Month: September 2019

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