What Do You Get Someone Who Has Everything? (Wise advice from the Magi)

What do you give someone who has everything?  That’s a gift-giving challenge faced by many of us who live in an affluent society.  In a sense, we face the same problem when it comes to giving a gift to the One whose incarnation we celebrate each year.  What do you give Jesus?  Afterall, he literally has everything he needs.

The Christmas Story in 3 Minutes (Flipbook Version)

Several years ago in Ottawa, I had the joying to telling the Christmas story at a banquet for Canadian Members of Parliament and ambassadors from a wide variety of nations.  The challenge was the time limit:  I was allotted three minutes.

Praise and Prayer Update (December 5, 2025)

Linda and I recently returned from celebrating US Thanksgiving with our kids and grandkids down in the States. We had a joyful, meaningful time together around the Thanksgiving table. We even got to hear our son Ryan preach a Thanksgiving…

The Shaping Power of Friendships (Part 4 of 4)

I have two favourite songs about friendship.  The first is James Taylor’s classic, “You’ve got a friend.” Don’t you love the promise he makes in the chorus:  “Winter, spring, summer, or fall, all you’ve got to do is call, and I’ll be there—you’ve got a friend.” Where can we find a friend like that?

The Shaping Power of Friendships (Part 3 of 4)

When it comes to friendship, Proverbs says a true friend sticks with us through adversity. Since that’s true, we may be tempted to think a true friend always makes life easier and smoother for us.  But that’s not the case.  Here’s a second (and surprising) mark of a true friend.

The Shaping Power of Friendships (Part 2 of 4)

Since our friends shape up in deep and lasting ways, we must choose them wisely.  This raises the question: “What does a true friend look like?”  Proverbs answers this question by identifying two memorable marks of a true friend.  In this post, we'll focus on the first mark.

The Shaping Power of Friendships (Part 1 of 4)

“Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.”  This statement echoes an important theme in the book of Proverbs. The theme of the shaping power of friendships. In this series of four posts, I want to explore the impact of our friendships and how to find (and be) a true friend.

What Does a Faithful Pastor Look Like?

Ever wonder what a faithful pastor looks like? I certainly did when I began serving as a pastor. After studying the Pastoral Epistles (1 & 2 TImothy and Titus), I came up with a simple sketch to picture a faithful pastor.