Patience may be a virtue, but it wasn't one that I was honoured with. When I was younger, it was common for me to purchase an item that I wanted just prior to my birthday or Christmas. This incensed my grandmother and mom. Earlier, they … Read more

I have been delivering the news for a long time now. For the last five and a half years, I have compiled, edited, and published The Whisper, our local town paper. But it all began with my first job at the age of twelve. My brother and … Read more

I love worshipping God. It's good to come among a group of like-minded people and sing together our praises of God. Being with church family week after week gives me the strength, encouragement, and challenges to face whatever takes place … Read more

This summer, I have had the pleasure of caring for two box turtles; I've given them the names "Peek" and "Boo". For them, my backyard is a turtle's paradise. They enjoy walking around the gardens, hiding behind plants, and burrowing … Read more

Do you remember that old math question about the frog in the well that worked his way up two feet on Tuesday and slid down one foot on Wednesday? Unfortunately, I did a frog and regressed somewhat. Perhaps you are doing the same thing, … Read more

I left my apartment to take my daily walk around the block with a few of my booklets in the basket of the walker that I use to get around with these days. I don't like to feel shut in and unable to meet people. Before I closed my door, I … Read more

Some time ago, our local daily newspaper started publishing a number of pages about famous movie and television personalities. There are long articles and many pictures of the "beautiful people", as they are sometimes referred to. You can … Read more

Every day possible, I walk in the woods with my dogs, and on sunny days, I am always amazed how the ordinary and even unsightly things are transformed into the beautiful by those warm and vibrant rays. An ordinary piece of moss glows with … Read more

Life events may temporarily shake my faith, but they can't destroy it. Like most people's, my life's been a journey of mountain and valley experiences. I've enjoyed numerous good things along with pleasurable occasions, but the good has … Read more

Recently, a co-worker and I took a person we support to the Goodwill store to purchase a music CD. As we got into the van, he inserted his CD into the player. As we travelled along to our next destination, what we were treated to was music … Read more

Quite recently, my wife Evelyn and I had our front yard re-landscaped. The bushes were overgrown, and the whole yard needed a major makeover. I'm not much of a gardener, so we hired two people to do the work. They laboured for two days. … Read more

My childhood was difficult and excruciatingly painful, to put it mildly. My older siblings often taunted me by saying that I didn't belong in their family. My mother confirmed this by telling me that the father of me and my younger … Read more

I am simply amazed at the number of people whom I know, including family members, who have thrown the baby out with the bathwater in regards to God and church. Sometimes, I feel like a magnet that draws people to myself who have been so … Read more

Imagine everyone living in perfect peace and harmony. During the 1990s, our autistic son was fascinated by a television show called Barney and Friends. Barney was a talking, teaching, dancing, singing purple dinosaur who captured the … Read more

"Bible thumper" is a term that derived from preachers thumping the Bible as they made a point while preaching. The catch phrase wasn't one of endearment but ridicule of those attempting to impose their beliefs on others. The slur was not … Read more

Little ones sometimes get their shoes on the wrong toes, but eventually, they figure it out. We should expect that. After all, they are new to the foot business. However, try to explain how a woman of reasonably advanced years (not overly … Read more

When I first read today's passage from Revelation, I was a teenager who had rebelled against God and my family. The words shocked me and cast a dire shadow over my soul. I felt quite anxious about the whole scenario depicted in Revelation … Read more

One time when I was working in the Middle East, on my way back from Muscat to the camp where we lived and worked, I picked up six young Omani boys and gave them a ride in the back of my Land Rover. They sat in the back, three on each side, … Read more

I have suffered on and off from depression since I was about ten years of age. My depression is caused from a hereditary dietary problem; the two things go hand in hand. I can be fine for days or weeks or months and then the darkness … Read more

Since 1961, our family has owned waterfront property up the coast of British Columbia, Canada. Most mornings during our holidays, we could be found sitting on the patio with coffee cups in our hands, gazing up the beautiful inlet. … Read more

This devotional has been running around my mind and onto several pieces of paper several times for months, and in that time, horrendous wars have erupted in the world with unspeakable atrocities committed. So the irony and seriousness of … Read more

I like to sing just as much as I like to garden, so my plans for the summer were to be singing in the garden. However, when the talents were being handed out for singing and gardening, I was lined up for knitting and reading. According to … Read more

Are we indeed our brother's keeper? Many may think not, but as in our biological family, we do not survive well unless we help each other. Many of our brothers and sisters carry loneliness around with them like a blanket. What can we do … Read more

"Life is difficult." A simple but profound statement from M. Scott Peck's national best-seller, The Road Less Traveled. He continues, "Once we know that life is difficult — once we truly understand and accept it — then life is no … Read more

I think that I have presided over 200 weddings in my ministry. Some of them I remember very well, so when I see a Facebook post of a special anniversary or some photos of the wedding, I happily congratulate the couple. It takes a lot of … Read more

One thing that I have learned since having a horse is that I must be alert at all times when I am out riding in the cart pulled by my gelding, Frank. Why? Because horses are easily spooked. We can be out enjoying the stillness of a crisp … Read more

Even if you're not technically-minded, you'll see the lesson that I gleaned today from my troubles with electronic technology. Let me explain: Yesterday, I purchased a keyboard and case for my tablet computer. I thought that this new … Read more

When the weather channel posts what's been going on around the world, most of us sigh, perhaps pray for the people involved, and then put the disasters out of our heads — not the smartest thing that we've ever done. Rather, we ought to … Read more

Most of us who have worked or travelled in Israel, Greece, Turkey, or Italy have on our sightseeing tours been in the ruins of the different arenas, sometimes called theatres, of that time. These structures were able to accommodate many … Read more

When I was a young boy, my grandfather often took me to Ninth Street in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, popularly known as The Italian Market. Vendors would openly sell meat, poultry, fish, fruit, vegetables, and especially … Read more