On October 27, 2018, a gunman entered the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, and killed eleven Jewish parishioners and wounded six other people. The news media quickly told us that this man was a hater of Jews and … Read more
Archive for January, 2019
A Coat Of Paint
I recently wrote a devotional about our foster child in the Philippines. She's a principal now and is in charge of several schools. We keep in touch through Facebook, and she often posts pictures of the schools, which are usually in old … Read more
Gifts Of Reality And Victory
One day when I was little, I found, as the surprise in my popcorn box, a tiny pair of scissors. But how horrible! They would not open. They just sat there in the palm of my hand, a senseless, one-piece thing of cast metal. I felt put-down … Read more
Jesus Held My Hand
The following is my friend Joyce Augustson's story. I felt hopeless and alone in 1940s Arkansas, and I wasn't close to my mother. We weren't the poorest of poor, but many of the children I knew didn't have shoes and wore rags for … Read more
Stirring Up The Gift
I sat in the ladder-back chair, wondering what I should do and feeling a bit useless. The day prior to our move had arrived, but my wife and I were already at our new residence unpacking boxes — at least, she was. With no Internet or … Read more
The Watchers
Sophie is one of my mature dogs. She is a great help to me, especially on winter's icy paths in the corral, when I steady myself by holding on to her collar. There are times, however, when I don't want her in the corral with me and I … Read more
Belonging To God
The greed of the tenants in Christ's parable from Mark 12:1-12 causes them to lose their rationality and humanity. They want to possess the cultivated land for themselves, so they conspire to rid their community of any outsiders. Their … Read more
I Almost Missed Out
I almost missed the happiness that God has had for me in life, when I decided to end it at the age of 17. Miserable, lonely, and friendless, I could not see this changing in the future. What good is my life? I questioned, not realizing … Read more
Checking The Source
Our Bible study group meets in the evening, down in a large basement room at our rural church. There is a row of small windows in the room, but in the depth of winter, the only light from outside is the twinkling of stars on a cloudless … Read more
I Kept My Promise, Didn't I?
On Friday, June 14th, 2002, our grandson was born. He was premature and had many complications. He died two days later on Sunday, Father's Day. You can imagine the grief, heartache, and loss that we all faced, especially our son and … Read more
The Long-Sword
A lot of healing has gone on over the years. Like many of my fellow Christians with a history, I rejoice in not being the person I once was. However, like the Incredible Hulk, I am not likeable when I am angry. Fortunately, my wife is … Read more
Plenty For Me
The Bible has many references directing us to be hospitable. I was blessed to watch my parents practice this teaching on many occasions. One such occasion happened on a Sunday in 1943. A gentleman from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, with his … Read more
Shields Which Protect
For about ten years, in both eyes, I have had glaucoma, a disease which increases pressure in the eye, and which, if left untreated, can cause total blindness. Mine was kept under control with eye drops at bedtime every day. However, a … Read more
God's Jewels
My husband loved to give me jewellery. On our fifteenth anniversary, he surprised me with topaz earrings and necklace. I recently found the photo that we took at the lodge near Yosemite National Park. My head is proudly tilted to display … Read more
Things Left Unsaid
A number of years ago, a close family member was diagnosed with cancer, and while at the beginning, the prognosis was good, as so often happens, the cancer came back with a vengeance, and she was given less than a year to live. She was a … Read more
Murder At The Fish Shop
My late Scottish mother-in-law taught me this song. We always got a chuckle out of it when she sang it, especially because she had false teeth. Last night there was murder at the fish shop A wee dug stole a haddie bone A big dug tried tae … Read more
Always Protected
Summertime presented great fun in the timberland. Sleeping outside was one of those activities. A day spent gathering twigs, branches, and boughs of broken fir and redwood trees produced our finished rounded, mounded shelter. Weary but … Read more
A Special Communion Service
Today at church, the minister called for the servers to come forward to prepare communion for the congregation. Often these moments of ceremony are formal, even sombre in tone — the last remnants of ritual in our modern services. Today, … Read more
Downsizing … Of Sorts
"Where are we going put it? I think we're turning into hoarders." My wife and I have both asked the question and made the statement. Our love for antiques — especially furniture — keeps us adding to our collection and trying to stuff … Read more
Feeling Lost
Uncertainty, loneliness, and confusion — anxiety, aimlessness, and desertion: these aching feelings can echo their hollow voices throughout our hearts. We shudder at the coldness of how feeling lost empties us. Has your soul ever felt … Read more
Robber With A Bad Smell
For many years, I ran a small out-of-print bookshop from the bottom floor of my home. My training came from managing a similar business in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Shortly before I left the city, a woman about my age was murdered by a … Read more
(In)significant
Imagine the scene that day: Jesus, the Man who did miracles and spoke powerfully — unlike any other — was making His way down the street, surrounded by His disciples and a noisy, jostling crowd. Everyone was trying to get close to Him, … Read more
Epiphany: What Will You Bring?
Epiphany is observed on January 6th, twelve days after Christmas, to remember the Magi who came looking for King Jesus to worship Him following His divine birth. The Magi brought Him three gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They were … Read more
God Answers Prayers
God in His mercy and love has answered many of my prayers. Some situations required an urgent answer; others not so much. When my children were very small, I was at death's door. I was quickly slipping away. I cried to the Lord in … Read more
Forgetting The Past
Hector is someone with whom we can all identify, for forgetting the past is a choice that we, too, will face. Hector kept thinking about the pastor's message that morning, entitled "Forgetting the past". Angrily, he thought, "Surely, … Read more
God Never Changes
Yesterday, today, forever, Jesus is the same, All may change, but Jesus never — Glory to His name! – Albert B. Simpson It is now 2019, and we have changed our 2018 calendars for new ones. It seems that there are two constants in … Read more
A Clean Sweep
I think that I'm a good housekeeper. My house is always neat; cabinet tops aren't cluttered; I vacuum and mop on a more-or-less regular basis. But in November, I was seized by the urge to do what is usually called "spring cleaning". I … Read more
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