He Is Building a Palace
As I have often shared in the past, especially through July and August, my summer at Muskoka Bible Centre (a.k.a. MBC) on Mary Lake in the Muskoka region of Central Ontario offers countless opportunities to reconnect with friends I only see mid May through October. Visits on the deck behind the Hub, thought-provoking conversations around a fire pit or over coffee or tea, meals around the kitchen table, or simply hanging out on your own deck are a constant throughout the summer months. Yes, we...
Read MoreFriends and Friendship, and the Greenhouse
Please indulge me for a moment with two thoughts centred around friends and friendship, and gardening. Thought # 1 In 1982 Jerry and Mary White, a godly couple who love the Bible and all that it represents wrote and published a book entitled, Friends and Friendship: The Secrets of Drawing Closer. Through 1986 to 2005, Jerry was International President of The Navigators in Colorado Springs, CO whose mission is, To know Christ, make Him known, and help others do the same. During my time...
Read MoreOur Daily Day
In a recent conversation with some friends, I listened to a lady share how time seems to be moving too quickly. We understood her to mean years, but she extended her comment to include her waking hours, and we all nodded in understanding. Another lady pointed out that all too often her day seems to go by so quickly that before she knows it, it’s over and she’s accomplished very little. Still another remarked that as long as she keeps busy, she doesn’t mind when the day comes to an end;...
Read MoreThere’s Mercy and Then There’s MERCY!
For well over a year I have been mulling over the use of the word mercy. Why? I’ll explain later; but for starters, I will begin with its definition. Extending mercy can mean “to show great kindness or compassion toward the distressed.” It can be used in expressing surprise or fear (My mother used to say, ‘Lord, have mercy!’ when she was upset or startled.) But mercy can also be defined as “the withholding of a just condemnation.” For example, in our judicial system...
Read MoreThe Tree that Wasn’t a Tree
Do you remember your first Christmas tree? You know, the one where Santa would leave that special something you whispered about when you sat on his knee. I wish I could say I do. There is no doubt that we had Christmas trees throughout my childhood, and they likely stood in front of the living room window, looking out onto Ossington Avenue in Toronto. But sadly, I have no recollection of what they looked like. I do have a picture of me with my ‘walking doll’ that Santa left for me when I...
Read MoreThe Hand of God or Mother Nature?
The beauty of spring surrounds us on every turn. As mentioned in an earlier blog, the sounds of birds chirping and geese honking awake the world from a deep wintry sleep. “For behold, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone.” Song of Solomon 2:11 Now that May is almost over and June hovers, I must add yet another sign of spring. Lilacs, apple blossoms, tulips, crocuses, and daffodils each break from their winter home and colour our world with a beauty that often leaves us in...
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