Palm Sunday brings memories of my kids being in the throng of children who waved their palm branches as they marched around the church sanctuary. Their voices rang out, "Hosanna in the highest!" The angelic look on their faces would make … Read more

I will never forget the Christmas Eve service that I attended on December 24th, 1989. That year, it was decided that a significant portrayal of the Christmas story would be presented complete with wise men, shepherds, Joseph and Mary, and … Read more

In the five years since we moved to our house, I have pruned, dug up trees, and replanted or planted anew bushes, plants, and trees. I am not an inborn gardener — unlike my mum who was — but I must have gleaned something from helping … Read more

Perhaps you've occasionally been rebuked with these words: "You just need to have more faith!" Years ago, I received that rebuke. I knew that it was meant to boost my faith effort. But instead, I felt guilty for not believing hard enough; … Read more

Years ago, I wrote a devotional for Palm Sunday entitled, "Donkey Business". I did not realize it at the time, but since then, I have had the opportunity to hear several inspired teachings that … Read more

We require power to do anything. Sometimes, the power comes from within, but often we need external power. In many cases, this external power is supplied by electricity, and we are connected to that source. However, when a direct … Read more

The sad news came in mid-summer 2020. Because of the global pandemic, schools in Oregon, USA, will be using online education in the fall, with in-person education being postponed until at least November. This news had a dramatic effect on … Read more

I admit it: I love parades — especially the drum lines and the bagpipes. When I was growing up in Toronto, Canada, my family went to the annual Christmas parade and it was a big deal. Here in Rabbit Lake, we don't have that kind of … Read more

Halloween bags still held treats. The calendar had barely turned from the fall feasts. But the staff were there, clearing the shelves. Anything that looked orange, yellow, or black was marked down to move out the door. Fall had been … Read more

While waiting for everyone to arrive for Bible study, one lady proudly showed us a picture of her first grandson. We all congratulated her. Then, someone asked his name. "You'll never believe this — it's Royalty! His dad says that he … Read more

What do car washes and love have in common? This isn't a joke; it's to get us thinking. Obviously, both improve life: of vehicles, or of people. But that's not what I had in mind that day when I stood at the carwash mulling over the … Read more

One of my great pleasures in life is reading, but guilt sneaks in whenever I sit down to imbibe in a gluttony of chapters. "A waste of time," whispers the little voice in my head. "You must vacuum, dust, write something, or cook a meal … Read more

by Isabel Allison A little lad, loved by kin of mine, looked straight ahead, then in voice sublime — for child philosophers tend to mime — spoke out amid the chatter of Christmas supper time: "This sure has been a good Christmas," … Read more

The approach of Christmas certainly stirs up memories of yesteryear. Changes are replacing the ways of the old days. It was Advent, which means "coming", and the Finnish Lutheran church that I attended as I grew up was preparing the … Read more

Not too long ago, I joined a weight loss class. I finally accepted the fact that I needed help, and that I could not lose the weight on my own. To date, I've lost thirty-seven pounds, and I have gone down two dress sizes. I have also lost … Read more

While I was eating lunch with my sister-in-law and her little lad about three-and-a-half years of age, my sister-in-law's phone rang, and she left the table to answer. Just then, the little lad finished his bowl of spaghetti and cheese, … Read more

I have an electric cooker (or stove) with a tough, translucent black glass surface to protect the cooker elements from the saucepans. When the electricity is turned off at the switch, the red glow fades, but the heat generated by the … Read more

Last fall, I worked off and on at installing laminate flooring in two bedrooms and the hallway of our small bungalow. This last week, I finished the second phase in our front hall. All the while, I kept thinking that there must be a … Read more

Faith is a journey of trust in God. It starts with a walk along a path, and if we follow through, progresses to an ascent on a mountain. It is that important. The goal is to understand exactly what God is asking of us. It is a worthy … Read more

I remember many, many years ago that every spring, my mother did her spring cleaning. It seems that a lot of people on our street did that on the same day or in the same week, as soon as the weather turned nice. There would be blankets on … Read more

A news item one night was about parents who lost a child through another teen's weakness and grave error in judgment. The parents, being interviewed a couple of days after their daughter's death, made a public statement that they not only … Read more

What does this mean? We could use it in many contexts. I was sitting, sipping my tea, and reflecting on an older movie that I have in my entertainment library, starring James Garner and Larry Fishburne, called "Decoration Day". It is the … Read more

Jesus quoted this prophetic Scripture from Isaiah 56:7 as He went into the temple following His palm-strewn entry into Jerusalem the day before. The religious leaders were alarmed by His show of authority as He forcefully overturned the … Read more

As I was reading a relatively familiar passage in Matthew, an occasional occurrence happened to me that always amazes me: some of the words seemed to jump right off the page and instantly grab my attention. Perhaps Jesus might have … Read more

It all started with a prayer. In the quiet of the night, he prayed, "Lord, please use me in some way to reach out to my new friends and neighbours." Little did he know that God had already begun to answer his prayer one and a half months … Read more

It took much too long for October to get to November. Decorations of horror and death littered neighbourhood lawns, and automated electronic hands moved on the desktops of fellow workers when I passed, reminding me of unseemly things that were … Read more

In the small town outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, where I grew up, the county ordinance prohibited any kind of livestock on our properties. However, that ordinance did not stop one family from keeping a donkey in their backyard. I … Read more

My neighbour's face was pale, haggard, and tear-stained as she told me that she hadn't slept all night. She had received very upsetting news; she was worried, afraid, and despairing. "It's hopeless," said Sally, "and there's nothing I can … Read more

Every year, our church gives out resilient, green palm branches as a reminder of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. We usually receive them as we enter the church. Last year, I hung mine across the top of a painting in … Read more

What is faith? It comes at various times in our lives easily, and at other times in a wave of doubt. For me, right now, as our sons are becoming young men, I seem to be finding myself in the … Read more

Advent: a time of waiting, preparing, expectation. Even in the rush of life, a moment of silence and observation enters the heart that is open to the reason for the season. We know that peace comes from God's peace, that … Read more

I was reading a novel in which the main characters were always saying, "Let's pray about it." That is a wise thing to do, I thought, but during one part in the book, it struck me as rather odd. The … Read more

One day recently at our church, we had a guest speaker who represented Gospel for Asia Missions. He showed us a video of a young missionary named Joseph who was trying to tell the people about the Lord. The people … Read more