In the last nine months, two of my dogs have been attacked by a large, vicious, bully of a dog in our neighbourhood. One of the dogs, Sam, our little seven-pound Yorkie, came within a quarter of an inch of losing his life from one of …( read more )

Recently, one of my daughters had to have laser surgery to fix some retinal problems. It so happened that on the same weekend we went to visit her, another one of my daughters and I unfortunately had a "snafu": a euphemism for a …( read more )

"Why don't you wash those windows too?" I asked a teenage boy who was washing a storefront window. I was pointing to the filthy windows next door. And they were very dirty, indeed! "I don't get paid for that," the teen responded. "But …( read more )

What does it mean to be truly awake?

Since our children moved from a crib to a bed, we have had a rule that they are not to get up until they see 7:00 on their clocks. They are to stay in their beds and look at a book or play quietly. …( read more )

"I didn't vote for him, so I don't care." "Democrats spend too much." "Republicans favour the wealthy." "Wrong skin colour, wrong party, wrong faith." "But dad, you don't understand. That teacher hates me." "I just cannot work for her." The … (read more)

At the end of August, we were visiting family at a lake house they had rented in Connecticut, USA, when Hurricane Irene struck. We "evacuated" to their home in New York State, and watched the television in horror at the … (read more)

According to Wikipedia, the expression "normalcy bias" refers to a mental state in which people underestimate or ignore the obvious signs of a coming crisis simply because it has never happened before. This reasoning can be applied to the attitudes … (read more)

Recently, it has been my honour to be "father of the bride" to Sarah. It was a lovely day and well organized, and a good time was had by all. Of course, there came the time for speeches. Every father … (read more)

While waiting for the information to come through about posters I design for a Christian organization, I thought I would tell you a little of what I do. Once all the details come to me via e-mail, the first thing … (read more)

Recently, my wife went to the games chest, where we store all our family games, to collect a game for us to play. We had decided to give the television a few hours off on a Sunday night; it had … (read more)

New Year's Eve was fast approaching and the pressure was on. What to wear? The same old tacky (meaning I am so tired of it!) from six years ago? (Be grateful it still fits!) Buy something new for a totally … (read more)

Planning is my favourite pastime. I plan for days, weeks, even months, and such planning brings me the onset of expectations to anticipate results. On a good day, I might do more in a day than all week. I call … (read more)

I ask myself, "Is it the Lord speaking to me, through my conscience, when I see a law being broken?" Is He speaking to me when I myself commit an offence? As we attempt to achieve the holiness God desires … (read more)

One day when I was very young, I ventured off by myself to the dime store. I looked over all the things that took my eye, and with no money to buy, I looked at an eraser that I wanted … (read more)

On February 2 every year in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, USA, crowds gather to see if the groundhog sees its shadow when it emerges from its burrow. But in much of Canada, still in the grip of winter, Punxsutawney groundhog cousins, known … (read more)

A number of years ago, when I was only fifteen, I had to go on an errand for my parents in downtown Toronto, Ontario. This was my first experience driving by myself in a big city. I made an illegal … (read more)

I remember as a child hearing a story about a famous actor who was invited to play the part of Jesus Christ. As was the actor's custom he studied the 'character' in order to be able to 'feel' the part. … (read more)

To pass through the doors of the old, old church is to enter a place of unprecedented peace. The three stained glass windows which face you from the front (the middle of which is Christ, lantern in hand), beckon your … (read more)