tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23737246800284060522011-12-23T08:25:04.531-05:00maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03964926120976505072noreply@blogger.comBlogger181100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2373724680028406052.post-47592350076774815832011-12-23T08:24:00.002-05:002011-12-23T08:24:51.575-05:00

"Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Saviour has just been born in David's town, a Saviour who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a Baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger." (Luke 2:10-12, The Message)The angels were excited. The Messiah was now here and they were entrusted with proclaiming the news.

pastor joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547209157533497260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2373724680028406052.post-38072473690038814152011-12-17T10:58:00.001-05:002011-12-17T11:15:48.290-05:00

“Do you hear what I hear?” Christmas carols are playing on the radio and in the malls. For some it is the most wonderful time of the year. Maybe you felt you were run over by a reindeer only the decorated Bambi is driving a Mac truck. Some of you are waiting for jolly old St Nicholas to grant to you your three page wish list. Still others are trying to climb out from under the hippopotamus that

pastor joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547209157533497260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2373724680028406052.post-43623160771765532742011-09-12T15:34:00.000-05:002011-12-02T15:35:38.930-05:00

Threatening rain, 90 km/hr winds and the single digit temperature changed the venue of the outdoor wedding to inside. Rearranging tables, the reception hall was quickly turned into the wedding chapel. Jessica and Nathan were getting married. The groomsmen looked dashing in their black suits. The ladies gave the wedding an air of sophistication, but the belle of the day, Jessica, looked absolutely

pastor joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547209157533497260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2373724680028406052.post-44486477436790119542011-07-09T15:32:00.000-05:002011-12-02T15:34:34.632-05:00

Eyes closed. It is still dark, only 4:30 in the morning when I hear them. It starts with one but soon the early morning is filled with the announcement that a new day is soon upon us. Birds catch my attention. I am not a bird watcher but I do enjoy watching them. I am amazed robins can find worms and pull them out of the ground. The architecture of some bird nests are complex and sturdy

pastor joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547209157533497260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2373724680028406052.post-52032595321297085482011-03-17T15:31:00.000-05:002011-12-02T15:32:51.860-05:00

I read of a man who like his father was spontaneous. His dad would say, “Grab your passport, wallet and a change of clothes.” Then the father and son would go to the airport and take the next flight out to wherever it took them. Most of us don’t have the financial means or the time to be that spontaneous but unless house bound, most of us do make a trip or journey of some kind. It may be a

pastor joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547209157533497260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2373724680028406052.post-73416975542241045232010-12-22T10:12:00.002-05:002010-12-22T10:15:57.367-05:00

Some are offended because we say Merry Christmas. Some because of their faith belief may choose not to celebrate the Yuletide. So to be politically correct, I want to give you some seasonal tidings.“Irresistible Incarnate Day!”“Immanuel Season”“Vicarious Victory Celebration!”“God with Us Time”Whatever we call it, It is the time of peace, goodwill towards men.The angels did not shout Merry

pastor joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547209157533497260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2373724680028406052.post-48805630088252978702010-07-29T15:39:00.000-05:002011-12-02T15:40:25.530-05:00

How far did you travel this summer on vacation? This year, we have seen license plates from many of the states and provinces as we drove west to Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. The mice on Muppets Treasure Island sing “I’ve Got Cabin Fever” and the song swam around in my mind as we sat for what seemed like endless hours of driving. It took us over 40 hours of car time just to reach there. I do

pastor joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547209157533497260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2373724680028406052.post-67182468228865671902010-06-10T07:35:00.000-05:002010-06-10T07:37:13.943-05:00

“Strike!” I enjoy bowling on our Nintendo Wii®. Although it’s somewhat realistic, I must admit it did not improve my game with real bowling balls and pins. Some of our friends had mentioned they lost weight by using the Wii so we decided to purchase Wii Fit Plus®. Many of the games fill a double duty. You get to spend fun time with your family, laughing at their hula hoop, while you are

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03964926120976505072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2373724680028406052.post-60400226847066705802010-04-28T07:31:00.000-05:002010-06-10T07:34:32.537-05:00

I am amazed at what some people want to chuck out. It was probably a good thing that I was driving my school bus or I may have been tempted to stop and ask, “Are you really throwing out that old snow-blower? What’s wrong with it?”Warm spring weather brings us out of hibernation. We unfasten the back shed, air out the basement and open wide the garage doors. I am no different but it still amazes

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03964926120976505072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2373724680028406052.post-27075056041282149412010-03-04T14:40:00.002-05:002010-03-04T14:44:22.932-05:00

You can call me an old softy, sentimental in my old age or just extremely patriotic but my eyes water and I get a lump in my throat as our Canadian flag is raised, our national anthem is played and our Canadian champions are on top of the podium sporting new gold medals. I almost think I should be standing at attention in my living room and as it comes to the last few notes I begin to cheer along

pastor joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547209157533497260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2373724680028406052.post-43225013113080878312009-11-03T10:09:00.004-05:002009-11-03T10:23:38.421-05:00

“You know if we were to take out this wall…” There is a flurry of excitement that takes place when renovations in a home or establishment are undertaken. A statement like, “We should change…” made over a coffee, or as you walk through a home improvement store begins to take focus. Before long you peruse the paint chip display to come up with the perfect colour. You stay awake at night dreaming

pastor joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547209157533497260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2373724680028406052.post-38626335750379138622009-09-27T21:37:00.002-05:002009-09-27T21:45:29.968-05:00

The phone jangled. I knew the ring tone meant it was long distance. I jumped and ran to answer the phone. We have been anticipating a phone call announcing our daughter, Anya, has gone into labour and our second grandbaby will soon be born. The baby is due this week, and we are ecstatic about this new bundle of joy coming into our family. Be it a boy or a girl, Poppy and Nain will have another

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03964926120976505072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2373724680028406052.post-72395987235945633742009-04-27T15:35:00.002-05:002009-04-27T16:18:38.947-05:00

HOG Wild Sunday is still the second Sunday of June but this year the focus is on the Teen Challenge Farm in Lambeth, Ontario and so there are a few changes.9:30 AM: Registration will be earlier. The registration table will open at 9:30 and there will be coffee. tea and other refreshments available. The cost for registration is $10 per person and it covers your food for the day. Drink a coffee,

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03964926120976505072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2373724680028406052.post-59582101386546208172008-05-06T05:13:00.005-05:002008-05-06T05:30:02.835-05:00

The winter had been cold and there had been little snow. Spring came with lots of sun, blowing dust and hard, cracked fields. The water table was low and local farmers feared a drought was in the making. Many wondered if it was even worth plant. If there was no rain, it would just be throwing away seed and labour.Thomas and Will, two farmers in the community, were avid Christians. Each and every

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03964926120976505072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2373724680028406052.post-69369658079506928462008-04-04T09:03:00.001-05:002008-04-04T09:04:39.405-05:00

If you were a racer what would you desire? To win! That probably didn’t take very long to answer. The goal of every racer is to cross the finish line. A sprint may be over in seconds or the Alaskan Iditarod may take days to complete. Whatever the race, the object is to be first across the line. If you succeed you will be given the trophy. You will hear the applause of the crowd at the finish

pastor joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547209157533497260noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2373724680028406052.post-37953419195369887582007-04-17T11:53:00.000-05:002007-04-17T11:57:52.815-05:00

A sure sign of spring is catching a glimpse of that first robin. We have seen them and I am sure you have too. I imagine Mr. and Mrs. Robin talking to each other, especially when spring is supposed to be warmer - not snow drifts and frozen ground. Mrs. Robin makes some comment about all these harsh conditions, and leaving the warmth and beauty of their southern winter home. Mr. Robin cocks his

pastor joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547209157533497260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2373724680028406052.post-13548515212353857042007-02-03T10:59:00.000-05:002007-02-03T11:03:13.319-05:00

“I don’t know what people do, when they don’t have the Lord to lean on.” Ken said to me, as we walked to the elevator. Along with Kathy, Ken’s wife, we had spent the previous four hours in the waiting room of the hospital. We talked. We laughed. But mostly, we waited. Jessica, their daughter, was undergoing complicated brain surgery. A long process had brought them to this day. A progression of

pastor joelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04547209157533497260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2373724680028406052.post-30050544660522267472007-01-25T16:10:00.000-05:002007-01-25T19:57:04.326-05:00

Have you applied for your passport yet? Rhian has hers. We went to the passport office back in November and waited in line for 2 1/2 hours. Then about two weeks later it arrived in the mail. Of course, she needed it for a trip she was taking to Britain in January. We decided to wait until the rush died down. At least hopefully it will by the summer. We aren't in a big hurry as we are not planning

maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03964926120976505072noreply@blogger.com2