful for these friends who see their support as “the hands and feet of Jesus”. Together we’re ministering hope in a very dark place.

October 2, 2024

Written by Jim Cantelon on . Posted in Blog.

My wife Kathy and I recently participated in a Zoom call with our ministry partners in South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, and India. They gave us and each other updates on their work with orphans, widows, and other vulnerable people in distress. They are true champions, soldiering on faithfully in the midst of limitless adversity.

Facing drought, disease, violence and endemic food insecurity our WOW partners continue to reach out to “the least of these” (to use Jesus’ term) with home based (and in India, street based) care. They are like ministering angels.

They could yield to discouragement and despair but their core values of righteousness, justice, and servanthood provide a “North Star” in their compassionate pursuit of bringing hope to the hopeless. They descend into the pit of their neighbours’ sorrow and bring the light of God’s love to broken souls.

Indeed the words of Psalm 103 come to mind where David declared:

“Bless the Lord, O my soul
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord…
Who redeems your life
from the pit
Who crowns you with
steadfast love and
mercy….”

The “pit” may threaten to consume but the “steadfast love” of the Lord rescues and redeems. Our WOW champions believe and practise this. In a dark world they are letting their light shine.