Our well went dry, so there was work to be done. My sons and I gripped the thick rope tightly as we helped their dad to pull the pump up from the 250-foot-deep well. Our knuckles were white from straining to hold onto the rope, and we … Read more

Tragedy struck here on the morning of June 27! All four baby robins had suddenly vanished from the nest. We had been video-monitoring their progress every day. They were just nine days old. We turned on the camera in time to see Mama … Read more

I'm anticipating that sharing my friend's dream will boost your faith as it does mine. She said: In my dream, I was lying down. A swarm of bees hovered six inches over my entire body. One bee stung my foot, and I jerked. My reaction … Read more

One day when Mother and I were walking the fields on the farm, we came upon one section of the rail fence that was down. We knew that the cattle would get out, so it needed to be fixed. I said to Mother, "I can't fix the fence; I hear the … Read more

Are you aware of God-given opportunities? At the time, I wasn't! My cousin turned 80 on Friday, April 24th. Two days before, my phone rang, and thankfully, I recognized her Rochester area code — not a telemarketer — so I answered … Read more

We were very poor, and the J.C. Penney store carried good quality clothing. Mamma would put them on layaway until they were paid for. What a happy day it was when she brought the clothing home for us to wear for school. We didn't have to … Read more

"You will find gold all over the sand," our young friend told us as we travelled to the Salton Sea. We were thrilled as we got out of the car to search for treasure. Sparkles tumbled about in the water and shone in the sun as the gentle … Read more

The sign read, "House for Rent. Hot and Cold Running Water." Though laughable now, there was a time when having indoor plumbing was a luxury that only the wealthy knew anything about. Water was drawn from a well or creek and was carried … Read more

In Canada, we waste about 50 percent of the food that we buy. Just imagine what effect that has on our budgets, our garbage, and our economy! We are all just too fussy. One friend throws out leftovers because she is tired of eating the … Read more

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

Each year at this time, my husband and I go to my dad's grave and clean out the old summer foliage around the headstone. We dig up the soil a bit and insert the foot prongs of a green wreath with a few seasonal decorations for the winter. … Read more

"Sally has to go!" lamented the farmer. "It's because of her bad influence on the other cows. She's the dominant cow in the herd; and that's bad." This farmer, in the video that I watched, had seen enough of Sally's bad influence on … Read more

We celebrate our birthdays in many ways: we send cards, decorate our homes, give presents, and have parties. Christmas is a birthday — Christ's birthday — and by far, celebrated in the most varied ways and by the most diverse groups of … Read more

As I lay awake in the black hole of sleeplessness, my eyes wandered to the crack in the blinds which covered the window behind my bed. I was amazed at the glory of the spectacle above. The sky, an inky black canvas, was encrusted with … Read more

This year, I tenderly raised my four tomato plants in anticipation of a large crop of juicy, red tomatoes to share with my neighbours. Each day, I watered them faithfully, and as the season progressed, I checked their vines for ripe … Read more

Yesterday, the power was out in the area where we live. The outage lasted four hours, and because we'd been given prior warning, we were prepared. It was a dark and rainy day. Even expecting and knowing the power to be off, I don't know … Read more

There are some folk who don't believe in Jesus because they don't want to, and they easily find reasons not to. There are others who would really like to believe, if only they had assurance that the gospel is believable. There are many … Read more

Recently, my family went to see the movie "Risen", a film which uniquely depicts the resurrection through the point of view of an unbeliever. As in a detective story, Clavius, a high-ranking Roman official, is put in charge of solving the … Read more

As I write this, we are preparing for our worship services for Good Friday and Easter Sunday. One of our music directors has asked me to do a reading, essentially a spoken word version of a song from Jesus Christ Superstar, which I … Read more

I have always loved parties. As a child, nothing excited me more than a little piece of paper that said, Come to my birthday party. Nothing much has changed in that respect — I still love get-togethers. I have had more than my share of … Read more

I have an electric toothbrush, which does a fantastic job of cleaning my teeth and keeping my gums healthy, and all it takes is two two-minute brushings per day. Who could ask for more? And yet, some days, those two minutes seem to … Read more

Try to exclude the possibility of suffering which the order of nature and the existence of free wills involve, and you find that you have excluded life itself. – C. S. Lewis Until my early sixties, I was a very active person. In my … Read more

In 2001 and 2010, I wrote about how God has shown me rainbows: Rainbows , Still Watching , and A Sense Of Wonder . I understand these to say, "I AM is with you. It's okay, son. I hear your heart." Thankfully, we see only a … Read more

Let me tell about a dream I had last night. I saw a barren tree stripped of all its leaves, ready for winter — no green, red, or gold left behind, just stark and naked in the frosty air — so dead looking — just like we feel in lonely … Read more

For the first time in thirty-five years, we will not be celebrating Christmas in our cozy house on our four acres of lawn and forest with the creek at the back, the place which has been our home for all those many years. That house is … Read more

On Sunday mornings, I get to experience one of the best views in church from the pulpit. I see the entire worshipping congregation, and as I scan the people in the pews, I think about their struggles and stories and about how the amazing … Read more

Recently, I watched a fascinating documentary, hosted by the 700 Club, which discussed the biblical and historical record of Jesus' brothers and other family members. The name given to them in the Greek is "desposyni", meaning "the Lord's … Read more

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 lay there in my hand, a senseless, one-piece thing of molded metal. I felt put down and … Read more

After reading this portion of Scripture at the beginning of my Human Physiology class at Redeemer University College, I asked my students what they thought Paul was saying. The response was intriguing. Some students said that Paul was telling us … Read more

I have a cat that lives in my house. Sassy is half Siamese, so she doesn't shed as much as those that don't have Siamese in them. I have noticed that when I take her to the veterinarian, take her … Read more

A time came when we all knew my Dad was dying. I felt very close to my Dad, and I believe that he was concerned about how I would react when he was gone. Dad took me aside one day … Read more

As I was washing the dishes, I looked out the kitchen window and noticed a bird in the backyard. The starling was flapping about in an awkward way. As I gazed at him, seeking to figure out this puzzle, it … Read more

From the privacy of the car, I watched a little two-year-old bundle of all-boy energy. With infectious delight, he was climbing the large rock boulders that marked the perimeter of the parking lot. I saw the moment when his eyes … Read more