I had to get a new driver's license with a new photo this year. After the new license arrived in the mail, as I was destroying the old one, with each new cut of the old card I kept thinking about the old being replaced by the new. As I … Read more

You can feel the wind, but you can't see where it's coming from or where its destination is. You can see the effects of its power when a hurricane or tornado touches down in various places, leaving behind massive destruction. Sometimes, a … Read more

Several weeks ago, I went to the closing of a church building in a small community near my home town. It was Knox Presbyterian Church, Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada. I wanted to find out what it felt like. At the end of the … Read more

It was Sunday evening, and we were already tired just thinking about the following week. I had committed myself to entertain four days in a row, Thursday through Sunday, ending with a benefit for a cancer patient in one of our local halls … Read more

"Before she got all gussied up, she looked as plain as a turnip," crowed the old woman. She didn't have much of an opinion of our locally-grown celebrity. Her comments reminded me of Mark Twain's famous line, "Cauliflower is nothing but … Read more

For the past few weeks, I have been using my road bike more than my trail bike. Both bikes have a side mirror attached to the left handlebar that allows me to see traffic as it approaches from my left. Due to hand and arm placement on my … Read more

My great-niece, who has taken on a leadership position with a Christian youth organization, has recently married. What would be an appropriate wedding present? I thought of giving a few books to add to the young couple's now-combined … Read more

I have a black silicone bracelet on my wrist that I put around my watch to protect the crystal. It tends to keep moving off, so I keep putting it back on. This is not the primary reason that I wear it, but perhaps, the constant on and … Read more

Even these days, a person who could turn water into wine would be very popular and handy to have at any wedding. Despite this, Christ's first miracle seemed to be unknown to most of the wedding party, in the midst of all the celebrating … Read more

I nearly stepped on the little thing before I saw it: A tiny butterfly, the size of the end of my thumb with markings similar to the monarch butterfly, sat on the pink clover. Because I don't want to trip on the rough ground of The Trail … Read more

Joseph was his father's favoured child. I've never been the favoured son, but I have been the spoiled grandchild. I know what it feels like to bask in the favour of a grandparent and be given special attention. These exclusive favours are … Read more

During its long history, the city of Jerusalem has been destroyed at least twice, besieged 23 times, attacked 52 times, and captured and recaptured 44 times. The city is surrounded by a wall and divided into four quarters: Jewish, … Read more

When I was a young lad, we lived in a house without electricity. We had a variety of oil lamps in the house. There were some rather fancy ones in the living room, some plainer ones in the kitchen and bedrooms, and a couple of lanterns to … Read more

Many years ago when I was a young man and a Christian, but not living for the Lord, my life was not what it should have been. Driving from south-western Ontario to Calgary, Alberta, Canada, I picked up a hitchhiker in northern Ontario. … Read more

Our town, Ocean View, Delaware, USA, is a beach resort area on the Atlantic coast having an influx of vacationers yearlong, especially in the summertime. Throughout the year, our area is laced with yard sales, garage sales, and flea … Read more

I was experiencing grief before my husband's death. Despite all the activity and busyness going on with his palliative care the many months before he passed, as the time went by, I was aware of a deep, ongoing sadness in my being. I … Read more

We have two apple trees planted at the end of our small lawn in the partial shade of a large fir situated in the adjacent garden. The soil is clay, and the trees have struggled with my pruning and their situation. This is the fifth year … Read more

Often's the time when attending a celebration of life for the spouse or relative of a friend that the title of today's devotional has come to mind. It is also the title of a book about President John Fitzgerald Kennedy from the … Read more

Living in a tiny, remote, northern community requires that we travel a minimum of two hours each way to the closest city in order to access many vital services that our small town is unable to provide. We normally make this trip twice a … Read more

Much of life is mere surfing: we skim from one surface to another. However, in the process, we miss many precious details. We surf the flowers, but miss their intricate beauty. We surf past neighbours, but never really know them. We surf … Read more

Looking out the front window, I notice that the sky is a lovely shade of blue with many white, fluffy clouds adding to its beauty. However, as I step out the front door in anticipation of a refreshing walk with my dog, Sparky, I am … Read more

The quotation, "Knowledge is power", is attributed to Francis Bacon, but the meaning given to it varies from author to author. The phrase often implies that with knowledge or education, one's potential or abilities in life will certainly … Read more

As I was reading the fourth and last chapter of the book of Jonah, I started thinking about how much like Jonah we all tend to be. Jonah was upset at the fact that the people of Nineveh did not get punished for their sins the way that he … Read more

Some time ago, I was talking with some people about the Lord and our lives as Christians, along with experiences that we have had in life. They were using words like "God spoke to me", feeling that they had a word from God, and talking … Read more

It was His last miracle. When Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, one of His disciples tried to defend Christ with a sword and ended up cutting off the ear of one of the high priest's guards. It was a valiant effort, but a … Read more

Power can be used for good or harm. German physicist, Otto Hahn, discovered how to split the atom in 1938. Scientists feared that Nazi Germany might use the knowledge to continue their attack on Europe. World-renowned scientist, Albert … Read more

Our prayer group prays regularly for people diagnosed as bi-polar. It is important that they take their medication regularly for the rest of their lives. When they do, they function well. They ask for prayer for relationships. They can … Read more

After five years, I was finally able to expand my corral. It is now almost twice as large, and the horses and goats love it. With the expansion came a second gate, making access to the paddock so much easier. Frank, my gelding, however, … Read more

One day, we had a discussion about things that we like to eat and things that we don't like. I can eat most foods, but I do admit that there are some that I have learned to eat over the years, and there are still some that I'm not crazy … Read more

Yesterday, God answered a question that I had asked in a moment of discouragement over 42 years ago — and I was blessed beyond words! A friend and I had taken Bibles with us into Russia, even though it involved considerable danger, … Read more

A tradition my Italian grandfather brought from the old country was winemaking. Besides the delicious table fruit from his grape vines once native to the hillsides of southeastern Italy, every year he would harvest and press the grapes to … Read more