The Christmas Table
by Bonnie DeMartini
The holidays evoke memories and images that fill us with joy, anticipation, sadness, and even despair. For many of us, just the thought of our childhood Christmas dinner tables produces an almost tangible flood of pictures, sounds, smells, and a tangled ball of emotions. Read more 
‘Tis the Season to Forgive!
by Normajean Hinders
“And when you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your transgressions”—Mark 11:25 (NASV).
Every year the stores seem to prepare for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays earlier and earlier. Our minds and hearts begin to prepare as well: we become focused on gifts for friends and family, on decorations, and on preparing goodies. In the song The Little Drummer Boy, the young shepherd looks to find a gift suitable to give to the Christ child at His birth. As this season unfolds, what gift could we give to the Baby King? Have you ever thought of honoring Jesus by giving the gift of forgiveness to someone in your family?
Forgiveness simply means to give up resentment or the desire to punish. It is a process that often goes hand-in-hand with grieving over the past and then putting it in God’s hands. When we do that, we can experience the freedom in Christ that our Father desires for us. Read more
Recalculating Life’s Path
by Pastor Roy Tinklenberg
[Volume 4, Issue 1/2, Winter/Spring 2010]
Pastor Roy Tinklenburg (photo: Gordon Kelly)
Last Christmas, my family decided to take a road trip to Dallas. To make our life on the road a little easier, my wife, Esther, gave me a GPS (Global Positioning System) as an early Christmas present. What a handy gadget! Each time we came to a fork in the road, it would let us know if we had to stay to the right or veer to the left. And if we ever made a wrong turn, a soft, reassuring voice would simply say, “recalculating.” Read more
Navigating Our Way Through the Unexpected
by Karin Baker
[Volume 4, Issue 1/2, Winter/Spring 2010]
Karin Baker (photo: Gordon Kelly)
A traumatic or sudden change—a miscarriage, a layoff, a troubling health diagnosis, the absence of a mentor, or the death of a loved one—can deeply impact your world. It is a life-changing event. You may feel that the change does not make sense or even feel real. There are going to be days when you will ask why and may want answers. Read more
