As a prison guard in a small town, I am always on call, so I keep a bag in the closet packed and ready to go. My shift may be short, or it could be quite long. It could be mid-day or midnight, so I make sure I have reading and writing … Read more

It was years ago when I was still young, married, and already had two children. We came to Canada as a family, with enthusiasm, learning about life in a new country. In two years, we had an old model car, and after getting his driver's … Read more

When I saw the "Hot Now" neon sign, all sense of self-control vanished. I had to have one — the heck with calories and sugar levels! My wife and I were ushering mom to a Christmas concert. As our car crept up to the parking lot and we … Read more

The company that owns the forest behind my son's country property has been actively cutting down trees, which I thought was a shame, the bit of a tree hugger that I am. But what they are doing is thinning out the forest, so that the … Read more

In homogenized milk, the fat-rich cream molecules are dispersed throughout the skim milk so that the liquid is all the same. Knowing God's wide, deep, high, and long love, made available to me by Jesus, is the rich cream of my life. God … Read more

"It is hard to forget pain, but it is even harder to remember sweetness. There is no scar to show for happiness. We learn so little from peace." (Chuck Palahniuk) "Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, … Read more

Since I started writing devotionals for the PresbyCan ministry about four years ago, I have been blessed to meet many interesting Christians from all over the world, some of whom are my fellow writers, while others are readers who … Read more

Summer is arriving here, and soon, our roads will be cluttered with annoying construction projects — just when we want to go on holiday trips. It means slowdowns, dust, and delays. There's no escape! Yet we know that ongoing road work … Read more

I was given a plain white porcelain cup, slightly over one inch tall. What could I do with such a wee thing? Still, out of respect for the giver, I kept it. Months afterwards, the horticultural fair listed an item: "Mini-arrangement, … Read more

Prime Time Ladies, a group of women from our church, along with friends, come together on the third Tuesday of each month to have lunch and listen to a speaker. To date, we have had many different speakers from various organizations and … Read more

A recent trip to Tennessee, U.S.A., had us travelling throughout the night. Around 5:30 a.m., I began to look for signs of daybreak. It was overcast, and we had driven through rain during the night, so although I was not expecting to see a … Read more

I am a short person, a mere five feet from head to heel. Consequently, many things in life challenge me, such as cleaning the tops of refrigerators, cabinets, and ceiling fans. If it is out of sight, it is also out of mind. Since I … Read more

Have you ever been in a situation where everything seems to be falling apart? Perhaps you're there right now. You feel cast adrift, not knowing what is expected of you or just where life is going. You had been on course and then the winds … Read more

We might wish sometimes that Jesus were still here on earth in human form. It would be absolutely wonderful to see Him today, to ask Him questions, know that He was listening to our prayer requests, and get spoken answers from Him. How … Read more

One of the most treasured gifts I own is a wall clock which was given to me by my mother when I moved into my very first apartment. Throughout my life, this battery-operated clock has been my companion as I have moved; it has survived for … Read more

I was serving, but deep inside, my motives were tainted. Fresh out of college and pastoring my first church, I was eager to impress … someone … anyone. So began my journey for recognition. In addition to pastoring and teaching … Read more

I don't like it! This living alone experience sometimes feels like being alone on a desert island. Oh, I know that having God in our lives, we should be able to circumvent those feelings, but really, why does it always seem like that is … Read more

While walking my dog this morning, I noticed hundreds, perhaps thousands, of earthworms scattered all over the street. This is a common sight when heavy rains force these little creatures out of their water-filled burrows to seek oxygen. … Read more

Almost 60 years ago when I was a young child, my father supported our family by working shifts in an auto parts manufacturing plant. When my dad worked nights or afternoons, he slept during part of the day. I internalized a rule, "Don't … Read more

When my youngest daughter was approximately two and a half years old, she would climb to the top of the stairs and yell, "Catch me, daddy!" and jump, having the faith and the assurance that indeed her daddy would catch her. Now that my … Read more

It was a windy Sunday morning to walk the few blocks to church. The wind was against me as if trying to keep me from getting ahead. Debris was flying all around, and the wind's fury tried to pick me up every step of the way. Having some … Read more

Cutting, hauling and stacking wood is a large part of our lifestyle in northern British Columbia, Canada. It is simply a fact of life. If we want to stay warm in the winter, we must work hard in the summer and get the wood in. As much as … Read more

Why did God allow those two other men, criminals, to have centre stage next to our Lord Jesus? What was God's purpose in their crucifixion on crosses beside the Son of God? This question has been bothering me for years. The crucifixion … Read more

Many years ago, I saw a war film, Full Metal Jacket, about a group of infantrymen during the Vietnam War. The scene I remember most vividly, which has stuck with me over the years, opened with the men returning to base camp from leave. … Read more

I am sure that I am not the first to be driving along, only to glance down and see the fuel gauge on empty and the red low fuel indicator illuminated. On this particular day, by the time I noticed, I was a very long way from the next town. … Read more

It is sad to say, but many times, I have found myself questioning our Lord. Usually this occurs during times when I feel like I can no longer go on with a problem, or I don't understand the struggles or heavy burdens someone else is … Read more

Whenever my father experiences a coincidence or serendipitous happening, he calls it a "God wink". Sometimes as God speaks to us through these God winks, He uses them as a way to affirm, validate, or draw our attention to the stirrings of … Read more

The robins proclaim both their own and spring's arrival through song, ending the winter's silence with their robust and distinctive singing: a cheery, rolling trill. It was a robin's loud, persistent, and forceful chirp that caught my ear … Read more

The news about a five-year-old girl being raped in India has caused worldwide concern and disgust. The recent bombings at the Boston Marathon and the shootings that are so prevalent these days have also caused concern and anxiety. These … Read more

Finances going south and a pressing question: should I keep giving to God, cut back, or cut it out entirely? I was always taught that we couldn't outgive God, but what about when giving means an unpaid bill, a missed meal, an empty gas … Read more

In the last few years, it has happened twice now. I have been busily munching away when — crack — I hear and then feel something go snap in my mouth. Each time that I have experienced this, upon further examination, I have discovered … Read more