Several years ago, when our praise team was practicing Christmas songs, I was challenged to write words to fit one of the songs that we were learning, "Emmanuel Has Come" by Don Moen, because … Read more

My friend, Mary, couldn't understand why her almonds were disappearing. She had set out a dishful for snacking, but she certainly wasn't eating them that fast. The only other person around was her husband, so naturally, she suspected him. … Read more

Some weeks ago, I had the opportunity to participate in a day-long video workshop on a sensitive topic that can be divisive and difficult for some people to talk about. So the opportunity to discuss it with others in a safe environment … Read more

Accepting another person doesn't necessarily mean accepting their beliefs or practices. Accepting someone whose beliefs or practices aren't the same as mine isn't easy. For example, growing up, I was taught that Sunday was a sacred day. … Read more

As a piano teacher, my job involves training students to work less. That's hard work for them! It sounds like a contradiction, but it's not. For example, overworking arm muscles interferes with finger development. The student must "make … Read more

When I first read the Anne of Avonlea books, I galloped through them. Would the ever-faithful Gilbert finally break through Anne's reserve? However, as I re-read them, I sense that the author, Lucy Maud Montgomery, must have experienced a sharp … Read more

When three of my grandsons were young, I walked them to school each morning. On one particular day, the path and the gate we used were blocked by a huge mound of snow. We had to climb up and slide … Read more

At the time that today's Scripture was my latest major revelation, one day, during my devotional time, I was itching to adjust my work schedule into a more efficient order, when I came across this quotation in one of my … Read more

For many years now, I have started each day of my life by anointing my forehead with oil, and asking the Lord for "Your righteousness, peace, and joy to be flowing throughout my whole being, spirit, soul, and body, so that I may live … Read more

I used to use the Blocked Sender List feature that was available on my computer, in order to weed out undesirable e-mail, but of late I don't find it necessary. Sometimes when I used this, I would accidentally place a … Read more

Are you afraid of dying? As we look deep into our souls, do we see fear there, fear of the future, fear of the unknown? Why am I here, and for how long? Surely, this is the fundamental question of … Read more

I am constantly amazed each week by the number of magazines at supermarket checkouts that announce to the world a brand new diet that will help us all lose twenty pounds a month. Every week, they publicize a brand new … Read more

One of my favourite pastimes is reading about how the plants of the Bible relate to the history and traditions of our faith. One cannot read about palm trees without discovering the tradition of burning the palm fronds from the … Read more

I had been corresponding with a young woman whose heart was breaking. Her little one was suffering with a cancer that had spread into his spine. This had left him crippled. The tumour in his brain had grown once more. … Read more

The other day when driving in the snow and slush of the city, I began to think that so often it is the "other" driver who causes accidents, so I must be careful to avoid his poor driving, as well … Read more

Not being what I would consider "computer literate", I limit myself not only as to how much I know about what my computer can do, but also as to how much I can do with the programs I have. For … Read more

Occasionally, the subject comes up regarding anonymity in our e-mail, especially where it pertains to our place of residence. There is a certain amount of risk in having people know where you reside. The phone is another bit of technology … Read more

In the last few months, I've attended services for several friends and acquaintances who were good people, but not regular church goers. When the service is one which includes a minister, they are called upon to perform a duty usually … Read more

A minister once preached a sermon about Jesus' parable of the three men who were given five, two and one talents of silver to trade with until the master returned. The man with one talent was reprimanded because he buried … Read more

Dear brother and friend Andis: Greetings from Canada! Cold as it is outside I hear even colder reports from your country and what is happening there at this time, especially in the south. Many here in Canada are praying for … Read more

It wasn't all that long ago that my parents, my sister and I went to church more or less regularly in a hamlet near our farm in east central Alberta. There were two churches in the hamlet – one, Catholic … Read more

Anybody who opens a newspaper or listens to the news will tell you that our world is hardly a peaceful place. With so much going on in the world, how can those of us with faith continue to hope for … Read more