When I was a young child, I started to ask for a pony for my birthday. We lived in a town where there was a good-sized empty acreage across the road from our house. I thought that a pony could live there and that I could ride it every day. … Read more

Have you ever been tagged as part of a group of people? When I was in high school, the athletic guys and girls were known as the "jocks", the academically minded quiet ones were known as "the brains", and some of the tags weren't as … Read more

I'm so grateful that our gracious God answers our half-formed prayers. Are you? All too often, I find myself muttering a fragmentary thought as I dash in and out of God's holy presence. My need may be genuine and my thought sincere, but … Read more

I'm digging for family gold in Jerusalem — treasure that's been rumoured about for generations, hidden somewhere under the city. The authorities are trying to discover what I'm doing, and those who want the treasure for themselves and … Read more

Many churches celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration on August 6, based on the story in today's verses. We know what "mountaintop" experiences are, but this is not about anything that we do, rather that we become aware of what God is … Read more

How many times have you seen true darkness? I remember going down into a cave with a group of people. The guide said, "In a minute, we will turn off the lights, and you will see, perhaps for the first time, real darkness." Before that, we … Read more

In May, five new members of our family arrived. Five baby pygmy goats tumbled out of their travelling crates and into our corral. As they did so, we all wondered how Agnes, our ancient, eleven-year-old goat, would react to these … Read more

We spend much of life communicating with others. To do so usually requires two willing participants. Often, it requires spoken words, as referenced in today's Scripture passage. I am always intrigued by the fact that Jesus frequently … Read more

Daisy, our West Highland Terrier, is now a year old. She amazes us by loving us, never growling in fear, even after being taken to the vet for an operation, and barking only to call us to play or to let her outside. Having had her … Read more

I've worked in places where benefits were good, places where they were meagre, and places where they were nonexistent. While a good salary might attract us to a particular job, benefits enhance the chance that we'll actually apply for … Read more