One day in November, 2007, our team of staff and teenaged students arrived early at a tiny, ramshackle building in downtown St. John's on the Caribbean island of Antigua. Our mission on this trip was to present the gospel to the elementary … Read more
Search Results for: "John 7:"
Living At Flood Tide
Having grown up on the west coast of British Columbia, Canada, I'm somewhat familiar with ocean tides. Sometimes, we could swim easily, but other times, we had to walk a long way to reach the edge of the water. In 1972, my husband and I … Read more
A Defective Heart
In March 1993, I had chest pains and periods of shortness of breath. I went to see the doctor, and he referred me to a specialist. After a number of tests, it was determined that my aortic valve was defective. It was leaking badly, and it … Read more
Faith Like Squirrels
Are you fond of squirrels? From my childhood, I remember the damage that they can do if they get into one's attic, so I've not been particularly fond of the critters! This morning, however, as I sat at my table enjoying a coffee and … Read more
Come To The River
Ten Mile Creek ran below our humble shack at the lumber mill camp when I was a child. Until water was piped into the house, the creek served our every human need for water. In the beginning, we hauled drinking water and wash water, and … Read more
Water Supply
Canada contains one-third of the world's water supply in its more than 250,000 lakes. When I visit Niagara Falls in Ontario, I am profoundly impressed by the sheer abundance of water. However, like many rural dwellings, our house is on a … Read more
Lessons From A Cow
"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
To Judge Or Not To Judge
"Judge carefully" … "Do not judge" … "Judge for yourself" … "Stop judging" – the Bible Well, is it okay to judge or not? The above texts aren't helpful, are they? It's no wonder: They're extracted from their contexts! Furthermore, … Read more
The Flow Of The Spirit
Water! It's funny how water can affect us. We moved to a small town that has a river running through it. There are two dams and a waterfall. We don't live far from the river, so when I take my dog out for a walk, which is three or four … Read more
Living Water
I have noticed that more and more people are carrying a water bottle with them at all times, when they are walking or jogging, driving the car, in church, and at sports events. We are often reminded that water is good for us, even when … Read more
Downspouts Or Rain Barrels
It was pouring rain: eavestroughs channelling water from the roof, directing it downward; water shooting out of downspouts in a torrent; rain-barrels sputtering with the overflow; puddles everywhere. As I watched the water swirling away, … Read more
The Waters Of Life
There is a small, non-descript fountain at the entrance to our city park. The fountain itself is not very impressive as fountains go. It has just seven streams of water rising to a height of about ten feet, and a … Read more
The Spring Of Water
I had heard of a spring where one could go for drinking water. I packed bottles in my car and drove the distance to fill them with clear water. The drive in itself through the country was enjoyable. Rolling fields … Read more
Wet Stones
As we walked along the shoreline, the water ebbed and flowed at our feet. To the dismay of Jeff, my better half, I was on the lookout for interesting stones to add to my collection. At first glance, nothing caught … Read more
Enjoy Me While You Have Me
Our words can hurt others, often unintentionally, but they hurt nevertheless. Some years ago, I returned to live for a while in my parental home in England. My mother and I had always had a close relationship, but there were … Read more
A Satisfying Drink
Few of us go through a day without somehow encountering the effects of spiritual dryness in our society. Perhaps you have noticed that many young adolescent girls are obsessed with making their bodies sexually attractive to males. Really, they are … Read more
Come To The Fountain
Recently, I have been part of a program of severely restricted water consumption in the community where I live. This situation has been in progress for several weeks. We were advised that a bacterium, which had invaded our water supply, … Read more
The Trickling Spring
The spring in my dad's back field continually burbled forth fresh, clean water. As children, we thought of it as the source of some great body of water. Was it running to the mighty Fraser or the tumbling Colorado? (We … Read more
That's Not My Style
At the end of our holiday through Spain and Portugal last fall, we had returned our rental car and were waiting for the bus to our hotel at the airport in Madrid. An older gentleman with ruffled white hair, wearing a rather rumpled … Read more
In His Time
Recently, I read the testimony of a Christian woman from Nigeria whose relatives, a dedicated pastor, his wife, and one of their sons, had been brutally killed when violence broke out in a religious riot in 2004. Two other sons, aged 11 … Read more
Never Judge
Some years ago, a co-worker and her daughter were having lunch with me at a coffee shop. We were discussing Christmas preparations. This would be my first Christmas in the empty nest, and I was finding it hard to get … Read more
Living Water
Recently, we spent a weekend camping. After sharing our campsite with a bear, we decided to sit by the lake and watch the boys canoeing. Another family had gathered for a picnic, and as the children played, the adults prepared … Read more
Spiritual Water
When I was a child growing up in the south before the days of rural electrification, my relatives got their water from a shallow well with a pump. The amazing thing to me was that the pump had to be … Read more
It Feels So Good
As evening approaches after a very hot day, I go into the garden and use the hose to clean out the birdbath and fill it with fresh water. Every morning, I am rewarded as I see the robins gather, first … Read more
Five Paradoxes Of The Incarnation
Prayer: Marvellous Father and gracious God, thank You for these five paradoxes of Jesus' incarnation. May our hearts be filled with joy this Christmas as we meditate upon them. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. … Read more
Rivers Of Living Water
I live in West Virginia, USA, where, during the spring season, we have many flood watches and warnings. Many streams and rivers here overflow their banks. Without water, life ceases to be. Plants shrivel and die without water. Just imagine … Read more
Living Water
Several weeks ago, in Walkerton, Ontario, there was a tragic outbreak of e-coli poisoning in the drinking water. Several people — young and old — died, and many more were very sick. Since that time, the residents have had either … Read more
Flowing Rivers Of Living Water
This morning, when I was driving to work, I was listening to a Farsi language tape from Muslims who had become Christians. (I speak Farsi.) I noticed that they had a very lively church with a powerful message, songs and … Read more
When You Are Spiritually Empty
See if you've ever been in this place in your spiritual life: Your spirit is parched and withered. In prayer you hear only the echoes of your own pleas. You wander aimlessly through the barren soulscape, searching for that Friend … Read more