Back in 1866, when the founding fathers of Confederation were discussing naming Canada, Sir Samuel Leonard Tilley was reading the Bible one morning. While reading Psalm 72, he was inspired by the words of today's verse. His suggestion … Read more
Archive for November, 2020
The Prophets' Candle
I've discovered an Advent wreath tradition where the first candle to be lit is "The Prophets' Candle". That got me thinking: All Advent themes must get their flame from "The Prophets' Candle". Otherwise it's impossible to grasp the true … Read more
Out Of The Mouths Of Babes
Nothing warms my heart more than watching our youth pastor gathering his flock at the front of our church for story time and prayer. The platform comes to life with the flutter of waving hands signalling their parents until they have made … Read more
Game Changer
As I have written elsewhere , I have a yearly dialogue with the tax department. Year-on-year, they seem unable to join up the dots between our income and their rules. This year was no different. In COVID-19 times, it was more troublesome … Read more
Thankful In All Circumstances
Recently, I came across the story of Martin Rinkart, a Lutheran minister, who came to the German city of Eilenburg in 1637 near the beginning of the Thirty Years' War. Because the city was walled, it became overcrowded with refugees from … Read more
The Munchables
When I was nervous or trying to complete school assignments, I chewed pencils so fervently that my parents feared that I would develop lead poisoning (even though pencil lead is made of graphite). When my young granddaughter began chewing … Read more
Creatures On Alert
During our evenings, my husband and I have enjoyed watching nature shows on television. We marvel over the professional, hi-tech motion photography depicting the world of wildlife. Recently, however, I felt the need for a break. It was … Read more
Brothers And Sisters In Christ
Many, many years ago in the Netherlands, before big-box stores and supermarkets, different merchants delivered goods from door to door. On certain days of the week, they would come down the streets to do just that. The milkman came daily, … Read more
Pandemic Post
Throughout this pandemic, I have been collecting British stamps. I am doing this for two reasons: firstly, I'm gathering them in several albums to give to my grandson in years to come. I hope that he appreciates the stamps as something … Read more
A Hole In My Heart
My older brother and I shared a common bit of philosophy. We agreed that any years granted us beyond a certain given age would simply be icing on the cake, and death at any point thereafter should not be viewed as a great tragedy. We felt … Read more
Black-And-White Photographs
I once took a class in black-and-white photography at a local art school. Our first assignment was to take interesting photos to develop in the school photo lab. I spent happy hours photographing the Rideau Canal locks here in Ottawa, and … Read more
Our Need For Hope
What kind of sin steals a carefree childhood and spirals it into a world of alienation, shame, and secrecy? An evil that defies the very hope that Christ stands for, leaving hopelessness in its wake. Could it harm a child growing up in a … Read more
Who Are "Corona People", Anyway?
My husband Solomon is Nigerian and I am British. Although we have been living in Germany long enough to become acclimatized to the German culture and language, we still enjoy connecting with our cultural and linguistic roots when the … Read more
Pleasure Or Duty?
"During those horrific wartime days, did you view your role as pleasure or duty?" That question never entered my aunt's mind during World War II while she was hiding Jews on the fifth-floor tuberculosis ward of the Dutch hospital that she … Read more
Club Benefits
We had the clubhouse. All we needed was members. My cousin and his family lived next door to my maternal grandparents on a large farm. The closest neighbours belonged to another race, and because of the culture, neither he nor his … Read more
The Morning Drive
It was a chilly Monday morning. After two days of anger at a particular situation in the media, I was on my way to work. I'd be useless at my job as a church secretary with all this mess in my heart. I needed to spend some time in the … Read more
The Wind Storm
In western North America this past summer, wildfires devastated nearly four million acres of forests, burned 8,200 structures, and killed 31 people. One day, our weather forecasters warned that high winds were likely to exacerbate these … Read more
God Desires To Bless And Heal
In 1984, my wife Dana had headaches so bad that some days she could not walk upstairs to the bedroom. These headaches came and went for about two years until the pain was so extreme that she had tests done to see if she had brain cancer. … Read more
The Crickets
Traditionally, a chorus of crickets entertains us during balmy summer evenings, while we sit in our outside retreats after a long day. They are very noisy, but as the crickets begin their song, I enjoy their chirps. These loud crickets, … Read more
Give Me Some Old Time Religion
When I was a child, the Reverend Bailey was a strong shepherd who taught with conviction and skill. He preached the fear of the Lord: Sunday mornings at church found me snuggled as close as humanly possible to my mother's side while he … Read more
The Day Of Rest
On a gloriously sunny, cool Sunday in October, I made my way to the Rideau Falls here in Ottawa, the place where the Rideau River tumbles into the Ottawa River, surrounded by parkland and memorial gardens. The week's demands had made my … Read more
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