Author: Ruth Burkholder

It was baptismal Sunday in our church. I belong to a traditional church where infant baptism is the practice, and there were three children of varying stages of infancy brought to the Lord that day. Following the celebration of baptism, … Read more

We visited a church in Florida on a Sunday morning; it was a busy, friendly church with about forty to fifty in attendance. The congregation was made up mainly of older folk, with a sprinkling of middle-aged ones, and about four families … Read more

Over the past few years, DNA testing has become very popular. As I went off to a genealogical conference this year, a couple of people at my church asked me to bring them home kits for testing their DNA. Many of us are aware of the hype … Read more

I've been thinking of Valentine's Day and how the heart is a symbol of love. Our church has a breakfast on the first Monday of the month, and I usually try to have some kind of related treat if there is a special day in that month. And so, … Read more

I received Christmas greetings from a friend today, and the e-mail subject line was "Marry Christmas". This struck me as funny: I don't really know anyone named Christmas, so who was I supposed to marry? I mentioned it to a friend, and she … Read more

Inspiration comes at all hours of the day or night, from many different triggers. I went to bed and read a book which featured the verse on which this devotional thought is based. After finishing the book and turning out the light, I found … Read more

What is it about this Christmas season that makes me feel very "un-Christmas-y"? Perhaps it is the fact that family is not nearby, or the lack of snow on the ground, with rain coming down instead of snow. Or is it the health problems that … Read more

There I was, driving down Keele Street, nearly late for an appointment, but sure that I could find the cemetery to take that one remaining photograph before I went on. I was sure of the location; I had been there … Read more

Any who have driven north from Orillia, Ontario, Canada, on Highway 11 may remember that when the road was widened, there was a spectacular rock cut through which the new road wound. High on either side of the road, the … Read more

I took my car in for a lube and oil change, as it had reached the next stage on the little sticker that the service department had put on the car. It had been just over two months since it … Read more