What do we really want in this life: a bigger apartment, a cute little puppy, enough food so that we will be strong and active, a good job, a loving spouse, the latest smartphone? This modern culture is not an easy, enjoyable one. Although … Read more

I awoke this morning from a vivid, song-filled dream. Off to the right in my peripheral vision, I saw a white-robed man loudly pounding a grand piano, accompanied by invisible stringed instruments and trumpets. Music filled the air while … Read more

During a recent holiday to Arizona, I would take two daily walks. Because of the intensity of the heat, I would walk in the early morning and before sunset. As I walked, I learned to meditate and listen for God's messages to me. In the … Read more

When I was young and having trouble making decisions, my mother used to say, "Get your priorities straight." She was right. Having overall priorities to guide our life makes day-to-day decisions easier. For example, if our priority is to … Read more

My mare, Mama had a crippled front leg when I bought her. How it happened, I don't know. For many years, she wore a leg brace, which was helpful in keeping her comfortable and mobile. One morning, however, we looked out to the corral and … Read more

To give something away signifies generosity, or at least that is what we assume. Is it always true? Once, I heard it said, "Don't give away more than you can afford to lose." I pondered this, for it did not make sense. Later, I was … Read more

I grew up in a family where dad regularly berated things that he felt threatened his Christian lifestyle. Theatres were places where curse words were said or sexual scenes displayed. They must be avoided. Not until much later in life did … Read more

In the past few years, people all over the world have heard mysterious noises: a groaning, scraping, rumbling noise, or that of a long trumpet blast — not the modern trumpet that we're familiar with today, but like a ram's horn, or … Read more

I have an interesting application on my cell phone that tracks my driving habits. It's for my insurance company, which sold me on it by saying that it could save me "up to 25 percent" on my vehicle insurance, which would be really neat! As … Read more

We've all heard the old "saw" that there is incredible power in setting goals. Paul, the quintessential missionary and apostle, shared a few goals that he had most of his converted life. Can you think where his insightful goal statement … Read more

Shortly after the end of the Second World War, in June 1945, the children in our school in Holland were told that in the very near future, Winston Churchill was going to be driven past our school. We knew who he was; we had learned about … Read more

There is really only one answer: I do palliative care at our local nursing home. I sit with dying patients, both those who are peaceful and those who are frightened. I offer to pray with each of them. If they answer "yes", I pray aloud … Read more

A song written in 1896 still drives me to tears. "I surrender all" by Judson W. VanDeVenter is a tearjerker. Do you know it? Our choir sang it this Easter, and I had to control my tears in order to sing. Mark 10:28 puts it this way: "Lo, … Read more

We all have triggers. A cubicle adjacent to my work area was kept intentionally unkempt. It became increasingly overgrown with open boxes, to the point that it would encumber my own workspace. Some would question me about it as if it were … Read more

My Yorkshire Terrier, Sienna, who weighs five pounds four ounces, was the most fearful little creature I'd ever met when she first came to live with us as a puppy. No one could get near her, and she shook and trembled in every new … Read more

In 1972, while studying at Montpellier in the south of France, I played tourist one weekend and went exploring the countryside farther east. On that trip, I discovered the ruins of an old town, perched high on a rocky promontory. During … Read more

I experienced what it meant to be persistent in prayer one night when my five-year-old daughter came down with pneumonia. Three doctors diagnosed her that night. She was in and out of consciousness and was hallucinating with a temperature … Read more

We all go through fearful and unsettling times. Sometimes, those moments occur when we're worried about our families or friends. At other times, we may be concerned about our careers or work projects. There may also be times when our … Read more

Bam! I was on my way home from an appointment with my income tax accountant when my Ford Focus announced that it needed attention: brrramble, rumble, grumble. It made noisy sounds like a Sherman tank might make as it clanked and rumbled … Read more

She was a vibrant young teenager, but she had a premonition that she'd never live to see 20 years of age. Rachel Scott was popular at her high school, even though her witness for Christ wasn't always well received. Two students who hated … Read more

Some time ago here in southern Ontario, there was a television report about people in a nursing home being abused and/or mistreated by members of the staff. There were pictures of one elderly lady being tossed into her chair and of … Read more

Recently, my grandson received a school report that both shocked and delighted his family. In it, his teacher stated that in his opinion, this child personifies Jesus' walk on earth. It seemed such an outrageous statement. The teacher … Read more

In his excellent book, Guiding your family in a misguided world, Dr. Tony Evans tells of two monks walking through the countryside toward another village. As they came to the edge of a river, they saw an old woman sitting there, upset … Read more

I am in the process of selling my house, a long process that I have found to be frustrating, because people are unable to see what an asset our house is to the right person. A few days ago, however, I read this Scripture: I immediately … Read more

Our church is currently looking for a new minister. This is a beautiful retirement community and we are a church family that tries to reach out to all with understanding. What are the modern expectations of a minister today? The church in … Read more

Preaching from the book of Leviticus, my pastor recently discussed the significance of the eighth day in light of biblical teaching. His message inspired me to explore this idea. Interestingly, the eighth day may be likened to a musical … Read more

The other day when I was tramping through the brush to untangle one of the horses' stake lines, I found myself heaving such a sigh of pleasure and relief. Why? Because we don't have any type of snake in the far north. It's just too cold … Read more

As I have said too many times, the church is a pale imitation of what it is supposed to be, and our humanity gets in the way of our Christianity. Again today, I talked to several people who believe in God. I know that they do by the way … Read more