Living on an island on the west coast of British Columbia, Canada, leaves us with basically three commercial modes of transportation to and from the mainland. We may travel by foot or by car using one of two ferries. One … Read more

My almost three-year-old toddler has a treasured item, which, much to my embarrassment, she insists on carting around with her everywhere she goes. It is her beloved "Blankie", a well-worn and tattered but much-loved fleece baby afghan blanket. She sleeps … Read more

A few months ago, the remnant of a tropical storm howled through our city. The next morning when I awoke, I went to my window to see what, if any, damage had been done. The breeze was now gentler, and … Read more

It was time to have my hearing tested. While I waited at the doctor's office for my appointment, around me, I observed fellow geriatrics with walkers and canes. A lady with a hearing aid smiled from her chair to everyone. … Read more

Years ago, the boys in my neighbourhood used to play a very dangerous game called "lumberjack". It was something our parents did not know about, and it was very foolish to take chances with our lives in this fashion. One … Read more

A sledgehammer? I'm holding a sledgehammer and tearing down a wall! This isn't what I thought when I heard the words "inner city mission", but here I am with crowbar, hammer, and helmet. Evergreen Mission to street kids is expanding, … Read more

There is an old saying that the shortest way between two points is a straight line. Usually, when I want to go somewhere that is quite a distance away, I telephone the Auto Club and ask for a "trip tick". … Read more

I have a friend, Nan, who enters the annual Art from Trash contest here on Maui each year. Nan takes things that other people throw away and sees the beauty in them. She carefully pieces together faded photographs, bits of … Read more

As we were planning our holiday to the eastern coast of Canada last summer, we enjoyed sharing some of our intended destinations with our children. They were looking forward to seeing the ocean, camping, and searching for treasures along the … Read more

One thing of concern when reaching middle age is that, quite often, we find we are concerned about our middles. While weight gain isn't exclusive to this stage of life, it sure seems to have a close relationship with it! … Read more

Can you think of an instance when a nut caused a great deal of trouble? Do you remember the story of Chicken Little? The poor little guy was hit with an acorn falling from a tree and he believed the … Read more

When our granddaughter came to our home as an infant, we held her and marvelled at her tiny features. As she grew, she began to crawl. She would crawl right to the edge of the staircase, giving us all heart … Read more

We came to visit. This was little more than a boarding house and our Youth in Mission team was trying to offer a little variety to a summer's afternoon, a little variation to the tedium of the tenement house. The … Read more

I know a couple who have been praying for a new job for the husband. He was laid off from his old job, and has even gone to another province to find work. In addition, he has taken training in … Read more

"The weeds were bad this year," was the general subject of conversation in the country. I could attest to this fact, as I had been pulling weeds out of a strawberry field, which was contaminated, within days, with thick stems, … Read more

Around the campus of the University of West Alabama, there is a paved loop. Most people walk the Loop Walk to get healthy, others to lose weight, and some to get stronger. Me? You are going to think I am … Read more

A recent incident that occurred recently near Duluth, Minnesota, U.S.A., brought this scripture to mind. The winds were beginning to blow heavily, and a couple were sea kayaking in the rough (and increasingly stormy) waters of Lake Superior. They were … Read more

Readers of our world-wide Daily PrayerLine will be interested in the following study. It certainly affirms what we have experienced here through the prayer support of our brothers and sisters in Christ, all praying at a distance for us. May … Read more

Anyone over 40 knows how maddening it is to put on a favourite vinyl record and have it stick. "Tell me the old, old story… tell me the old, old story… tell me the old, old story… tell me the … Read more

I believe that friends are gifts from God, who puts them in our paths, and we in theirs, in a multitude of ways and for a multitude of reasons. Henry Churchill King is quoted as saying, "The very possibility of … Read more

In the area of western Canada where I live, we have a bird called the Black-billed Magpie. The Latin name is Pica pica. This bird is a scourge to the ranchers because it often sits on the backs of cattle … Read more

I recognized them all when they were safely ensconced in my kitchen! But could I do it now? Baking powder, flour, sugar, salt, and several other white powdered items were no longer in their safe little labelled tins, bags, and … Read more

There are people in my church I never come in contact with directly. Some sit on the opposite side of the church down front. Since I sit in the back, I'm out and gone before they leave the church. For … Read more

I joined a fitness club recently, along with my youngest daughter. After signing the agreement, a date and time were picked for us to have our fitness evaluation done. The day before that appointment, I felt unwell. I ached all … Read more

Have you ever seen chickens wearing glasses? I have. When I was about five years old, my grandfather and I raised chickens. In a flock of chickens, there is always one that loses some feathers. As soon as the other … Read more

Travelling down the highway late in the afternoon, I noted that the lights along the roadside came on, one by one. As the sun begins to set and the light of day fails, sensors trigger the roadside lights to come … Read more

The coastline of Nova Scotia, Canada, is dotted with lighthouses. Our tourist map showed a tiny lighthouse icon anywhere a lighthouse could be found, usually in small coastal communities of less than a thousand. Many tourists spend their entire vacation … Read more

While installing a video projector at the church, we had to re-locate an electrical connection under the stage. The openings in the stage support structures were only 12 inches by 14 inches and it seemed impossible to access the wires. … Read more

When I was learning to type, there was a standard warm-up exercise that we always used to begin the lesson: "Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country." Those first four words … Read more

I am still slogging away at my weight. The numbers are thirty less than this time last year, but it has been "eating season" once again! My goal: more pounds off this year. For many of us, the New Year … Read more

There are more passages with promises of God's love and eternal life for us than this page could possibly print. When you think about it, our lives are filled with promises. We promise to be good, or not to do … Read more