Sharon Lundquist and I married brothers and have been dear friends for most of our adult lives. I sometimes say that we are sisters-in-love as well as sisters-in-law. For many years, we have lived in the same greater metropolitan area, but … Read more

I've been a member of a small, unique club for more than three years now. One of my college classmates, knowing that I like to write, told me about the online PresbyCan Daily Devotional, which celebrates its 26th anniversary today. My … Read more

Jewels can sometimes be found among the junk. My wife calls it "junking", and she does it quite often. When possible, I usually tag along. We don't actually visit junkyards or stores, but we call what we do junking because we do it among … Read more

When I studied preaching at seminary, we had the opportunity to spend three hours with Marshall McLuhan, who coined the phrase, "The medium is the message." In 1964, he proposed that the form of the message determines the way in which that … Read more

It seems that our world has become submerged in a pandemic of scientific theories, all promising hope for an unrelenting virus. How many of those theories have been proven? That's a big question! Only rigorous testing through time and … Read more

Although I've read the Old Testament multiple times, I didn't fully internalize how relevant it is, both to my walk with God and to my understanding of the many ways that it points to Christ. This summer, I'm in a Bible study that focuses … Read more

My relationship with money has always been complicated. We were always short of funds when I was a child, and when my father died, leaving no insurance, we depended on government assistance until I was old enough to get a job to help … Read more

Here's a riddle for those of you familiar with church tradition: How are cake recipes and church bulletins alike? You'd likely agree that both list ingredients to be assembled and enjoyed. But did you remember the fire? Yes: They both … Read more

The other week, I received a letter from my bank, declaring that it would be making changes to my account. This came as a surprise to me, so I asked God for His favour and rang my local branch. However, after a few minutes of conversing … Read more

In the six years since we bought a home built in 1901, I have spent quite a bit of time stripping paint off doors, trim, and walls. The accretions of the ages had become ugly and needed to come off so that repairs could be made and fresh … Read more

When we do the Lord's service from the heart, no matter how great or small a deed, it all counts. In the Old Testament, under the law, the Israelites had to tithe in a certain way and amount to receive God's blessings. Today, when we … Read more

My husband loved to give me jewellery. On our fifteenth anniversary, he surprised me with topaz earrings and necklace. I recently found the photo that we took at the lodge near Yosemite National Park. My head is proudly tilted to display … Read more

Yesterday, today, forever, Jesus is the same, All may change, but Jesus never — Glory to His name! – Albert B. Simpson It is now 2019, and we have changed our 2018 calendars for new ones. It seems that there are two constants in … Read more

This devotional was inspired by the devastating forest fire at Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. Sometimes, God is like a forest fire in how He manages His church. To us, a forest fire is intensely destructive because it consumes hectares … Read more

We hear an awful lot about change these days. Everything is "new and improved". People move, change jobs, and grow old (if they are lucky). Seasons change, and so often, we hate it. We are, like every other living thing God created, … Read more

Sparky and I have not been to The Trail for a couple of weeks, so as we enter through the narrow opening in the tall grasses, I am astounded at the changes that meet my eyes. We are instantly engulfed in a maelstrom of whirling leaves, … Read more

Finances going south and a pressing question: should I keep giving to God, cut back, or cut it out entirely? I was always taught that we couldn't outgive God, but what about when giving means an unpaid bill, a missed meal, an empty gas … Read more

More than ten years ago, I went with a touring group to Israel. As we rode in the morning sunshine in an open-decked boat on Lake Galilee, we met a similar boat. In the picture I snapped, that boat appears to glide on clear, blue glass, so … Read more

I was told that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. However, as a young girl, I was not very domesticated, and the kitchen was an unexplored terrain that I did not desire to explore. That left … Read more

I have a clear picture of a host of Christians who have gone before us sitting around the banquet table with Jesus in heaven. The fellowship and meal are a greater experience than our limited words can express. The bounty … Read more

Here in Victoria, one of Australia's cooler states, the seasonal change to February's summer weather has turned my green lawns to straw gold, as temperatures have soared beyond 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit). The changes … Read more

"I heard that," a strident voice announced. Oh, yes, we had been caught out. Our grade school teacher had overheard some not-so-complimentary statements about both her personality and her teaching methods. From then on, no matter what we ever said … Read more

Twenty years ago, when I was forty years old — almost to the day — I was diagnosed with Parkinson's. This was quite a shock at the time, but over the years, I have realized that it was a blessing … Read more

With seven in our family, Saturday was a big washing day for my mother. There were a couple of things that I liked to do to help her. She washed all the clothes in the big kitchen sink, and it … Read more

For several weeks last spring, my way of life was turned upside down. We were getting ready to move to a smaller home, and, before that could happen, we needed to sort through nearly thirty years of keepsakes and memories, … Read more

Recently, I have been experiencing added joy and blessing, which really began about fifty years ago. Raised a nominal Christian, I knew nothing about tithing. A few months after our marriage, I accepted Jesus into my life as my personal … Read more

For some time now, wildfires have been raging in the interior of the province of British Columbia, Canada, as a record-breaking drought has permitted dry tinder to become fuel for the blazes. More than thirty thousand people have been evacuated … Read more

Approximately one year ago, I made a decision to donate half of my waitress's gratuities to our church in order to help pay off our church building's mortgage. This was over and above my regular financial donation of ten percent. … Read more

There have been a lot of changes in my life over the past several years: – Our youngest went off to university in the U.S.A. for 3 years. – My parents seemed to age overnight, and the roles were reversed … Read more

Lapidary: One who cuts, polishes and engraves precious stones. Just think what we have awaiting us when we see Jesus and our heavenly home for the first time. We can hardly imagine the joy that will be ours then. I … Read more

For the past year, I made a choice to tithe, to give ten percent of my paycheque to the church. When I cash my cheque every week, ten percent of it goes into my offering envelope for that week, to … Read more

One night recently I needed to deliver a message to someone down the road, and on my way back, I decided to take a detour up through the inside of our subdivision, walking paths long left behind from days when … Read more

Think of the people you worship with each Sunday. How many of them do you know by name? How many do you pray for regularly? Do you know anything of their real concerns? I wonder if our fear of or … Read more