There is nothing like moving house to show us that we have a lot of things that we don't really need — and perhaps never did. These were things that we could not live without, so we thought when we bought them, but as we downsize, we … Read more

I am blessed to attend two different churches; I attend one with my family on one Sunday and another on the next Sunday in my job as a direct support professional for adults with developmental disabilities. The two buildings are totally … Read more

My parents cautioned me about it over and over again — especially my dad. When I became a middle-schooler, my parents began to warn me about whom I hung around with. "Bad company corrupts good morals," they would say. While both my … Read more

I had moved to a new community and looked for a church to go to, a church that would be Christ-centred and welcoming for a newcomer. In no time, I was involved in a Bible study, and at one point, I was asked how I had found the study. My … Read more

Sometimes when I read Paul's letters, I wonder what kind of situation he was writing about and actually dealing with. It seems to me that all of the young churches to which he was sending letters had internal problems which were … Read more

As the sun grew brighter and the days grew warmer, the horses and goats began to shed their thick winter coats. And as they did so, I noticed that Mama, one of our miniature horses, had gained a lot of weight over the winter. *I'm going … Read more

Recently, I watched a wonderful film called Pilgrim's Progress: Journey to Heaven, a modern adaptation of John Bunyan's classic tale. The story is a clever allegory depicting the spiritual journey of a man named Christian who could … Read more

My birth weight was 9 lb. 4 oz. My mother weighed 90 lb. Obviously, I was not the petite, fine–boned, delicate child that she had hoped for, and that was when the problem began. I am sure that she loved me, but it was on her terms. She … Read more

When I want to understand something, I use three questions to guide my inquiries: "What do you mean?" "How do you know?" and "So what?" As I read the gospel of John in preparation for discussions at our adult Bible study group, because I … Read more

"Arrrgh!" I gasped, as my body gave the impression of being turned into a statue! I clung to the buggy, and was mesmerized by what I had witnessed. Outside the primary school where Zoë attends, there is a major road. A mother, buggy, … Read more

I took the month of December off from my Bible study commitments at the Meaford Long Term Care Centre. The only thing that I did was to lead a worship service there on Christmas morning. My wife, as she has always done for ten years now, … Read more

When we moved from suburbia to a small northern town in British Columbia, Canada, the house we purchased came with a drilled well that produced lots of clean, fresh water. We were thus not prepared when the following spring, the water … Read more

One Friday, a work colleague spoke to me regarding a stray dog which she had found on the grounds of her church the previous Sunday. I thought, Perhaps the dog was left by the owner who didn't want to care for it. The colleague was … Read more

As a boy, I used to love making model aircraft. Most of my allowance was spent on buying small kits of plastic jets or World War II aircraft. Sometimes, I even purchased model vintage cars, but those were usually very difficult to put … Read more

When I purchased my house in the village of Roland, I found a few things left here and there that I thought the descendants of the former owners might like to have: an end table, some framed pictures, a footstool… . Out in the garage … Read more

Some time ago, a dear friend gave me a special gift of heart-shaped measuring spoons, a memento from her nephew's wedding. Knowing that I would put the spoons to good practical use, she wanted me to have them. So now, whenever I bake, I … Read more

Years ago when I was first married, I made a large poster-like sign of today's verses and proudly hung it above a common staircase wall leading up to our second-floor apartment. I was in love, and I was going to spread it everywhere. Each … Read more

The other day while working in the kitchen, my CD player provided a dramatic reading from Luke 24. The words from the recording that grabbed my attention were about the two disciples' Resurrection Day meeting with Jesus on the road to … Read more

Let me tell about a dream I had last night. I saw a barren tree stripped of all its leaves, ready for winter — no green, red, or gold left behind, just stark and naked in the frosty air — so dead looking — just like we feel in lonely … Read more

When the news came, I knew that the situation was beyond my control. I moved to the upstate of South Carolina in the early 1980s, and jobs were scarce. I had vowed never to work in a textile mill again. Unfortunately, this was about the … Read more

I love debating with other people. It's part of my training as a pastor. At seminary or university, candidates for ministry are taught apologetics through class presentations or theological debates. The arguments usually spill over into … Read more

Every once in a while, we are confronted with statements that question whether the stories in the Bible accurately describe those events or whether they even happened, so many years ago. Many of those events are ones on which our Christian … Read more

My dear friend, Shirl, was close to the end of her agonizing struggle with multiple sclerosis, family breakdown, and abandonment, when she asked me to write her life story. It was her hope that women, who were suffering in any manner, … Read more

I have a car with computers in it. When it detects a fault, it has an instructive ding sound to let you know that there is a message. The more serious the fault, the more piercing the tone, and the more persistent and unrelenting the … Read more

At the jail where I guard, there is a row of lockers to store our clients' personal belongings while they are in a holding cell. The lockers preserve their valuables and clothing from being lost or stolen until they are returned to them … Read more

Recently, one of my daughters had to have laser surgery to fix some retinal problems. It so happened that on the same weekend we went to visit her, another one of my daughters and I unfortunately had a "snafu": a euphemism for a … Read more

For many years, I received the customary ashes for Lent without any thought to the biblical basis of this ancient practice. However, when the priest applied the ashes to my forehead in the form of a cross, I was faced with the unpleasant … Read more

Now, I think of it as Big Snow Blower Day. In January this year, after three consecutive arctic blizzards, it was a delightful relief to watch our neighbour, Don, drive his tractor and snow blower into the huge snowdrifts blocking our … Read more

I suffer from acrophobia — a fear of heights. Perhaps if I were a tall person, it might not be so bad. I get dizzy and unbalanced whenever I am up high. Standing on a ledge or a rooftop is very hard for me to do, although if I'm on a … Read more

My mother and I always joke about our cat, Simba, having servants. He seems to think that he is entitled to having everyone in the house "wait on him". This comes from the old joke about dogs having owners and cats having servants. When … Read more

Looking out the window first thing this morning, I see that it is snowing again. I can almost hear the moans and groans of the commuters. Normally, I would be moaning and groaning right along with them at the thought of more shovelling. … Read more