In 1991, my husband and I prepared to go to post-communist Czechoslovakia to help start a Christian school. Actually, God had planted the idea years previously. Now, through a series of circumstances and confirmations in Scripture, it was … Read more

I love Southern Gospel music, even if that makes me "un-cool"! I like its folksy, real-life lyrics, and I could almost dance to the joyful tunes. Actually, I am almost sure that King David danced to Southern Gospel music! Today, I am … Read more

In the past two years, I have attended various programs at university, my church, my hostel, and my place of work. All these programs had one thing in common: the participants were given a good farewell as we moved on to the next phase of … Read more

We settled for less because we didn't know that we could have had more. My wife and I sat across the table from a couple whom I would soon help to renew their wedding vows. Since we hadn't seen them in quite some time, we enjoyed … Read more

My surroundings needed a little tender loving care to make them more functional. My plan was to switch the use of one room to another purpose. I asked God to lead the way in the things that I had planned to do, and I followed His … Read more

My mom passed away two years ago this July. We had seen her rally in the day prior to her passing. In my heart, I knew that this was a gift to be cherished. As we chatted with the nurse and my mom shared stories about my growing up, we … Read more

One day, many years ago, after our boys had left home, I was in a melancholy mood and felt lonely for them. They were young adults, living their own lives, no longer under Mum's care. I missed just being able to chat with them and to know … Read more

I had been waiting for summer. Now that it had come, I was longing for respite from its sizzling heat. Thus I dug out dusty fans, then strategically positioned them to avail myself of their cooling breeze. What relief those whirling … Read more

The road from my winter home to my summer home rises from 1700 feet (518 metres) to 6400 feet (1950 metres), and it is 143 miles (230 kilometres) from the Sonoran Desert to the White Mountains of Arizona, USA. For half an hour, I travel on … Read more

In conversation a few days ago with my good friend, Pastor John, I asked him this question, "John, how do you handle all that life throws at you, especially in times of illness?" His response was immediate and heartfelt. "God is always … Read more

As I was meditating on this Scripture, I began to think that a face seen in a mirror can be changed through plastic surgery. Many people are willing to pay a great deal of money so that their faces no longer show wrinkles, saggy skin, … Read more

In many years of ministry, I have seen people who were truly thankful to God for help and healing. Their lives were changed in a single moment, so they devoted themselves to worshipping and serving God for the rest of their days. I, also, … Read more

From years of water leakage, the floor of my upstairs ensuite bathroom was rotten under the shower. I removed the ceiling, walls, and floor, and the room became an empty shell with a toilet. I have now insulated the ceiling, replaced the … Read more

I have always loved coffee, but as my girls have grown to enjoy it too, I have come to love it even more! While growing up, I had a divided home: Dad was a pot-a-day coffee drinker, but my mom loved hot tea in the morning. My sweet … Read more

Pete was obeying God, so why was his life falling apart? The events unfolded slowly at first, then more rapidly. Pete had answered God's call to full-time ministry a number of years before. Now, events with enough explosive power to … Read more

Twenty-four years ago, the area on which our home was built was a farmer's field. Once the subdivision was established, trees were planted along the boulevard in front of or to the side of the homes. As I looked out the kitchen window this … Read more

Over four decades ago, when I stood at the altar before the minister who performed the marriage ceremony between me and my husband, I made a promise of faithfulness to him "till death do us part". Quoting Matthew 19:6b (KJV), the … Read more

My Irish Setter decided that eating bees was a good thing to do. As we had a swarm of them around our porch, she set to her task with a vengeance. An hour later, her hugely swollen face revealed the evidence of her folly. Benadryl brought … Read more

My great-grandfather, my grandfather, and my father were all carpenters. I grew up with the smell of wood sawdust in the air. I have a brass plaque on my tool box containing the words, "I am the son of a carpenter." It is there because … Read more

I once taught a faith and science course in which I challenged my students to bring a Christian worldview into their academics. Sessions included guest speakers who harmonized their Christian beliefs with the secular scientific view of … Read more

Over many years of pastoral ministry, I saw some dedicated people who were always present for Sunday worship and church programs. They were totally immersed in the life, work, and ministries of the congregation, and it seemed as though … Read more

As I watch the Olympic events, I wish that I could boast of great athletic ability, but the truth is that I have none. I wish that I were different, but I just didn't have it in me. I probably spared many boys and girls from a poor … Read more

How do you feel about a pile of laundry that needs to be done? For me, it is my go-to chore — the one job that I always make time for: filling the washer with my favourite detergent, pre-treating the stains, putting in some heavy work … Read more

While we were at church on Sunday morning, August 31, 1986, a Piper Cherokee nearby collided with the stabilizers of Aeroméxico Flight 498. The small private plane crashed in an empty school playground in Cerritos, California, USA; all … Read more

"I can't believe that I didn't think of that earlier. I made it so difficult," my wife said. A friend and I lounged at our favourite fast-food restaurant, shooting the breeze, while our wives walked to a nearby retail store. My friend … Read more

I have the pleasure of spending a great deal of time with my five-year-old grandson. He has a kind and loving nature and models for me quite regularly what it means for us to love each other. One day, I accidentally damaged the mechanism … Read more

As I begin each day, I try to keep this passage at the forefront of my mind. I admit that on some days, I am better at this than on others. On this particular day, I had made the last payment on my car, and all the paperwork was done. I … Read more

We were shopping in the city when the call came. Seven-year-old Ade had fallen on the school playground and needed to go to the hospital. As we travelled to the school, my daughter, Mary, and I discussed the best thing to do, as our van … Read more

Life in the garden is always on the move, seen and unseen. Animals lie dormant and then wake up, seeds are sown and come to life, and caterpillars change into butterflies and deposit their eggs. Meanwhile, a text message tells me that a … Read more

We live in an interesting age. Some people need a cellphone because it has an app that helps them to find their car keys. Then, they need a landline to call their cellphone to find it! On the other hand, I know a person who has just … Read more

Over many years of being a pastor, one of the saddest things about ministry that I experienced was the number of people who took their faith for granted and attended church infrequently. No matter how hard that I tried to encourage them … Read more