BITS and PIECES
282nd Edition – February 15, 2026
A random collection of news and views compiled by Frank McClelland for the Toronto Free Presbyterian Church.
A NEW BODY
The human body is a marvel of divine engineering. The Lord has given to each of us a remarkable body as a tabernacle for the soul, and no two bodies are alike.
We live in these bodies for a lifetime. We get to know them very well and are acquainted with their with fortes and foibles. Often the latter seem to outnumber the former. The days of childhood and youth are great as our bodies grow and develop, but it is not long until they crest the hill of peak strength and begin the steady decline towards the great unavoidable appointment with death. Nobody escapes.
Growing old is a challenge, both physically and mentally. The senior years are often referred to as the golden age, but for many the gold is as elusive as the legendary pot at the end of the rainbow.
Loss of strength, sickness, disease, and aches and pains ravage the aging body. Some have a very difficult time adjusting and even question the wisdom of God as to why He would allow such suffering for His child.
Paul, as a tent maker, likens the body to a temporary “tabernacle” or tent [II Corinthians 5:1]. He speaks of its dissolution as if it were a tent whose ropes are gradually loosened prior to its complete collapse. The afflictions of the body in later years are the slackening of those ropes. But never forget, it is the Lord’s loving hand that does the loosening.
Toronto used to have giant reinforced concrete silos on the waterfront. It took a year to demolish them bit by bit. In their place, beautiful new buildings were erected.
The Lord is demolishing our earthly bodies prior to changing our “vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body” [Philippians 3:21]. Be patient. Your body will be made sinlessly glorious like the body of the ascended Christ.
LETTER TO JESUS
This loving letter was penned by Mrs. Edith Godber of Markham when she was 92. I found it in the flyleaf of her well-worn Bible.
Dear Precious Jesus,
I just want to thank You for coming to planet Earth to live for me and to die for me. You are the best friend I shall ever have. You have brought salvation to my soul. You have healed my body. You have comforted me with your great love so many, many times. You have given me your wisdom and knowledge. Thank you, Lord.
You have given me much love, joy and peace. You have given me patience, gentleness and goodness. You are life to me. You have been my sunshine at midnight. Thank You for being a present help in times of trouble. Thank You for every valley You have helped through, for every hill You helped climb. Thank You, Lord. Edith Godber.
INNOCENT INTERJECTIONS
Christians are offended when they hear the Lord’s name being spat out as a worthless curse word. Even the very young and those who struggle with the basics of English, seem to have no difficulty when it comes to uttering blasphemous interjections.
Keeping the third commandment generally does not pose a problem to the majority of born-again believers because they have a basic desire to honour the name of the Lord. However, the use of euphemisms, or milder substitutes for the Lord’s name, is an area which has not been considered often by the many Christians that use them.
“Webster’s Dictionary of Word Origins (1995 Edition) has this to say about the problem: “There are prohibitions against the irreverent use of the name Jesus Christ in Christian cultures. Thus, to satisfy what seems to be a need for invective (strongly attacking words) a number of euphemisms are substituted for those in English.
Today, golly and gosh are considered harmless euphemisms for God. Another euphemism for Jesus is “Jeez,” sometimes with the spelling altered even further to “Geez” or “Gee.”
Christian friend, be very careful with your language. Remember God’s command:
“The LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain” [Exodus 20:7].
