My Beautiful, Simple Christmas

It is Christmas. Today marks the birth of Jesus Christ. Today is one of the most celebrated and significant events in human history. It also marks the beginning of the Christian faith. Millions of people observe the day in some form around the world. For myself, this has been one of the quietest Christmas seasons…

Bread

Last week I did something I have never done before. Despite hundreds of millions of people or perhaps billions of people (if you go back to the beginning of time) having done it. For me, it wasn’t necessarily one of those must do before I die events. But I decided to do it anyways. So…

Reflections During Summer Break

Well, summer is winding down. Tomorrow I will be back on busy Highway 93 for my school crossing guard duties. And 3 Sunday’s ago I returned to the pulpit to preach at the three churches of the Uptergrove Charge after our 4 week summer break. It’s been a good summer break. Other years I have…

My Father

Well Father’s Day has come and gone for another year. I always can’t wait to see it done and over with. Perhaps it is because of my own shortcomings as a father. Perhaps because there is always a sadness of having lost my own father when I was the young age of 15. Maybe it…

He Restores My Soul

Ahhh springtime. I love witnessing the vivid greens of the bursting buds of the deciduous trees. And walking into a hardwood forest where the forest floor is grandiosely carpeted by the delicate, and exquisitely beautiful white trillium. I particularly love going into a forest during or right after a rain. That piquant, musky “earth smell” emanating the air, and…

Reverend Raymond LeDrew

Fifty years ago I would never have expected I would be lay pastor at three wonderful rural Presbyterian churches in Oro-Medonte and Rama Townships in Ontario, Canada. I’ve always been a bit of a shy soul, awkward in social settings. And after my dad suddenly died from a heart attack in 1973 when I was…

Spiritual Lessons from Lego

Back when I was a child, an item I had written on Santa’s list at least a couple of times was a certain Lego set. When it wasn’t to be found under the tree on Christmas Day, I just couldn’t understand why. All year I tried to be a good boy. It was only when…

The Pieces of Peace

For as long as I can remember, I have always had jigsaw puzzles kicking around. They are one of those things where I have to be in the right frame of mind to work on.. If I am in the right frame of mind I might just pull one out and start the puzzle. There…

The Three Types of Skin

Our skin is so amazing. As our bodies largest organ, it acts as a barrier between us and our environment, insulating, protecting the organs, muscles, veins and bones from external threats. So everything from dust and dirt to bacteria and viruses can’t just go walking in. Even when it gets a cut, if we clean…

A Treasure in Jars of Clay

Seven weeks ago I was able to complete the notoriously tough 50k Pick Your Poison Trail Race for the 7th consecutive time. Although the course stays always the same, it seems that every year the race gets harder to complete. This year’s race I ended up as the 3rd last finisher out of 99 starters.…