FAY ROWE

I just came from Write! Canada, the annual conference put on by The Word Guild, an association of Canadian writers and editors who are Christian. It has become a highlight of my year for many reasons, one of which is the morning worship time. My favorite song this year--the one that wouldn't leave my head--goes like this: "Turn my heart, oh God. Make it ever true; Turn my heart, oh God. May I be like you."

I thought about that song again this...

Why do we hate to wait?

We rush to grow up, get married, make money, buy a house, spend money, change locations, make decisions.

To those of us who are chronically in a hurry, waiting can be an extremely dangerous occupation.

While we're waiting for something to happen, whether that something is good or bad, we feel so much pressure to act that the result...

I just read a note from a young man named Benjamin. He's a writer.

Benjamin isn't published yet, but I've heard him read from his manuscript and he's good. He has a story and a distinct voice, and the heart to get both on paper and out into the world.

His note today was about a verse of scripture that spoke to him this year at Write! Canada, a verse that he decided wasn't all that encouraging. It was the one that talks ab...

Last week I vacationed at Disney World with my husband, daughter and son-in-law, and his parents and brother. We spent most days at one of the Disney parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, etc. It was fun and fabulous. Magical, even!

Late every evening, on the shuttle home, I saw something precious. After the heat and excitement of wonderful Walt Disney World, tired children were carried in their fathers' arms, most of the cherubs sleeping and comp...

Jesus was having a few interesting days in  Jerusalem.

He had just annoyed the well respected Pharisees by healing a sick man who was lying near at the pool called Bethesda near the Sheep Gate. Maybe the healing itself could have gotten a pass, but it was the Sabbath, and, adding even more offence to healing on that day, Jesus told the man to pick up his bed and walk! ON THE SABBATH!

Then, when they challenged Jesus about it, ...

This morning I was reading Jesus' story as recounted by John. It was near the end, where after the resurrection Jesus tells Mary Magdalene to go tell the others, "I go to my Father and your Father, my God and your God."  My first thought was how strange that must have sounded to Jews who had never thought of God as their Father. He was much to them, but not that.

Then it went on to the meeting on the lakeside where Jesus cooks fish for the disciples. I was impress...

Job said it in the midst of all his troubles. Even though his heart was broken and his life was in shambles, Job said these wonderful words that, at Easter, brings joy to every believing heart:

"For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth" (Job 19:25).

Today we know what Job no doubt learned before his story ended, that our redemption is not just for a time to come. Our redemption is now...

My husband teaches in a business school, and one of the concepts I occasionally hear him discuss is an "escalating commitment to a failing course of action." In other words, not knowing when to change direction.

To someone like me, that smacks of giving in and giving up, and I hate both. When I was a child in school I loved a challenging Math problem; the more difficult they were, the better. I found great joy in persevering and f...

In the face of modern day Terrorist attacks and warnings of the same, I hope we dare to believe what King David had to say about God.

As I wrote in WIAN, God takes his own words seriously! And he wants us to do the same. David is such a good example for us in that regard. He had such a positive response to God's word.  When we read what David wrote/sang we know he took God's covenant seriously, and trusted in it. Trusted in God. ...

I saw a movie, more than a few years ago now, entitled The Sailor Who Fell From Grace with the Sea, based on the novel written by Yukio Mishima. It was the chilling tale of a sailor, played by Kris Kristofferson, who falls in love with a young widow, played by Sarah Miles. Her son and his friends at first idolize the sailor because of his adventurous life, but when he leaves the sea to marry the boy's mother, they plan a terrible punishment for him.

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