I've recently started watching the popular TV series, "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" I like to see if I can answer the questions, and it's always interesting to watch the contestants to see whether they'll risk the money or … Read more
Archive for October, 2000
How Much Have You Contributed?
Recently, I received a statement of my contributions to our national pension plan, which stated that should my earnings continue at the level at which they have since I was 18, I could receive a retirement pension of $170.59. If … Read more
Simon Gobble Up
Our dog Simon loved food. He would eat almost anything! One time he consumed a whole pound of cooked bacon — our supper. A loaf of bread, a chocolate cake that wasn't even for his birthday, plus all the candles … Read more
And The Skies Are Not Cloudy All Day
When I was little, one of our favourite songs, especially around the campfire, was Home on the Range. Even when one couldn't remember each verse, cups of cocoa or coffee in hand, bodies swaying, the words of the chorus were … Read more
A Perfect Lie
I was playing golf and hit a really terrible shot off the tee. It appeared to roll off into some bushes below the tee, and the threesome I was with immediately set off to help me locate it. The morning … Read more
The Generosity Of Receiving
A friend of mine is quite elderly and frail. In the past he has always been a dynamic man and enjoyed giving generously to others. Now, however, since experiencing three minor strokes plus the death of his wife a month … Read more
Where Is Your Battle And Who Is Your Ally?
For the past couple of days I have really been struggling to "keep my spirits up". There have been some things happening in my life that have really been quite frustrating. Things which I cannot control and over which I … Read more
Drive Defensively, Live Defensively
I was recently involved in a minor fender-bender — fortunately there was very little damage to either vehicle and there were no injuries. However, although the other driver carelessly pulled in front of me, I was charged with careless driving. … Read more
A Dog By Any Other Name
About three years ago, our daughter, who had recently returned home from university and was living in the new apartment we had fixed up for her in our basement, asked if she could bring a dog home. We already had … Read more
Perpetual Springtime
Recently I had the privilege and joy of driving through the Rocky Mountains. As always, I marvel at the handiwork of our God. Many of these peaks, even in the middle of summer, are capped with snow. What must it … Read more
Bearing Fruit For Christ
My sister planted a "thornless" blackberry bush, which eventually had many thorns but no fruit. After about a year, she dug it up completely and put it at the back of the yard. There it grew back with a fury … Read more
Pray For The Place Where The Lord Has Put You
In August 2000, we left Nova Scotia and moved back to Sri Lanka with our two boys. We had lived in Sri Lanka before for a couple of years until 1997. Not for want of trying, it was hard for … Read more
Place And Pace
Walking five dogs successfully requires a system. Each of the dogs therefore has a place within the fan shape that is most effective when walking a number of creatures. If one or more of the dogs begin crossing over or … Read more
A Change Of Schedule And A Change Of Heart
During the summer, I thought I had my life all together for the fall. I was tutoring three days after school, I had a greenhouse job at which I could work whatever hours I wanted, and life seemed all set. … Read more
Who Changed The Appointment?
The summer had been a busy one, family matters required our presence away from home more than at it, and so, in those times when we were home, it was a scramble to get things done — things like doctors' … Read more
The Measurement Of Time
One of our writers mentioned recently about waiting patiently for God in His good time. It got me to thinking about our confusion regarding time, because we English-speaking people have but one word to describe the passing of time: "time". … Read more
God Time Or Me Time?
In our hurry-up man-centred, man-dependent world that measures success by activity, making big bucks, or how much one accomplishes, finding time to hide oneself alone with God for steady spiritual growth is a lost priority. It is viewed by many … Read more
A Gift Of Blue Herons
A ravine abuts our back yard, and, as the years have passed, the trees have grown taller. It has long been a home to crows, and for some reason on Sundays they always seemed to hold what I called The … Read more
Our Father's Way Is Always Best
God's word commands us to rejoice and give thanks for all things. Several years ago after reading 1 Thessalonians 5:18, I wrote in the margin of my Bible that, "God says to give thanks in everything, not for everything." I … Read more
My Little Red Wagon II
(with acknowledgement to Mary Daniel, who wrote My Little Red Wagon for June 24, 2000 ) When I was a young boy growing up in the 'fifties, I led a life with a degree of freedom that my son, … Read more
It's Hard To Thank Him For Everything
As we in Canada sit around our bountiful tables this year on Thanksgiving Day, it's really easy to give God thanks. Can't you just see it — grandparents, parents, uncles and aunts, cousins, sons and daughters — all with our … Read more
Add Ministering To Our Thanks
Several years ago, I noticed there was a Clergy Appreciation Day. Considering that we sleep for about 8 hours a day, the remaining 16 hours aren't very long to extend one's thanks to someone who is virtually on call 24 … Read more
If I Only Had More…?
If I only had more time! How many times have you said or heard that said? As I sat here today pondering and searching for something to write about, I suddenly realized I was almost out of time. I even … Read more
The Right Time
People all over the world have been saddened by the loss of 118 lives aboard the Russian submarine, Kursk. Officials of the Russian government, including President Putin, as well as Russian naval commanders, have been severely criticized for not requesting … Read more
Peel And Stick
I had written a note on a Post-it paper. These are the pads with peelable glue on one end. The sheets can be peeled off and affixed to anything. My husband told me the story about someone's mistake that led … Read more
Discouraged Witness
For about two years now I have been participating in my church's outreach and visitation programme. Our church uses a new programme called "FAITH", which is a unique way of sharing the gospel while emphasizing the importance of Sunday School … Read more
Getting My Attention!
I had seen her many times before. My daily walk took me right past her house. Sometimes I would see her sitting on the porch watching as her husband worked in the yard. Other times, she would be taking a … Read more
Right-Of-Way
The last house we lived in had every right-of-way you could think of. Out on the front lawn was a large box with the electrical transformer in it. It was green with large yellow numbers stencilled on it for identification. … Read more
Fresh Bread From The Oven
Having a bread machine and being able to buy boxed bread mix makes it easy to enjoy often the fragrance of bread baking, and then to take pleasure in eating buttered slices of hot crunchy bread. Another plus to this … Read more
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