They were called filling stations, and for a good reason. When I was young, filling stations were places where people went to fill their vehicles with fuel. But they were quite different than they are today. They were full-service … Read more

That morning, my 94-year-old friend wasn't interested in small talk. She opened my phone call with these words: "I've been reading the Bible every morning! I want to cover whole books at a time! I love it!" She continued, "I just can't … Read more

The woodpeckers are back. I hear their insistent rat-a-tat-tat from morning until evening. At home or in the bush while I am walking, they are hard at it, looking for the fulfillment of nourishment as they drill into trees in search of … Read more

I have been visually impaired for some time now, and today, I want to tell you about my struggle with not being able to see the details. Adjusting to this new normal is like being a first-grader in the school of learning! I am often … Read more

When I was a little girl, maybe about three-and-a-half years of age, some of my family and some visiting cousins, children, and adults were on a patch of grassy-green yard just beyond our kitchen doorsteps. It was a beautiful, … Read more

The church these days faces a changing world. We are trying to reach out to neighbours who have a "me-centered approach". How does the gospel meet them? Are we welcomed now when we knock on the door of a stranger's house? There may be … Read more

There are some folk who don't believe in Jesus because they don't want to, and they easily find reasons not to. There are others who would really like to believe, if only they had assurance that the gospel is believable. There are many … Read more

When someone talks about God, do you envision Him as an old man with a long white beard, looking down from heaven and surveying the earth and its inhabitants? Or do you see God as an invisible force, unattainable and unreachable? … Read more

Canadians went to the polls in October in a federal election, and the new government is being sworn into office today in Ottawa. Those who wanted change got their wish, and time will tell whether that was a good thing. But good thing or … Read more

In our town of 8,500 people, we have eleven Christian church buildings: eight still active, one for sale, one already sold, and three without clergy. Obviously, in the past, our forebears felt the need to build all these churches in which … Read more

In my sky-blue Malibu, I was driving alone across a wide expanse of white-bright, flat, flat prairie on a narrow road untracked since the night's soft snowfall. My car tires crunched snow into the gravel, sketching parallel lines in the … Read more

Recalling my trip as a tourist in Athens, Greece, many years ago, my most memorable experience was visiting the Parthenon, one of the most prominent of all ancient Greek temples. There I also had the opportunity to see the historic … Read more

When Cub Scouts once met in my yard, a "busy-work scheme" was letting the boys search for four-leaf clovers. Early on, this would fascinate them, until one would decide this assignment was busy-work and refuse to be conned. Now and … Read more

One of nature's greatest sights is the hundreds and thousands of birds gathering in autumn for their winter migration. Another of nature's great marvels is how they reach their destination. Among the best known of the migratory birds is the … Read more

We are used to seeing animals come onto our property. We have a large yard and a pasture. One day, there was a totally white cat, which we had never seen before, sitting near our birdfeeder. It was intensely watching … Read more

I walk the long road in the heat of the day from the Stalling (boat landing) to the Vreed en Hoop Presbyterian Manse that I call home. It is an amazing journey through temples, shrines, mosques, tabernacles, churches, meeting halls, … Read more

We have known each other since early childhood, she and I. Our piano-playing mothers sometimes spelled each other off in their little community band, augmented by saxophone, drums, guitar, and accordion. We've lived our lives along much different paths. She … Read more

I opened my Bible and read for a while; this always fills my spirit and starts my day with the Lord. Then I went to the front door of the house, opened it, and looked across to the parkette. There … Read more

From the journal of a "seeker and searcher" in my congregation: "Ken also said that maybe God is searching for me more than I am searching for God. "Yes! "I needed to be reminded of that! God knows where this … Read more

Genesis asserts that human beings enjoy a special relationship to the Creator because we are created in the likeness of God and blessed. Elizabeth Achtemeier says: Surely that fact should be emphasized, for in our time there are many who … Read more