Recently, while dining out with my daughter, we overheard the people seated at the table across from us discussing the topic of religion. All seemed to agree that one religion is as good as the other and that certain behaviours that are … Read more

On my bedroom wall, I have a framed print of the famous scene painted by W. Holman Hunt of Jesus standing at the door knocking. It belonged to my grandmother, and it always hung beside her bed, which we shared when I would visit. As a … Read more

There's an old story told about a seamstress in nineteenth-century France who happened to be blind. One day, her church was trying to raise some money for a mission, and she handed over 20 francs. In those days, that was a lot of money, … Read more

I recently spent some time with my husband finishing a basement in an existing home for a job he was working on. From a bare concrete floor evolved a bathroom, two bedrooms, and a living room space. In a weekend, 475 square feet of … Read more

The sound of the rain began as a welcome, gentle trickle, bouncing off the maroon-coloured leaves of the bushes just outside of our porch. I sat protected from the rain, and watched as the rain rapidly grew into a ferocious downpour, … Read more

As the sun shines on God's creation, we are reminded of its beauty. The green tree leaves shimmering in the light and gently fluttering in the soft breezes are beautiful. Gazing on such a sight can lift our mood and bring us pleasure. But … Read more

As people leave their churches and organized religion, what do they put in its place? I am noticing an increasing emphasis on spiritual things today. Even a secular magazine like The Readers Digest has an article this month called "Til … Read more

We have a corn broom which I keep in the porch. It is extremely handy for sweeping the walk and floors. Unfortunately, the broom was left standing with its head down and its handle up against the wall on a regular basis, instead of the … Read more

Honeybees live in well-organized family groups where the survival of every bee, from the moment the queen bee lays her egg, depends on the combined effort of the entire colony. Worker bees clean and polish the cells, feed the brood, care … Read more

Today was one of those rare days: the temperature was 33 degrees Celsius (91 degrees Fahrenheit) with the humidity reaching as high as 45 percent. This is a little strange, as we are slowly approaching the season of fall. *It's too hot to … Read more

The civil war in Syria has been in the news for a couple of years now. At the beginning of September, it was estimated that over 100,000 people had lost their lives, almost two million had fled to surrounding countries, and over four … Read more

At 84, I think of childhood days, and some events come vividly to mind. There came a time when my parents bought a building lot from a farmer just on the other side of the river where we lived. The foundation for our new home was made of … Read more

Each winter, it was evident that our old house lacked what would help keep us cozy. For five years, my wife and I lived in a home nearing one hundred years old, a home built before air conditioning, a home constructed to remain cool in a … Read more

It was not until my husband was diagnosed with cancer, nearly two years ago, that I understood the desperation Jacob must have felt when he wrestled with God. During that time, my prayers turned into tears, but with little strength in my … Read more

Recently, I went to the local bike shop to see about handlebar tape for my bike. I have been using hockey tape on them, but over time, it seems to get sticky, so I decided to see what the bike shop sold. I didn't let on that I had been … Read more

Recently, we had a couple join our church during the worship service. They have been coming to our congregation for over a year. They were brought to us by God through the Creative Expressions ministry that our church presents. Their … Read more

In the spring and early summer, my homing pigeons sit on eggs and have young ones. I have had pigeons for many years now, and every year, I marvel again at the wonder of how they look after their young ones. Homing pigeons are amazing … Read more

Our little foster son loved to play his handmade drum, and he did so quite well. So well, in fact, that he began to join me on the platform as I played my omnichord and my daughter led the singing during Sunday worship services. … Read more

Our family was blessed with a spectacular mountain holiday this summer in Banff, Alberta, Canada, a vacation that has long been on my bucket list to experience with my boys. Our mountain holiday involved the literal climb out of the … Read more

The day was bright, clear, and sunny. A soft breeze rustled the leaves of the large oak tree that stands strong and tall in my front yard. It was peaceful. Yet, approximately five hundred miles away, there was chaos. Twelve years have … Read more

Recently while driving into town, I noticed that the corn on the edge of a farm field was only half the height of the stalks in the centre part. I'm sure that this difference in growth was because the plants on the edge were in the shade … Read more

On a cool, breezy September day, I ventured out with a friend to fly kites at Stinson Beach, which is on the northern coast of California, U.S.A., just north of San Francisco. While we began to fly our kites skyward, our eyes were drawn to … Read more

It was summer. Four of our family had come to Southampton, Ontario, Canada, to spend time at a rental cottage along Lake Huron. My husband, the two youngest (a girl and a boy), and I enjoyed the white sandy beach and the cold water of the … Read more

A severe thunderstorm in our area last autumn caused me great concern. It was the periphery of a tropical storm on the eastern seaboard, and there were warnings of extremely high winds. Around 1:30 a.m., I was still awake, even anxious … Read more

In August, our family spent a week on the coast of Oregon, U.S.A. Each day, we observed the power of the waves coming in off the open Pacific Ocean, and each night, we camped within the sound of their roaring. As I played with the children … Read more

A number of years ago, I purchased three young adult dachshunds: Dinah, Molly, and Casey. None of these dogs had ever been house dogs. They had always resided in a kennel. Thus, between housetraining, teaching manners, socialization … Read more

Some chuckled, while others appeared confused. "Stinking thinking leads to nasty actions." I said it in a ninth-grade Bible class when the subject came up while studying the believer's armour — particularly the helmet of salvation. And it … Read more

I have been travelling the same way to work for the past four years, and I have been aware of the posted speed limit for this stretch of road. Today, on my way into work, I noticed a new sign that lowered the posted speed limit for a long … Read more

Recently, I have had a need for a computer technician. It has been amazing to watch a young person going through the different phases of fixing my computer, clicking keys to control the manifold systems with understanding and skill, … Read more

As I write this, it has just been announced that a number of baseball players have been suspended for the use of illegal, enhancement-performing drugs. They continue to be the subject of different news sources. These players obviously had … Read more