One of my windows faced the main street, and I could see the foot traffic that passed by. Parents waited with their children for the school bus, and apartment residents waited for a taxi, Uber, or the city bus. A very thin young man with … Read more

From my kitchen window, I enjoy the heavy, low-flying, distinctively coloured, quiet, slow-mannered pair of wood ducks that like to rest on their webbed feet awhile on the horizontal branches of my big, old maple trees almost every morning … Read more

A friend told me that he was looking for a new therapist. "I thought you were happy with the one you had," I said. "Oh, I can't go back to him," he said. "When I thanked him for helping me, he replied that talking to me had been a … Read more

A beefy guy with a buzz cut has a half-smoked cigarette behind his ear. Sitting next to him is a kid with a nose ring and eye makeup, wearing a black hat that says, "On my way to hell!" Those of various faiths board, in turbans and … Read more

O Canada! our home and native land, True patriot love in all thy sons command. With glowing hearts we see thee rise, The true north, strong and free, From far and wide O Canada, We stand on guard for thee. God keep our land glorious and … Read more

From my kitchen window, I enjoy the heavy, low-flying, distinctively coloured, quiet, slow-mannered pair of wood ducks that like to rest on their webbed feet awhile on the horizontal branches of my big, old maple trees almost every morning … Read more

During my quiet time with the Lord on the morning of Wednesday, October 22nd, at precisely 10 a.m. (noticing the time because I had to go to an appointment later), the Holy Spirit spoke to me through this Scripture: He urges us to pray … Read more

As the fall draws along, road construction is also in high gear to get roads completed before the winter season. For the past few weeks, on the road that I travel twice a day when I'm working, the paving company has been busy putting down … Read more

Prime Time Ladies, a group of women from our church, along with friends, come together on the third Tuesday of each month to have lunch and listen to a speaker. To date, we have had many different speakers from various organizations and … Read more

Some of our questions about why pray and how to pray begin to find answers when we look at the apostle Paul's instructions about prayer found at 1 Timothy 2:1-4 within a conceptual framework of: make statements on behalf of … Read more

Among my treasures I have a letter.

The letter is from a lady who was the young wife of a student minister. I was a very young teacher when I received it, and had been home for a weekend or two when the young couple was ministering in … Read more

The apostle Paul's letters to his protegé, Timothy, speak about various topics. Some encourage Pastor Timothy himself and some are for the shepherd as well as his flock. These verses apply to Timothy and the church: In this … Read more

For most of my adult life, I did not quite trust in prayer. I wanted to, but did not really get into it. I had been exposed to people who pray. I attended church all my life. I took part … Read more

Recently, I heard the news that an older cousin had passed away. As always, when someone I know dies, I immediately reflect upon old memories of family and friends. I think about losses I have experienced over the years and … Read more

Some time ago, I took to heart Paul's exhortation to make prayer my first priority. I used my Bible dictionary of Greek words and learned meanings for requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving. Requests are statements of urgent need. God waits … Read more

I have experienced the abysmal hopelessness that can enter a heart, spirit, and soul. I have experienced believing that there is no way out and no way back to a better life. For a season, I believed that I was … Read more

I still have my Presto pressure cooker sitting on a shelf in the basement, unused for many years. The pressure cooker works by taking very little water and creating steam under pressure, and so reducing the cooking time. There is … Read more

I remember clearly that I was standing in the bathroom, of all places, and to my thinking, it appeared that my whole world had come crashing down about me. The most valued relationship in my past life and in the … Read more

When I was a child, I lived in what was known locally as "the forks of the river". In order to go into town, we had to travel a dirt road and cross the river over an iron bridge. … Read more

Life itself is filled with constant learning. At the least-effort end of the scale, we learn something the minute we open our eyes in the morning: the time, the weather, the previous day's news. By law, we must attend school … Read more

Nearly twenty years ago my family (my parents and brother) began studying with the Jehovah's Witnesses. Because my parents were disillusioned with their own church, they were very open to the teachings that were being presented to them. It was … Read more

My eight-year old daughter, observing the grassy roadside plastered with posters on poles, asked as we were driving along the highway: "Daddy, what are all the signs for?" We live only twelve miles from the Canadian/American border, and with local, … Read more

In August 2000, we left Nova Scotia and moved back to Sri Lanka with our two boys. We had lived in Sri Lanka before for a couple of years until 1997. Not for want of trying, it was hard for … Read more

I go outside each day to look for signs of spring in the backyard. Each day there is something new. Yesterday, I spotted a male robin perched on top of my neighbour's blue spruce tree. I had never seen a … Read more

My job requires me to be in contact with people who live and work all over the globe. The other day I spoke with a most amazing professional woman in Cote D'Ivoire (formerly known as the Ivory Coast). She said … Read more

I was part of a planning committee for our family reunion. This committee had been meeting for several months, discussing, planning, delegating and even setting up various committees to make sure that the event would be a success. The day … Read more