There is hope for everyone, even the worst of sinners. I know this to be true, for I am part of that category. We all make ill-advised choices, especially when we are young adults, some of which can ruin our lives entirely. We follow our … Read more

I'm a quilter — some would say an obsessive one. I make dozens of charity quilts each year. If I've learned anything in all that sewing, it's that the needle follows the eye. When I'm sewing two pieces of a quilt together, accurate … Read more

An unusual piece of art hangs on my downstairs hall wall. It's an Afghan War Rug designed with army tanks, AK-47s, explosions, grenades, helicopters, and a map of Afghanistan. Understandably, most people prefer not to display such … Read more

"A baby who has been left alone is being held down at the police station," said the message on our phone. My husband, the social worker on duty, asked if I'd go along with him as backup. When we got to the station, he went off to find … Read more

Of all the stores to which my grandfather delivered ice cream, the one where the dog sat on my foot was my favourite. Aside from a few chain pharmacies and gas stations, mom-and-pop stores ran the retail world. Small stores owned by … Read more

As I write these thoughts, I'm in a plane at 31,000 feet en route to a business meeting. This flight especially has given me time for serious reflection. As the pilot attempted to land our plane earlier for this connecting flight, we … Read more

Just recently, I received an email from a well-known Christian establishment. The email subject read, "Slightly Imperfect Gift Sale". The items had minor chips or scratches that caused them to fall short of perfection. It got me to … Read more

God has chosen ordinary people — you and me — to help others. Occasionally, it is for something very significant, but usually, it is for something small. However, in every case, we have to be willing to try in order for God to use us. … Read more

Every year, I find new stuff when I am out doing my cleanup around the property. The previous owners of our acreage buried their garbage. Over the past twelve years, I have discovered the tin can location, the glass pit, and the … Read more

Every morning right after breakfast, my wife reads me a devotional from a booklet. She tells me what to read from the Bible, and after I have done that, she reads the page from the booklet. One morning while I was waiting for her to tell … Read more

In Jesus' time, menstruation and gynecological issues made women unclean. Leprosy made anyone afflicted unclean. Being of a certain race or from a certain place, such as Samaria, led to one being relegated to second class, compared to a … Read more

"Want to know my worst day driving a bus?" a driver asked me one summer day. "There was a woman on the very back seat with groceries in a couple paper bags. In one of them was a big watermelon. She was busy talking, not payin' much … Read more

One of my favourite Appalachian songs, which was recorded by Johnny Cash years ago, is called Wayfaring Stranger. It's a beautiful hymn with a haunting mountain melody. I love the plain, simple lyrics which express faith in terms of our … Read more

Recently, my husband and a friend were outside cutting down trees on our property. The area where we live is surrounded by many maple trees and silver birches. Unfortunately, many of the birch trees are dead and need to be taken down. They … Read more

What do car washes and love have in common? This isn't a joke; it's to get us thinking. Obviously, both improve life: of vehicles, or of people. But that's not what I had in mind that day when I stood at the carwash mulling over the … Read more

One chose to stay on the farm; the other chose city life. When my mom was a junior in high school, she chose to leave her family farm and marry my dad. Her new life would take her away from her country upbringing and plant her in cities … Read more

For two decades, my wife and I led the weekly Young Adult Class (14-19) at our church. The first weekend in February, we would have a retreat at an inviting resort. We always had a guest leader who would journey with us to enjoy a weekend … Read more

I recall an instance in my life when I found forgiveness to be an extreme struggle to resolve. One evening, I had just finished reading Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37 . I closed my Bible, and said out loud, … Read more

This year, we had a large load of gardening soil delivered to our house. Then, my brother and I got busy shovelling it into pails and carrying it to the various garden beds to top them up. We did this, as many gardeners already know, … Read more

When Prince Harry was married this year, several Canadians unexpectedly received personal invitations to the royal wedding in England. Of course, they were thrilled to accept. Wouldn't you? It reminded me of a time in a small village … Read more

Like many people, I have health goals: to walk daily, avoid refined sugar, get enough sleep. This month, I have been able to exercise every day. I've really enjoyed seeing the change of season come to the flora in my area, breathing in … Read more

Almost every day, I receive emails from Christian ministries and organizations with invitations to subscribe to a special conference or video series about church growth. They usually try to entice me with special gifts, or they claim to … Read more

I avoid going to the doctor as much as possible. Thankfully, I haven't had much illness in my life, but when I suspect that something is wrong, I often let it ride, in case it's bad news. I know that's not smart, but that's the way I am. … Read more

"What colour is he?" I asked myself. Unable to sleep that stifling night, I got thinking about someone in our mission. Day after day, I saw him working diligently with the maintenance crew. Yet, that night, I could not envision his skin … Read more

It was a sunny morning in early July when my husband, who hadn't been sick, suddenly dropped dead in the middle of a golf game. He was surrounded by friends, and it was his turn to hit, when he fell out of the cart on the third hole, … Read more

The stories flooded in, and I couldn't help but wonder what God's purpose was. A young man who struggled with epilepsy and other physical issues for his entire life dies in his sleep while having an epileptic episode. His mother finds … Read more

The invitation read: Because you have been falsely accused, ridiculed, mocked, and rejected, a table has been prepared for you in the presence of your enemies. Please accept our invitation. It went on to spell out the specifics: date, … Read more

Have you ever felt God asking you to do something that you were reluctant to do? Today's passage comes from the story of Gideon, very much one of the reluctant leaders of the Old Testament. When the Lord came to him, Gideon was grinding … Read more

The summer of 2018 is bringing a severe drought to southern Ontario, Canada. Farmers are expressing their concerns about the possibility that there is going to be a partial, if not total crop failure of the various types of grains which … Read more

A number of years ago, I decided to keep a weather book. Each day, I record the day of the week, the date, and the outside temperature when I arise. Then the next morning, I add what the weather conditions had been for that day. My … Read more

My feet are the key to my ability to walk, to go where I want to go, even to hold me upright. They work hard — arguably harder than most other parts of my body. On a good day, I barely even notice them. When all is going well, I don't … Read more