Hi, and welcome to a special edition of FIVE Minutes with Phil Routly.

Today, I celebrate my sweetheart.

On this date, Elsie Jean Gray was born in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, the youngest of four children (three girls and a boy) to Victor and Dorothy Gray. The family moved to Kingston, Ontario when Elsie was only 2, but she spent most of her childhood summers with family in the Maritimes. It will always be her home.

Today, I'm continuing a series of posts and podcasts that I'm calling "Got Ideas?" Last time, I gave a brief overview on Got Values? Vision? Passion? And Purpose? Today, I continue with the next 8.

Today, I'm beginning a series of posts and podcasts that I'm calling "Got Ideas?"

In 1995, my son, Dave, was studying at Trinity Western University. As part of his education to become a counsellor, he enrolled in an Irish Studies program which focused on conflict resolution - rather appropriate for the nation that had been at war for so long within itself and the United Kingdom. His studies included a trip to Ireland for 6 weeks, but it began with a few days in London, where he was able to visit the Eagle and Child pub in Oxford. It's famous as the place where many long conversations took place between JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis in the 1930's, and where Tolkien said to Lewis, "I have an idea for a book." What he had in mind became his children's story called "The Hobbit," which when fully formed grew into the fantasy trilogy known as "The Lord of the Rings." It all began as an idea, and blossomed into something that is still adored by readers everywhere, and by filmgoers who have had their imaginations stretched by the Peter Jackson's LOTR trilogy of movies.

Paul writes, Pray for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

Because the rulers have the authority, they can make life pretty difficult for the people.

The people can be forced to do things that are contrary to who they are. Today, people can be conscripted into the military, required to abide by local ordinances, and obligated to pay taxes for services they do not agree with. Not long ago, those of us living in British Columbia were required to wear masks in most public settings due to Covid-19, and to show a vaccine passport in more and more. Throughout Canada, our public health system - which all Canadians are required to pay for through their taxes - pays for abortions on demand and euthanasia. We haven't experienced conscription in my lifetime, but it could happen.

A couple of weeks ago, one of my grandsons graduated from Georgia State University, and will be heading to Quinnipiac Law School in the fall. So, I asked him to tell us a little about his journey.

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Hello, my name is Bren Routly; I am Phil's grandson.

When I was little, I said I wanted to be a superhero. I wanted to help people. As I grew up, I searched for a profession where I thought I could do some good in the world. My first real thought was to be a writer, to take people into new worlds and provide an escape. But that changed when I read "To Kill a Mockingbird." It is one of my favorite books. Atticus Finch, the main character's father, stands up to a racist town and defends a man falsely accused of a crime. When no one else would defend this man, when a mob came to kill him, Atticus stood by his side. I was inspired.

It happened again.

Unbelievable.

Uvalde, Texas.

Furman, North Carolina.

Buffalo, New York

And that's just in the last two weeks.

Before that we had Parkland, Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Sandy Hook, Connecticut; and of course Columbine, Colorado.

What do these all have in common? Guns. The expectation of mental illness. Madness, even. Lots of innocent victims - so many innocent victims.

Freedom is the ability to choose from all available alternatives. That might be more than just the ones that are preselected by someone, somewhere, who has the authority to make such decisions.

If I was to go to an all-you-can-eat buffet, I would expect that I could put anything and everything on my plate that I choose. If it's on the buffet, I could take it and eat it. There might be some restrictions, like "if you take it, you eat it, no sharing with someone at your table who isn't purchasing the buffet, and no doggie bags." That makes sense. But what if I only want desert? Can I do that? My mother and doctor might frown, but sure. All options are open to me - I decide - even unhealthy ones!

In 1 Timothy 2, Paul writes, "Pray for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness."

I think we pray naturally for only a few, mostly family and friends. When something gets our attention, we expand the circle somewhat - to those in our churches or communities during challenging times, such as sickness, Covid-19, emergencies or war. And here Paul reminds us to pray for all people. We know that the New Testament is full of "one another's" - love one another, serve one another, care for one another, and certainly pray for one another. But this reminder is to go beyond one another, and also pray for the "other."

May 21st would have been my Dad's 109th birthday. Unfortunately, Ronald Frank Routly passed away suddenly in 1974, at the age of 61. I think of him all the time, and remember so many things about what we did together, and what he loved. Above all, he loved God's Word, his family, his church, music, and sports - especially golf, hockey, and baseball. And I think he loved baseball the most. How I wish I could go to a ballgame with him!

This past weekend, Elsie and I travelled to Portland, to spend a few days with our middle son, Chris, and his family. Because of Covid, we had not crossed the border to see them in almost three years. There continue to be signs of Covid all around us - Vaccine Passports at the border, some wearing masks, Multnomah County declaring that with a recent upswing in cases, masks are again being recommended for all indoor gatherings, and using ArriveCAN to get home.