My daughter bought me an iPad for Christmas two years ago, and I love its convenience. I use it all the time and keep it close by so that I can text her or respond to emails as necessary. My cat, Duffy, however, seems to get annoyed when …( read more )

My dad was a hard-working engineer for most of his life, and he provided for my mother and our large family as well as he could. Like most of his generation, he was a proud man and would rather do an honest day's work for an honest wage …( read more )

"Judge carefully" … "Do not judge" … "Judge for yourself" … "Stop judging" – the Bible Well, is it okay to judge or not? The above texts aren't helpful, are they? It's no wonder: They're extracted from their contexts! Furthermore, …( read more )

When we're in a hurry, doesn't it seem that every traffic light turns red just as we approach? We wait impatiently for it to change, fingers tapping. Sometimes, we quickly decide to take a short cut, an alternate route that we think will …( read more )

It was early in my life that I was asked to sing solos in school and community gatherings in Finland. Before World War II, it was intended that I continue to have singing lessons from an opera singer who spent her summers in our village. …( read more )

I never know what will come out of my oldest grandson's mouth. Near the beginning of last summer, he developed a case of strep throat. My wife and I noticed a rash on his face. Then later, he opened his mouth wide for some unknown …( read more )

Some years ago, my wife and I went on a guided tour of Israel with a group of Christians led by a pastor. We visited mostly sites of biblical importance, like Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Jericho, and we spent considerable time in the …( read more )

As we traversed through the beginnings of agility class, one of the things that my dogs learned was the command to mark. The instructor used an overturned, flat-bottomed, rubber feed bowl for this exercise. Before running the course, …( read more )

I'm terribly allergic to black fly bites. My first encounter with them not only made me itch, but caused me to be bedridden with a low-grade fever for about two weeks. That Sunday, after I climbed from the covers and dressed to do the …( read more )

Like most people, I find changes very hard to accept. Sometimes, I push back against them, even if the changes are meant to make my life better. I guess I get comfortable in my own routine, so I resist any alterations. I admit that …( read more )

We are amazed at all of the technology that has come into use in the past fifteen years, and we wonder what might be discovered, developed, and revealed within the next very few years. God created the cosmos with all of the possibilities …( read more )

One Saturday afternoon back in 2003, I received a call from a leading member of our congregation, a good friend of mine, who asked me if he could come and see me, "Right now!" Needless to say, I wondered what the emergency was. Ten …( read more )

One morning, while I was at my computer, my 15-year-old son interrupted my thoughts with these words: "Mom, do you know what the biggest problem in society is? It is loneliness!" He had no idea that at that very moment my fingers were …( read more )

I'm taking a course in sign language. All ages — from young children to seniors — are in the class, and some of us are hard of hearing. We're often confused, leading to some hilarious moments. The class is a lot of fun, though I'm not …( read more )

We are halfway through spring. You know what that means: it's time to rake the lawn, to rejuvenate the green grass, and to get rid of ants! Yes, ants. At this time of year, they come out in droves, in a military procession. The lawn care …( read more )

Appetite doesn't always diminish with age. At 95 years of age, you'd think that she'd eat like a bird. But not this nursing home resident. She's one of our church's shut-ins who recently found herself in the hospital. As I walked in, her …( read more )

The days of winter seem to hold the darkest hours of the year. Many people leave home for their workplaces in the dark and also return in the dark. In addition, winter mornings are in a deep-freeze. I also think of a large company of …( read more )

Today our hearts go out to moms whose countenance is cast down with bitter anguish because their sons and daughters have succumbed to the devastations of addiction and related problems. The casualty count of this crisis among youth is …( read more )

My mother was an excellent role model in my life while I was growing up. Despite many difficult challenges, through God's grace, she managed to remain strong and good-natured, exemplifying a genuine faith and passion for Jesus. It wasn't …( read more )

Build Your Own Website was a course being offered by our local college, so I decided to attend. I didn't want to build a website for myself, but I thought it would be a great idea for our local hardware and general store to have one. …( read more )

When I experience losing someone that I love, or if I'm having a difficult time, my natural response is to retreat and find somewhere quiet where I can reflect on what has happened. During those times, I tend to push people away, just …( read more )

During this past Easter season, there were a number of movies on television which those who make up the schedules felt were appropriate for the season — movies such as The Robe, The King of kings and Easter Parade — just to mention …( read more )

As I write this title, I feel like putting a question mark to cap it off: Fear Of The Future? Really? Does a Christian really need to fear the future? Fear is in the air these days, with conspiracy theorists questioning the earth's …( read more )

Don't you just love receiving a gift, especially one that's unexpected? Our Father in heaven is generous and enjoys bestowing gifts on His children. If we allow the Holy Spirit to open our eyes, God will surprise us. Recently this little …( read more )

Years ago, I had a favourite black velvet pant suit. I wore it everywhere and any time the occasion called for it. It was very well made, and it stood up remarkably to all the wash and wear. But alas, it finally began to fade, and I …( read more )

Some called it "Founder's Day", while others simply referred to it as "Feast Day". A church member extended an invitation for my wife and me to join them on their family property for "Feast Day". Neither my wife nor I understood what she …( read more )

My family bought me a personal video recorder, a PVR, for Christmas. I find that I am using it a great deal. The PVR allows me to record television programs and watch them at a later date. It's really great if something I want to watch is …( read more )

This morning when I stepped onto the porch, our neighbourhood cat, Meow-Meow, rubbed against my legs. Behind her was a "present": a dead sparrow. My mind immediately flew to the old hymn, "His Eye is on the Sparrow". That hymn, penned by …( read more )

There's a lot of fear and uncertainty in our world today. You can hardly pick up a newspaper or watch television news without hearing about terrorist bombs, gas attacks, and civilian deaths all over the globe. Those of us who were born in …( read more )

"Egypt Declares State of Emergency, as Attacks Undercut Promise of Security" – New York Times, April 9, 2017 As you may have gathered from some of my writings, I spent a considerable amount of time in the Middle East. Later I travelled to …( read more )

In our church, there is a cross at the front of the sanctuary. The cross is bare for most of the year, but during Lent, it is draped in a purple cloth. Now, it is draped in white, in honour of the risen Christ. The changing colours of the …( read more )