How many times do we get angry with the ones we love? My family, my friends, and my circle of relations sometimes do or forget to do things that upset me, and I feel angry. I feel that I should confront them and let them know how angry … Read more

People engaged in any type of Christian ministry are constantly called upon to spend much time and effort in things unrelated to their real purpose and interest. One missionary said she sometimes felt as if she were "God's donkey", getting … Read more

How could he sleep? His fellow disciple, James, had just been done to death with a sword. Peter is next. He's chained to two guards, one on each side, with two more watching the door. And he's sleeping! In this … Read more

The challenge every day for the follower of Christ is to strike a balance between what he believes, and how he behaves. (Perhaps at this point I should say that when I use the pronoun he, I am including everyone.) … Read more

There are few books we may go back to read a second or third time. But the Bible is different. The more we read it, the more interesting it becomes, and the more levels of meaning are revealed. I've read … Read more

Two prominent figures in biblical history are described in two different situations as standing barefoot before God. Both Moses and Joshua were sought out by God, and given a very special task, perhaps humanly speaking. The thought occurs that whoever … Read more

Have you ever considered how much time, effort, and expense we put into keeping up appearances? The appearance of efficiency? Of beauty? Of prosperity? Of control? Of generosity? I suppose Martha was involved in something like this. Jesus didn't "phone … Read more

Recently during the severe ice storm in Montreal, my daughter was in one of the places hardest hit. She was in her apartment without heat or light for many days. I could think of little else. My imagination pictured her … Read more

Sometimes it is necessary to "harden our faces," as it were, against what is wrong in a multitude of guises. The love of God does not tolerate evil, nor does he expect his people to. But we need to be … Read more

I started thinking about faces after watching a couple of TV documentaries earlier this year. One was about an earthquake in Pakistan. A reporter with a camera was walking about among the debris as rescue workers attempted to help the … Read more

There you have it, plain as anything. We bear the image of our Father-Creator. He means us to bear his likeness during our time on earth. Would anyone notice? Take our faces for example. Consider the influence we wield just … Read more

A few thoughts on the rocky road of getting along with people. Disagreement and conflicts are inevitable. With the present emphasis on individuality, being assertive, and standing one's ground ("I ain't takin' no guff from nobody!"), it is becoming more … Read more

Rereading this Psalm recently, I was stopped by verse six. "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced …" Some versions used pierced and some use opened. In any case I didn't get the connection. … Read more

I was sitting out on the porch quite early of a Saturday morning, enjoying the first coffee. The only other person stirring was an elderly man, making his painfully slow way towards the downtown area. His cotton cap was pushed … Read more

We are such a busy people now, with our careers and courses (self-improvement), families, special events, volunteer work, hobbies, and so on. Even our vacations are hectic. Then suddenly, one day, we are faced with some bad news that almost … Read more

Have you ever had a great idea for a certain project, only to have it turn out the very opposite of what you intended? Sometimes our inspirations lead us to jump in without considering all the implications. I've been told … Read more

Recently I was talking with one of my neighbours over the back fence as we hung out our laundry. Suddenly the conversation plunged from trivialities into one of those deep places that are always there, just under the surface. She … Read more

We live on a quiet street in a pleasant neighbourhood of old houses and old trees and good neighbours. Our back yard stretched unimpeded across four homes. Once the snow has disappeared in spring, housewives abandon their clothes dryers and … Read more

Appeals, appeals, appeals: The list of charitable organizations flooding the mails with appeals for donations is endless. I will never live long enough to use up all the address labels and cute little correspondence cards tucked suggestively into a lot … Read more

Some days are very frustrating. Well, not exactly. It's not so much the day that is frustrating, as it is the development of circumstances. For example: Maybe there is a project you've been wanting to work on for some time. … Read more

Just a few verses, stating very simply the foundation of our Christian hope. The risen Christ makes himself known to his disciples. They were never the same again. They couldn't stop talking about it. We have a woman in our … Read more

Read all of Psalm 119 – it's all about the importance of being acquainted with the word of God and conversing with him. One Sunday morning last summer, I arrived at church before anyone else. As I took my seat, … Read more