THE FINAL IMAGE

ISAIAH 40:21-31 The largest land portrait in the British Isles began as an empty field in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Wish is a work of art created by Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada and is constructed out of wooden pegs, lots of sand, and other random materials like grass, stones, and string. Only the artist initially had a vision of how … [Read more…]

FOLLOWING WITH HONOUR

MATTHEW 4:18-22 A friend of mine observed an elderly rabbi passing the Wailing Wall while visiting Jerusalem. The five young men walking behind the elderly rabbi caught his attention. Like their rabbi, they were also limping and walking with a hunched posture. If an Orthodox Jew were to observe them, he or she would understand why … [Read more…]

MILK OR ORANGES?

My young son was overjoyed when I told him that a baby boy, just three months old, was coming to visit our home. He offered to share some of our food with the baby, thinking that the infant might enjoy a juicy orange from the bowl on our kitchen counter. He offered the ideas with … [Read more…]

THE PRICE OF WAR

JAMES 4:1-10 According to a World War I television documentary, it would take seven days to march all of Britain’s wartime casualties past the Cenotaph (war monument) in London. This surprised me. Wars always have a high price tag. There is no way to put a value on the number of lives that are changed or … [Read more…]

CHECK YOUR TONE

COLOSSIANS 4:2–6 You can use the spell-check and grammar-check features when sending emails. However, did you know that there are also tone checks available? These tools scan your writing for any language that can come off as hostile or harsh. I wondered what it would be like to have a tone check app for my mouth after … [Read more…]

120TH BIRTHDAY

AMOS 4:7-13 I frequently remind people that, by God’s grace, I will live to be 120 years old. According to a book I read, scientists are quite close to significantly extending human lives. Some predict that in the near future, they will be able to grant us a 1,000-year lifespan! But what difference does it make if we … [Read more…]

AMANI

2 TIMOTHY 1:7; 1 SAMUEL 16:14-23 Amani, a puppy with some special friends, is named after the Swahili word for “peace”. At the zoo, Amani cohabitates with two young cheetahs. The animals were grouped together by zoologists so the cheetahs could observe Amani’s laid-back behaviour. Since dogs are typically quiet in public places, researchers believe Amani … [Read more…]

KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELF!

PSALM 46 When John was younger, he played the game of bobbing for apples while having his hands tied behind his back. It can be difficult to catch a floating apple with our teeth when we do not have access to our hands. It served as a reminder of the significance of our hands. It is intriguing … [Read more…]

MIND GAMES

JAMES 3:13-18 “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure…” (James 3:17) Streamed media has multiplied tremendously in our time. With the explosion of online communication, public opinion seems to have a sphere of influence that has never been stronger. According to research, the way we live is influenced by what we see. This suggests that … [Read more…]

A PILE OF ASHES

1 CORINTHIANS 3:5-15 A woman once asked, “Why should I try to imitate Jesus now if I will be like Him in heaven?” (1 John 3:1-3). It is a sensible question! Being ourselves is much easier. Actually, there are important considerations as to why it is crucial to imitate Him right away. However, one stands out near … [Read more…]