In late January of this year, I had total knee replacement surgery. The recovery is slow but consistent, although it's painful. I often find it hard to sleep at night, and I spend hours awake "in the watches of the night". As I have been …( read more )

Suddenly, it was quiet! Your heart skipped a beat. Until now you hadn't paid much attention to the children's playful chatter. But now the silence grips every fibre of your being. That's the power of silence. Perhaps you've experienced …( read more )

Winter isn't my favourite season. Although it's very beautiful after a snowfall — a winter wonderland, as they say — I don't like it when the wind blows and visibility becomes almost nil, especially if we have to travel somewhere. We …( read more )

We're all familiar with the nursery rhyme: Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall; All the king's horses and all the king's men Couldn't put Humpty together again. At times it seems like the world is falling apart, …( read more )

I love the whole of Isaiah 53. It reminds me of why I became a Christian in the first place. At that time, I needed God to forgive me for many things and a whole host of mistakes. I felt ashamed of who I was, what I had done, and where I …( read more )

We know that Jesus, though God, had to be born human so that He could give His perfect life as the payment for our sins, but I really wonder why Jesus had to die such a horrific death. There were many ways that people died in those days. …( read more )

My wife Ruth and I farmed sheep for a number of years, and those sheep taught us many valuable lessons. Farmers are noted for being a diversified group of people, and some seem to be of the opinion that there is nothing that they cannot …( read more )

In an era of rapidly changing customs and thought patterns, the world of art likewise changes, following trends related to various philosophical worldviews. During my attendance at the college of art from 1961 to 1962, the prevalence of …( read more )

There's no magic in numbers, but the number 40 keeps coming back as if there were something special about it. The writer of Genesis says that Noah endured rain for 40 days and 40 nights. Moses twice spent 40 days and 40 nights on Mount …( read more )

"It's that woman's fault!!" declared Adam. "'Tis not!" shouted Eve. "It's that serpent's fault!" "Mission accomplished," mused the serpent. You're familiar with this scenario in Genesis. Adam, to his horror, realizes that God is aware of …( read more )

My great-niece, who has taken on a leadership position with a Christian youth organization, has recently married. What would be an appropriate wedding present? I thought of giving a few books to add to the young couple's now-combined …( read more )

Many years ago, we bought a brand new car. Before we did this, I had owned three used cars, and we thought that it would be nice to have a new one. We looked around at different types, but we ended up buying a new model of the same car …( read more )

A number of years ago, I had the opportunity to travel to New Zealand. One of my many memories of that beautiful country was the number of sheep that roamed the countryside. When preparing for my trip, I read one statistic that sheep …( read more )

One year, my daughter gave me a beautiful glass nativity scene for Christmas. At night, when lit, it gives a warm, peaceful feeling, reminding me that Jesus is the light of the world. Still, what makes this ornament special to me is the …( read more )

One of our daughters lives in a small town in Michigan, USA, and for many years, we went there for a week in the spring and again in the fall. Every afternoon, I went for a long walk, and over the years, I got to see most of that town. On …( read more )

Last year, my son was asked to participate in leading a special "Blue Christmas" service at our church. It is held every year before the holidays to comfort those in mourning. The message emphasizes the Lord's understanding of our …( read more )

On a sunny spring afternoon a few years ago, I took a drive around my new neighbourhood, on roads unfamiliar to a newcomer. Nevertheless, I enjoyed my outing in the farm country where more fields opened to the view, with farm houses a …( read more )

While walking my dog this morning, I noticed hundreds, perhaps thousands, of earthworms scattered all over the street. This is a common sight when heavy rains force these little creatures out of their water-filled burrows to seek oxygen. …( read more )

When my daughter married a man from Great Britain, it became obvious that she would soon be living there. The huge number of things that she had to do just to gain the visa was mind-boggling. She paid great attention to every detail and …( 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 )

In a world with so many different spiritual writings, why should anyone pay special attention to the Bible as a revelation from God? For me, convincing evidence comes from the fact that Isaiah, living 700 years prior to Jesus' time … (read more)

Our rural village is located about halfway between Erie and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Within the last few years, our minister was diagnosed as diabetic, and was also operated on twice to insert a stent into his heart. One Friday afternoon, … (read more)

One year, for my granddaughter's birthday, we included in her gifts a couple of Rattleback stones. They are quite fascinating. They were first found in many of the Egyptian tombs and were believed to have come from the Nile River. … (read more)

As a writer of young adult fiction, probably my most satisfying moments are when I finally finish another book. The story is complete, all questions answered, a satisfactory wind-up, no loose ends. I can sit back and say, "It is … (read more)

The young man had six silver balls pierced through his lower lip. Three studs were on each side of a semi-circle loop which joined them together. Another woman had a silver stud through her tongue and half a dozen gold … (read more)

Most of us likely know the expression, "Silence speaks louder than words." Years of experience have taught me that this proverb is true. Sometimes, I can give a better testimony simply by being silent, much to the disappointment of some … (read more)

Last year, I had surgery on my neck, due to a disc pressing on my spinal cord. For numerous reasons, I was not looking forward to it. I was scared of surgery — not because I thought something would happen, … (read more)

Walking together, hand-in-hand, over the bridge, rain slowly drenching our pant legs, Grace and I are making our way to Giant Tiger to buy her Saturday treat. I prattle on about the obsession of the day, to satisfy her desire … (read more)

Have you ever really taken the time to look at an onion? It doesn't matter what type of onion: red, yellow, or Spanish. Sometimes, we talk in the church about the onion in reference to our healing and how we … (read more)

A bedtime back rub in the hospital used to offer wonderful comfort to soothe aching bones and bring on a sound, refreshing sleep. Some nurses had "the touch" that set them apart. Jesus' hands reached out to touch and heal … (read more)

I was the boys' school captain for my last three years at senior high. Coincidentally, my wife, Evelyn, was the girls' school captain of her senior high school, too. I don't know what the equivalent is on this side of … (read more)

My husband and I recently had occasion to go to the United States. Ronald dreads going across the border because he has had several bad experiences. On one crossing, he had to wait for hours while his car was searched. … (read more)

"If only I were beautiful, then I would be loved," the young woman said to her mother. "If only my wife still looked like that, life would be sweet," the man remarked to his co-worker. What a sad commentary it … (read more)