What this means is that what we do for God is never wasted. We had an illustration of this two weeks ago when Evelyn and Cathie, two members of our congregation, planned a Seniors Valentine Social. Amid games, readings and … Read more

Two young boys, in disobedience to their father, wandered away from their campsite and began exploring the caves in the nearby hills. Soon they found themselves deep in a cave, marvelling at the crystal and rock formations, until their flashlight … Read more

How did the Serpent, the crafty one, get the human to even consider eating? First, it accosted Eve where she was vulnerable. It simply got Eve to consider questioning God. All it did was ask a subtle question. "Did God … Read more

Let's leap backward a thousand years or so. Dripping wet from the Jordan's waters, the newly baptized Messiah was driven by the Holy Spirit into the desert. After fasting forty days and nights, Jesus was exhausted and famished. Like Eve, … Read more

God had only given Adam one commandment, not ten, to keep. Adam failed at that one. God had merely commanded, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of … Read more

By His obedience, Jesus has won the victory over the world, death, and the devil. Obedience. The heart of the matter is obedience. It is the core. The crux. The centre. Therefore every knee will bow. Bow in adoration, adulation, … Read more

Last Sunday, there were some lovely flowers on the Communion table at our church. Ordinarily that wouldn't be remarkable, because the flowers in churches are usually beautiful. These flowers came from a plant that had been a decoration in the … Read more

What Jesus meant is that today, we don't have to wear the weight of the rest of life. We must learn to take it one day at a time, because if we don't, we'll get so overwhelmed about tomorrow's worries … Read more

Mary, John, Salome and the two Marys were standing near the cross, Mary weeping silently. The others watched from a distance, according to Matthew, Mark and Luke. No one knows why the women and John came closer. John only tells … Read more

Read all of Psalm 119 – it's all about the importance of being acquainted with the word of God and conversing with him. One Sunday morning last summer, I arrived at church before anyone else. As I took my seat, … Read more

"I've tried that and it doesn't work!" Has that ever been a reply to you when you're trying to brainstorm or just to make a helpful suggestion? There are many putdowns or cutoffs. Some people who do that are seemingly … Read more

I have a mug with many sayings about music written on it. Perhaps you know some of them. "Hug a musician, they never get to dance!" "There should be music in every house – except the one next door!" "Music … Read more

Imagination. What a wonderful thing. Just close your eyes and imagine you are somewhere else, like in Hawaii, or someone else, like a millionaire. Imagine the fun, the money, the excitement. Imagine how great it would be if only you … Read more

Visiting China with other Canadian Christians last November was very interesting. Also interesting was reading the English-language China Daily. It was a different newspaper whose lead stories told of world leaders eagerly visiting China daily. Other pages told how the … Read more

Have you ever seen someone in a rage? Have you ever seen someone lose control, fit to be tied? That's an interesting phrase – fit to be tied. It means someone who has lost it, and needs to be restrained, … Read more

"Don't trust in violence". Violence has never proven to be a way to solve problems or re-establish relationships. I was never so ashamed and never so proud to be a Pictonian [Editor's note: citizen of Pictou] as I was the … Read more

Have you ever seen the painting called 'The Last Supper"? Do you know the inside story? One day Leonardo da Vinci became angry with a man while painting this picture. He lashed out with cruel words. When he tried to … Read more

In February 1996, The Presbyterian Record published a game I created to use with children during Family Violence Prevention Week (page 50). It was called Hurters and Helpers. After an energetic game the children are invited to reflect on how … Read more

In Nova Scotia, Canada, February 9-15 is designated as Family Violence Prevention Week, and the churches are instrumental in taking the initiative. In Pictou County, our Fear Not Now Committee has produced excellent resources for the churches. My meditations this … Read more

Before I retired from gainful employment, I used to walk to the university nearly every day, summer and winter. In the winter I found myself intrigued by the rabbit tracks that crossed my path in the snow, particularly in the … Read more

People are always trying to improve my mind by giving me good stuff to read. The latest was a compendium of essays written over the years by C.S. Lewis. I have never read a great deal of Lewis, and never … Read more

She was wheeled through bolted doors, flung open to admit her. Shouting, somewhat incoherent, her presence broke in upon us, taking our attention captive. "That "blankety" Doctor! What does he know? I need a cigarette…. Get this junk out of … Read more

Holy Week. Jesus had just run the gauntlet with the Scribes and Pharisees attempting to entrap him, but Jesus had risen above their pettiness to shine like the sun illuminating God's word in a way no one had ever imagined … Read more

Once upon a time there was a sixteen year old boy who had been given a brand spanking new 1956 Chevrolet for his birthday. He was so proud of that car. He strutted through the halls at his high school … Read more

As a church we are called to copy Christ. Just as Jesus went about Galilee, in spite of the danger posed by the arrest of his cousin John, we are also called to be brave and bold for the Gospel. … Read more

When Paul asked the believers in Ephesus that question, he was asking if they knew Jesus had promised the Holy Spirit to believers. Sadly, they had never heard. They had repented, but that was all. They didn't have the power … Read more

"Repent!" John the Baptist cried. "Turn from your wrongdoing and show that you mean it by what you do!" With windblown unkempt hair matted from river water, he strode soaking wet with his roughly spun, camel's hair garment clinging to … Read more

Drugs won't do it forever. Booze leaves a hangover. When the high wears off, the after-effects are a real bummer. Gambling is exciting. It's such a thrill when you win. But how often do you win? And when you lose, … Read more