Coloured silicone bracelets first became known and popularized by Lance Armstrong when he launched his yellow band inscribed with "Live Strong" as a fundraiser for cancer which he had battled and beaten. Since then, other colours have crept into the … Read more

I try to walk my dog every day, rain or shine. It seems that the rainy season has finally hit, and so recently, I had to walk in a torrential downpour. I was the only person silly enough to be … Read more

As I turned to leave my friend who had just lost her husband, she squeezed my hand as the tears rolled down her cheeks and said, "Pray for me in these 'in-between times'. By faith, I know I can survive … Read more

"It's too lumpy! Even the dog can't get a good sleep on it anymore." Buying a new mattress for the guest room had been put off long enough, and with this declaration, we decided it was time to purchase a … Read more

She was dressed in shabby clothes, with a blanket across her lap. Her long thin fingers, rough and red from the winter's cold, clutched a small can filled with pencils. Every work day, this lady, perhaps in her thirties, sat … Read more

When I think of Christmas, I can't help but remember the times in my life when God provided for our family. There was the time when my father broke his leg. The gifts were small that year, and, living on … Read more

"I have a surprise for you," announced our guide on our recent journey to Israel. Just as evening was closing in, our bus stopped, and we entered a kibbutz, where we all were loaded onto the elevator travelling to the … Read more

We call ourselves the "Motley Crew" and we certainly have a variety of experiences between us, being mostly retired clergy. With spouses and friends, we meet each month for a meal and fellowship. Together we must represent hundreds of years … Read more

All right, I admit I'm a little out of touch with the entertainment world. Still, my children thought I'd really missed the mark when Meat Loaf was advertised at a local dinner theatre. Am I the only one who thought … Read more

It was Christmas and a joyful time in our home. Our girls both have families of their own and we must share them and the grandchildren with their extended families. Our time with all of them together was to be … Read more

My aunt had a most beautiful, big Christmas cactus which filled her round dining room table. In early September, the rich, deep green cactus began budding and bursting into beautiful pink flowers, which bloomed right through Christmas and into the … Read more

Matthew, in his Gospel, gives us only the highlights of the incident of the wise men. We do not know how they banded together to travel as a group, and we must simply assume that they travelled by night to … Read more

It has always seemed strange to me that God sent an angel to the shepherds in the fields to announce the birth of the Christ Child. Weren't shepherds considered to be on the lower rungs of society? Their work kept … Read more

Travelling with children is always an exercise in patience. Whether we are going a short distance or taking a longer vacation, our trip is always punctuated by statements and questions from the back seat: "I'm hungry." "How much farther?" "When … Read more

As a new Christian, I have always found today's Scripture to be an intriguing verse. Just a few Sundays ago, our pastor used this verse in his sermon. This week I was given an opportunity to see this verse put … Read more

Many children in this world have only a gingerbread Christmas, making gingerbread houses, men, and cookies. We have all heard the childhood fable of the Gingerbread Man, and many of us have read it to our children. One Christmas I … Read more

Most Advent themes emphasize the preparations we are invited to make for the coming of our special baby — Jesus, born in Bethlehem. We clean the house and heart. We bake up a storm (maybe). We send out Christmas cards … Read more

Gift giving is a favourite pastime at our house, and at Christmas, most of all. We enjoy choosing something appropriate and wrapping it with beautiful paper and ribbons. It is so much fun to change the appearance with an odd-shaped … Read more

I was feeling tired and weary one morning, and the busyness of Christmas was beginning to get me down. I took the garbage bags out to the sidewalk in the bitterly cold pouring rain, and then slouched into my car … Read more

During the week, I have many little people coming and going — sometimes daily. What a blessing they are! I have a church ornament I put out only at Christmas time. The candle glowing in it shows the beautiful painted … Read more

There are many functions involved in Advent: preparing, watching, and praying, but it's the waiting that is hard. We know Advent is here again when every parking spot at the local mall is full, and every square on the calendar … Read more

There are some things a mother never forgets: her baby's first steps, first words, and, in my case, my daughter's first sentence. When she was a baby, we had moved in early December, and arranging our furniture came before putting … Read more

I was searching for a greeting card for a favoured person in my life, and I was thinking of buying it from the company that uses a popular slogan about caring enough to send the very best — a card … Read more

During this year's Christmas season, the most awaited movie will not be Harry Potter's latest escapade. Instead, a well-loved book, written by C. S. Lewis and called, "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe", will be released on the big … Read more

In my green salad days (when I was young and inexperienced!), I couldn't understand why everyone didn't eagerly anticipate the Christmas season as much as I did. That is, until I had my own difficult season of mourning. When surrounded … Read more

I remember Christmas past very well. A few days before Christmas, we would decorate a real live Christmas tree that was about five or six feet tall. My brother was very particular about how the tinsel hung. We younger ones … Read more

"Five Friday Shopping Days 'Til Christmas" the sales flyer read, reminding me of the expectations our society has put on this one day each year. The first of these notices started appearing in my mailbox the week before Thanksgiving. While … Read more

I thrive on new projects, fresh ideas, and innovative designs. The church where I attend is in need of a new Advent wreath that can be lit each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. It is to be … Read more

A few years ago, I found myself in Canada, after ten years in Central America, where I had hoped to remain the rest of my life working with the poor. All was so strange to me that Christmas, as I … Read more

This year as I planned my Christmas gift for my daughter and her children, I was reminded of the conversation I had with a lady several years ago. "Anna" knew her long battle with cancer was nearly over, and as … Read more

I recently had a conversation with a wonderful Jewish lady, and we shared with each other about our holiday traditions. She was celebrating Rosh Hashanah in October, and she told me about the fellowship and meals, and the prayers and … Read more