In a devotional on April 16, 2024, I told the story of my own conversion through picking up a tract in a mud puddle. It was entitled, "The Power Of A Tract", of which I am totally convinced. The … Read more

As a biology professor at a Christian university, I had the experience on a few occasions of a colleague feeling uncomfortable with my support for a literal interpretation of Scripture. They were particularly puzzled that, as a publishing … Read more

The conclusion of the gospel story about Jesus healing the demon-possessed man has always intrigued me, because what happened after he was delivered is so similar to my own story. The cured man wanted to follow Jesus, probably because he … Read more

In the small mountain community where I live during the summer, there are hundreds of children who don't have adequate food at home. In response, two faithful young women founded Backpack Snacks. On Friday, each of the identified … Read more

Spring has sprung, and with it, my thoughts stray to gardening. As we will be living in a new home this spring, one without an established garden, I wonder what the soil will be like. I am hoping that it will be good soil, but I really … Read more

During the past number of weeks, I have been struggling through a number of losses. In my head, I think, *How do people without faith cope without the comfort of God? How do people cope without His promise, "Never will I leave you; never … Read more

"Thank You for … the terror of trust … ." I have lost the source of this written prayer, but not its impact. There's wisdom in this paradox: Trustful faith is forged through those terrifying experiences when we feel utterly vulnerable … Read more

Do you prefer to remain unnoticed in public settings? I do. It feels safer. There's less risk of experiencing humiliation. Yet, one desperate woman took that risk the day she snuck up to touch Jesus' garment. She preferred a quiet … Read more

When I was much younger in the faith, studying the Bible was a huge challenge for me. I would pick up my Bible, try to read through a chapter and memorize a verse, yet nothing would sink into my head or penetrate my spirit. Before long, I … Read more

Recently, I have been up a ladder making adjustments to my satellite dish, to see if I could get a better signal from the receiver for the television. The signal needs to be strong enough for the receiver to receive it and the quality … Read more

Let us compare ourselves with the disciples. The disciples had the great advantage of being with Jesus on the boat. They knew where Jesus was. But they had an inadequate idea of who Jesus was. They asked, "Who is this man? He gives orders … Read more

The following is my friend Joyce Augustson's story. I felt hopeless and alone in 1940s Arkansas, and I wasn't close to my mother. We weren't the poorest of poor, but many of the children I knew didn't have shoes and wore rags for … Read more

Imagine the scene that day: Jesus, the Man who did miracles and spoke powerfully — unlike any other — was making His way down the street, surrounded by His disciples and a noisy, jostling crowd. Everyone was trying to get close to Him, … Read more

"Many car owners just don't listen to their cars. If they did, they could prevent a lot of damage." This was said by an experienced mechanic. He's convinced that if owners paid more attention to their vehicle sounds, they'd be quicker to … Read more

As I walked along with my dog, Sparky, during the January thaw, I couldn't help but notice how dirty the street was. Apparently, a lot of people do not bother to pick up after their dogs, and that angers me. There is absolutely no excuse … Read more

Almost daily, the neighbour twins run over to my house to check the fruit seeds that we have planted in broken mugs in the kitchen window. We've had one success so far: the soursop seed grew to be a foot-and-a half tall before we … Read more

As a close-knit workgroup, we set out for a weekend camping trip to forge down the South Fork of the American River in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, southwest of Lake Tahoe near Sacramento, California, USA. The excitement … Read more

Not long ago, a friend and I were discussing the term "born again". I mentioned how the image presented in today's Scripture has helped me personally to define this experience. I picture the Word of God as a seed, which by the power of … Read more

There it was, just ahead of me on the sidewalk: a familiar, bright yellow dandelion, the harbinger of spring, growing out of a narrow crack in the concrete pavement. Somehow, a lone seed from the previous year had landed in the crack and … Read more

The news about a five-year-old girl being raped in India has caused worldwide concern and disgust. The recent bombings at the Boston Marathon and the shootings that are so prevalent these days have also caused concern and anxiety. These … Read more

Every year, the church that I serve undergoes a six-week stewardship campaign. Like most churches, we are presently going through some lean times. A major part of the problem is that our congregation is now competing with hundreds of … Read more

I needed a black skirt for a concert, so I googled the word "skirt", hoping to find fashion ideas. To my surprise, I got fishing sites and discovered that a skirt is a kind of fishing lure. This is not … Read more

I had just finished reading an article in a magazine that dealt with the miracle of healing. I knew the author, and some days later, I wrote to that person and unloaded all the health issues I had been going … Read more

I wrote previously about how God provided a job for me when I was down to my last ten pounds. The reason for the job was to give me a gracious manager who gave me the latitude to organise life … Read more

One of the mysteries of life that continually baffles believers is why God allows His enemies to persecute and torment His people. Recently, I read a thought-provoking devotional about Joanna, one of the women who supported Jesus and His disciples … Read more

During the winter it is not uncommon to find us sitting in our living room, anxiously waiting for the sun to move around the house and into our front window. On my way to the living room, I passed by … Read more

We've made a lot of friends and acquaintances over the years. With that comes having to attend the funerals or "celebrations of life" of many friends, and of acquaintances who are well-enough known to attend theirs as well. Added to … Read more

As a small present for Caroline, my wife, I bought some green bamboo stalks. They sit huddled together in a large ceramic pot. It seems they have previously been trained around a pole to have a spiral stalk. One of … Read more

I started teaching church school at the age of eighteen, and continued teaching children for many years. I have been fortunate to watch my earlier students grow up and become productive citizens in the community and leaders in their churches. … Read more

A recent incident that occurred recently near Duluth, Minnesota, U.S.A., brought this scripture to mind. The winds were beginning to blow heavily, and a couple were sea kayaking in the rough (and increasingly stormy) waters of Lake Superior. They were … Read more

Years ago, we started out on a holiday, heading from Ontario to British Columbia, on the west coast of Canada. As I drove along, towing a pop-up trailer with my husband, two children, and a dog in the car, we … Read more

I spent the day today weeding my garden. It is a never-ending task. It seems that as soon as the job is finished, I have to start over. There are dandelions, bindweed, buckhorn, clover, quack grass, creeping charlie, and many … Read more

One morning as I got myself ready for the day that lay ahead, I struggled, thinking of how I would tend to the problems I was anticipating. After slipping a piece of bread into the toaster, I waited for it … Read more