One morning, our devotional was from Deuteronomy 32, the passage where Moses was talking to the people about some of the things which had happened to them in their past, and the following verse spoke to my heart: A while ago, I read a … Read more

What if my prayers always started with "Lord, I trust You to provide me with what I need", rather than "Lord, this is what I want"? As I have moved along in my walk and my relationship with Jesus over the past twelve years, I am still … Read more

Giving thanks doesn't rate highly in the socially-networked world where everyone is texting — very often to the person sitting next to them. Too many of us are so busy being "connected" that we have become disengaged from the world … Read more

Our yearly vacation to Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada, the largest fresh water island in the world, could not come soon enough. The island is so welcoming and beautiful. One day as I was walking along the rock formation by the water's … Read more

Remember, before cordless phones, how those old, curly phone cords could be stretched and stretched and stretched? In fact, I recall that when my kids were small, the four-foot phone cord in the kitchen eventually stretched to more than … Read more

It is always a joy to be with family after a long absence. For many years, I have been settled, living on my own. My large family keeps in touch, except for a few who have become distanced for whatever reasons. A recent family … Read more

Visits with requests for assistance were a common occurrence. And no wonder. Our driveway joined the church's parking lot, making our identity a dead giveaway. One petition stands out. My wife and I were sitting under our carport when we … Read more

In a way, my role as minister of music is like following a recipe. Each week, many of us do our part in gathering and preparing the ingredients for the worship service. True, this preparatory work can be quite satisfying in itself, in the … Read more

On Sunday mornings, I get to experience one of the best views in church from the pulpit. I see the entire worshipping congregation, and as I scan the people in the pews, I think about their struggles and stories and about how the amazing … Read more

A few years ago, I was employed by the Salvation Army as a bail supervisor. My work entailed receiving, by court order, individuals who required weekly appointments at our office, and reminding the bail clients of their conditions of … Read more

Many of the Protestant churches in our area are struggling. It is a matter of grave concern to many of us. There are discussions and workshops; there is talk of amalgamation and re-alignment; there is even talk of closing some of the … Read more

My daughter bought me the Bible on CD for Christmas, and I enjoy listening to it while I do my workout on the treadmill. As I was listening to the end of chapter 4 from Judges, I began to laugh. This passage describes the downfall of … Read more

Lately, I have had more trips to medical appointments, in turn resulting in more tests, even in a neighbouring city. To find the distant places can be a challenge, but if instructions are given to ease the way, it is easy and … Read more

I have a beautiful view of Penetanguishene Bay from my front living room window. At night, I can see the tall Catholic Church building that stands like a citadel across the bay. The lit houses that surround it make it look like a giant, … Read more

When the Jesus film is completed in a new language, a premiere showing is often done for the leaders of the area where the language is spoken. The film was ready in the "Yucatec Maya" language, which is spoken by a third of the … Read more

When in your life have you experienced unfair treatment that left you bruised and beaten? When have you been tempted to retaliate for circumstances and events that left you in pain and filled with grief? In suffering, we can respond in … Read more

Recently, I rode my bicycle in a charity event for work. Not knowing what the route would be like, I trained on hills and on rough and smooth roads. I also had my bicycle tuned up just before the event. The day was overcast and gloomy, but … Read more

As we chatted on the phone, my sister told me about a spectacular rainbow she had seen the other day. It was huge and was in the field right alongside the road where she was driving. She said that she could see both ends of the arc and … Read more

I had to come up with a children's story one Sunday, and I had trouble finding a suitable subject. I agonized over it all week. I thought; I prayed; I checked some of the reference books I have; and still I could not come up with anything. … Read more

The dictionary defines a hero as a person who is admired for courage or noble qualities. A hero is also someone who does something without thinking of themselves, without thinking of getting a reward. It is someone who is willing to put … Read more

I was in a long lineup at the bank when I noticed the nicely-dressed senior ahead of me with silver hair. As he turned, I saw that he wore a navy blue Legion jacket sporting many small brooches and pins — for awards and accomplishments, … Read more

My years in farm country were filled with lessons from each changing season. When rainy season came, it would rain for days. The rush of rain was heavy at times and the downpour loud. There would be damage where the streams of water made … Read more

The legendary Scottish athlete and missionary, Eric Liddell (on whom the movie Chariots of Fire is based), was once asked about how he mixed his faith with his sprinting. He cheerfully replied, "God made me fast. And when I run, I feel … Read more

I sauntered along beneath a canopy of trees, rays of sunlight periodically penetrating the thick overgrowth and slithering to the ground, giving a checkered effect beneath my feet — a mixture of sun and shadows. As the day grew weary, the … Read more

With the book entitled Red Moon Rising, the authors, Pete Greig and Dave Roberts, make reference to a rising full moon known as a harvest moon, as seen by people in the northern hemisphere in the autumn. In their book, they recount the … Read more

A Dutch door was exactly what I had always envisioned between the kitchen portion and the back room of our home. I could use the bottom half of the door as a gate to keep the dogs out of the kitchen, but to keep the cats out I could shut … Read more

As I entered the reception area through the main door, a mistaken usher, knowing that I was a relative of the groom, asked me to go to the far end of the room and up a few steps onto the platform where the head table was beginning to fill … Read more

A few months ago, I read a thought-provoking sermon based on today's Scripture by the famous nineteenth-century preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon. The sermon outlined several important lessons that we can learn from this verse. I was … Read more

Just think how much more pleasant the world would be if we really thought about what heaven is like, and what we will be doing after we arrive there. The Bible tells us what will happen to those who do not go to heaven, but also gives to … Read more

Sometimes, the Lord does a miracle just to show that He loves us. One of those miracles was the life of a newborn puppy. He was very large and got stuck in the birth canal. His water sack had broken early on, so he was encased in just … Read more