One of our local churches is in a high pedestrian traffic area, just off the main street, next to the post office and close to the library. In front of the church, there is an electronic sign which has a slogan on it, as well as the time … Read more

To help or not to help, that was the question. He stood at a busy intersection, holding a sign that we couldn't read. Although the town where we live is modest in size, recently we've seen more homeless and indigent people standing on … Read more

Synaptic potentiation is a mechanism in the hippocampus that enables us to remember. In a nutshell, the stronger the chemical pathway connection in our hippocampus to surrounding tissue, the longer the memory lasts. Triggers such as … Read more

"Have you heard about …?" is a sentence more and more people start conversations with lately, especially after listening to the news of the day. It's like they were all saddled up to ride with the fabled Four Horsemen of Alcoholics … Read more

When I was a kid, my friends didn't want to play what I wanted to play, so my response was often less than Christian. I'd go whining home to Mom, who dried my tears and fed me cookies or brownies, washed down with a glass of cold milk. … Read more

To me, Jesus is the loveliest being. When I was very young, I thought that He lived in the sky, so even when I lay on my back on the grass, watching the clouds go by, I thought about how much He loved me. In any circumstance, He can bring … Read more

Two things in life are certain. The first constant is change. From the time of birth, a baby is constantly facing change. Change is sometimes welcomed, but often, it is not. Like it or not, we continually face change. How often have … Read more

Let's be honest: we all struggle with sin. All of us have a selfish habit or shameful secret in our lives. We try to deal with it and often come to God asking for forgiveness, understanding, and support. We look for His grace to allow us … Read more

Recently, due to a diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), I had to leave a job that I have held for the past ten years. I struggle daily with symptoms of depression. It feels like I am in a meaningless void, kicked aside, and … Read more

Identifying a location for loved ones who have passed away is important. Some obituaries include the words "He/She went to be with the Lord." The suggestion is that someone left this world to locate with someone somewhere else. A reaction … Read more

It was nothing much really, just a smile and a wave. Yet, I'll never forget it. That hot day, we were driving through one of many construction zones on our trip. Traffic had been reduced to a single lane with long waits. My eye was drawn … Read more

My two-year-old granddaughter is not clumsy by nature, yet she goes through periods where she is continually tripping, stumbling, and falling. This occurs because she is constantly growing, and her mind has to be forever keeping up with … Read more

I dropped the pan on the floor and was rewarded with a loud scream. When our son was an infant, I was concerned that his hearing had been affected by ear infections. Rather than take him to the pediatrician, I decided to perform a home … Read more

My friend Chris's house is somewhat of an oddity in Arizona — he has a lawn in his backyard. Most of us have rock, gravel, fake grass, or some other yard covering, as it's easier to take care of in the blazing hot summers. But Chris likes … Read more

I grew up in a dysfunctional family. My mother turned to arson when life dissatisfied her. If we could keep track of her discontent, sometimes it was possible to head her off, but it wasn't easy. We lived mostly in isolation in the bush … Read more

Recently, in a devotional published here on the PresbyCan Daily Devotional, Martin Wiles wrote how easily he and his wife can be sidetracked from their intended purchase by the clever displays in the store. He then applied it to our … Read more

My friend was dropping by one morning for a short visit, so I spent a few minutes beforehand tidying up things in preparation. Okay, I may have just been moving a little stack of books and papers from one place to another out of sight, … Read more

We read stories about people who prayed for rain, but who forgot to bring their umbrellas in anticipation of the blessing. When we abide in Christ, we pray and symbolically carry our umbrellas to prepare for the overwhelming gifts that … Read more

Many people may think that God could only manifest Himself directly in grand gestures like earthquakes or fire. There have been numerous pivotal times in my life when I have asked God for a sign. Several times, God has spoken directly to … Read more

As the anniversary of 9/11 arrives once again, I recall visiting New York City on Remembrance Day just two months after the tragedy. On other trips, our senses were assaulted by flashing neon lights and the ear-splitting noise of honking … Read more

I was reading a book about camel caravans in the desert and the kinds of goods that they transported from one place to another. It reminded me of the time when I lived in the desert in the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman in 1965-1966. At that … Read more

The age of being politically correct is a struggle for some people. Ways of speaking and behaving have changed and are changing. The second great commandment — "You shall love your neighbour as yourself" (Matthew 22:39 NRSV) — is the … Read more

A number of years ago, my brother moved onto my property with me. When we were children, he, being two years older, helped me to learn my alphabet, and taught me how to tie my shoes and ride a two-wheeler bike. Now that we are adults, I … Read more

There are many ways that we greet other people, but perhaps this biblical greeting is not the most usual! A common way of greeting another person is to inquire about their physical state. Equally important, however, is their mental or … Read more

"Have you anointed her and prayed for her healing?" my friend asked. My wife suffers with various physical ailments — too many, in fact, for her young age. She has undergone numerous surgeries to remove tumours that could have turned … Read more

Praise the Lord! Psalm 150 commands everything, "Just DO it!" — not just humans, but ladybugs, coyotes, stars in their heavens. A woman stops by to admire the sunflowers in my garden, turning their heads as they follow the sun. Their … Read more

While reading this verse, the picture of a transfer switch suddenly popped into my mind! A transfer switch is mounted near the electricity panel in a building that has a generator for backup power. The switch is a safety device which … Read more

After devotional time, my mornings usually follow a rather set pattern. Bed gets made and laundry started. Chewy goes outside to sniff the air and ground. Then he and Cat get fed. Water bowls and bird feeders get refilled. Somewhere in … Read more

During the fall, huckleberries were ripe for the picking in the shelter of the tall redwood trees. Our family picked fruit and took full buckets to a larger container at a nearby log landing where my two-year-old brother played in his … Read more

When the apostle Paul boldly made his appeal to Caesar, he was setting in motion a whole process that would have global consequences. It was the right of every Roman citizen who faced serious accusations to have their case heard directly … Read more