Dams burst, bridges crumbled, interstate highways closed, and roads washed away. October 3-4, 2015, was a historic weekend in South Carolina, USA. A low-pressure system moving through the southeastern section of the country tapped into … 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

My dad was a talented woodworker and carpenter, doing many renovations in our home and even building a rowboat. I took a woodworking class in high school, and although I was not skillful, I did gain an appreciation for the beauty of wood. … Read more

My dad became what we affectionately called "the coffee guru" of our family. Daddy loved his coffee. In fact, he enjoyed it so much that he wanted to find out what made coffee so good. He took the time to study and research online, … Read more

I write in my Bible — in the tiny margins, in between lines and columns — sometimes so densely that it obscures the text. I take notes on sermons, comment on verses, underline favourite verses, and record historical notes. I draw arrows … Read more

I have undergone a few surgeries in my life, for my foot and knees, and even had my tonsils out when I was ten. I learned a lot along the way about the body's complexities. I have learned the truth of what the psalmist declares, that we … Read more

As any parent can tell you, when your child has a high fever, it is pretty scary, especially when it will not come down. The last thing in the world any parent wants to do is to put a hot child in a cool bath to take their temperature … Read more

The first family road trip that I remember taking happened when I was eleven years old. From our home on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, we travelled all the way to the Okanagan. Now an easy trip of eight or nine hours, it took … Read more

Recently, I have been updating regular PresbyCan Prayerline requests with the aspiration of raising awareness of the suffering of the people of Ukraine since February 24, 2022. I do not know how many have engaged with God on behalf of my … Read more

While my husband went to university, I ran a hostel for teenage runaways in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Kids from every small town came to the city for what they thought would surely be fun times and adventure, only to wind up beaten, lost, … Read more

A large man was kicking in my front door, interrupting the nap that I'd been taking with my children, ages three and four. "I want my kids!" he was screaming. There was no time to run and hide, so I bundled my sleepy two under the … Read more

I well remember gazing at the black and white television screen, watching the careful, steady steps of Commander Neil Armstrong moving down the ladder of the Apollo lunar module to step onto the silvery powder surface of the moon on July … Read more

I have been fascinated with archaeology ever since I was young, immersed in our family's National Geographic magazines and books. I spent many hours looking at the finds in Egypt and South America. In recent years, I have enjoyed watching … Read more

I will be the first person to admit that I am not a good gardener! I'm just not good with plants. I've been known to kill perfectly hardy house plants. At home, I am relegated to weeding and watering the garden, which is probably just as … Read more

Each morning seems to come with a new, tasty selection of temptations! When we were children, my siblings and I were usually tempted by what our parents told us that we couldn't have, or especially by the things that we wouldn't share with … Read more

Just three years ago today, a "John Doe" (as the judge described him) committed the worst murder spree in the history of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, when he drove a van down Yonge Street, killing ten people and injuring sixteen others. It … Read more

Many of us are wearing masks these days, and there are a lot of different styles and patterns to choose from — ranging from disposable ones to designer looks. Sometimes, it's hard to recognize people when they're wearing their masks. Just … Read more

"God writes the Gospel, not in the Bible alone, but also on trees and in the flowers and clouds and stars." – Martin Luther I once viewed the Word of God as simply a system of laws and rules to obey. At least, that's what I absorbed … Read more

If ever there were a time when we need to approach the throne of grace, it's now! The whole world has been turned upside down. We need God. We need His peace. We need His strength. There is no one else to turn to. Prayer is a gift from … Read more

Someone who wants to walk on a path in the dark certainly needs a flashlight in order to avoid tripping or stumbling, for in being so equipped, an accident can be prevented. God's Word to the believer fulfills the same function: it is a … Read more

The other day, a friend forgot something and immediately said, "I guess I'm having a 'senior's moment'". As we age, our memories start to fail, and we can't recall even recent events as easily as before. Some years ago, when I reached … Read more

As I grabbed my ringing telephone, I heard my daughter saying that Frank was in the greenhouse. Dropping the receiver, I made a dash out of the house, arrived at the greenhouse, and confirmed that Frank had indeed broken in and was … Read more

Towing a caravan in the remote parts of the Welsh countryside, combined with fans blowing onto the windscreen, resulted in a distinct film of the outside dust attached to the inside of the windscreen — not that it is that noticeable in … Read more

I was typing a message of consolation to a fellow believer on my cell phone and was just about finished, when my two-year-old great-grandson came running in, jumped on my lap, and proceeded to give me a big hug and kiss. What happened … Read more

As I opened the front curtains one morning, I noticed a woman walking by with her large dog. I live in the "no pet" area; I was not happy. Then he decided to use my flower bed for his bathroom. That did it. I threw open the front door. … Read more

Several years ago, I received the following anecdote from a clergyman and saved it: There is a monastery whose members gather around a new candidate and ask, "Why do you want to join?" Candidates may say things like "I am seeking peace", … Read more

We moved into the house that we are living in now just over three years ago and we saw that there were smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in various places throughout the house. Due to the fact that our minds were totally set … Read more

We are amazed at all of the technology that has come into use in the past fifteen years, and we wonder what might be discovered, developed, and revealed within the next very few years. God created the cosmos with all of the possibilities … Read more

My parents were very close, in love all their married lives, and it showed. They also had great faith, and that showed as well. At age 65, my dad was killed. A few weeks after his funeral, I asked my mum how she could keep going. With … Read more

Early in my life, after graduating as a deaconess, I made Canadian church work my career, serving in Grande Prairie and Red Deer in Alberta, and in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where I started Flora House. I was even sent to Newfoundland to help … Read more

Today's Scriptures bring back memories of a time when a dear friend turned against me and complained to other members of the church. I felt shocked, betrayed, and abandoned by someone I had trusted. Nonetheless, the personal pain that I … Read more

I recall preaching on the above verse at the anniversary of a church that had closed years and years before. Each year, there was an anniversary service to honour the prairie pioneers who had built the church and built up the faith in the … Read more

In the news, commentators announced that this year's fee for a thirty-second commercial during Super Bowl XLIX (49) will be four and a half million dollars. I thought to myself, *What if I, as an emissary for God, were awarded the … Read more