Written by Ilana ReimerLast winter, in between Ottawa lockdowns, my husband and I hosted a couple of friends on our freshly shovelled patio. We set up camping chairs and huddled under beach towels, our hands wrapped around coffee mugs. Snow fell thickly, collecting in small drifts on our heads and s
Breaching division through storytelling and sharing communionWritten by Matt V. UngerOur world is filled with division. From politics to pop culture, people will find anything to disagree over. These divisive attitudes have crept into the Church at large. Fights range from debates over theology, pol
God communicates hope in unexpected ways Written by Cindy PalinI still remember my first powerful encounter with the wonder of God and His creation. I was swinging on our backyard swingset on the farm as a child. God’s invisible presence could be felt. All that surrounded me—the ocean of clouds, the
Written by Shawn NaylorFor some time now, I’ve felt I’m not participating in building God’s kingdom. My financial support has all but vanished, doors have closed, and the mental toll has been great. I’ve had to seriously consider applying to other jobs. I have never written a proper resumé before. I
Written by Katie PezzuttoAs a little girl, I found my dog’s paws fascinating. Every line was a journey to be had, a river to follow, a pathway to explore and marvel in. On balmy summer days when there was nothing else for me to do, Senor Pedro, my beloved canine, would close his big wet eyes and let
Learning to move at God time, even in stressful situationsWritten by Brenna CovelensWe had seven minutes left before we lost. My friend Amanda was determined to crack the code, but I was ready to quit. We’d been trying to piece together clues to get out of the escape room for close to an hour. We ha
Written by Alyssa EsparazIn the aftermath of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck the southwestern part of Haiti on August 14, 2021, six-year-old Soraya was sure of one thing: “Jesus will send me cornflakes, Grandma, wait and see.” She told her grandmother, Ana, that she’d asked God to send them
A short story about loss, despair, and regaining wonderWritten by Gracie MengerThe funeral was on a cold December day. She felt stiff in her many coats, layered to protect her from the freezing air. They sat inside an enormous church. The aisle between her and the shiny black coffin seemed to stretc
The Chronicles of Narnia gives us a joyful image of reconciliation to Jesus Written by Emily MontesanoOne of my biggest insecurities has always been my naïveté and my self-perceived lack of depth. I’ve been told (many times) that it doesn’t take much to make me happy. For example, the other day I sq
Wonder slows time and inspires praise. The checklists can wait.Written by Ulla MiaI’m always on the go, making sure each item on my to-do list gets checked off. It can feel as if every day is just a box full of tasks to complete. I’m always trying my best not to fall behind—though I’m often unsucces
Written by J.M. Bergman“If you knew the gift of God and who it is you are speaking to, you would ask him, and he would give you living water.” John 4:10 Imagine: The Holy Spiritrushing like a teal tidal wave roaring down the mountains;thundering with the force of a thousand blue steel horses.Never s
Living simply in a consumerist societyWritten by Sarah EvangelineWhen I was 24 years old, I moved in with my grandparents. This was an eye opener for me. It was a gift to see my grandparents’ relationship with each other, as I was raised by a single parent. It was a gift to learn wisdom from people
Written by K.A.R.It’s when He sees me coming,Though I’m very, very slow,And my head (the way I’m hanging it)Is very, very low.It’s when I feel I’ve been A disappointment to my God,When I’ve chosen sin and shame againTo walk amidst the fogOf those empty, broken cisternsI’ve slaved over like a dog.It’
Young people are asking for deep discipleship, not surface entertainment Written by Caleb and Kristen Unrau In the Bible, Babylon is used as a figurative representation of a place opposed to God. In Canada, many of us find ourselves in spaces where we’re outnumbered by non-Christians. In schools, sp
God’s miracles can take shape in everyday lifeWritten by Marina Hofman“You are the most wonderful person in the world!Your smile is wonderful;Your cheeks are wonderful;Your hands are wonderful.You are full of wonder!You are wonder-full!”My daughter played her singing birthday card repeatedly for wee
A Montreal-based artists collective finds community online during the pandemicWords by Lisa HanashIn May 2021 a group of my artist and non-artist friends from church and elsewhere began gathering routinely online. During this season of online connection, we created art together and held different ev
How seeing the world as a writer shapes meaning from small things Written by Abby CionaHow many stairs are in your house? What does paper smell like? What colour are your neighbour’s eyes?If you don’t know the answer to these questions, you’re not alone. (I couldn’t tell you how many stairs are in m
Josiah Piett on pursuing God, not our callingsInterview by Ilana ReimerQ. Are there common topics or themes you gravitate toward in the projects you take on?A. For me, the big thing is understanding who God is. As we understand who God is, we’ll understand who we are, and in understanding who we are
Trusting God through mental illnessWritten by J. Matthew HildebrandSome of my earliest memories are from listening to U2’s sixth studio album, Rattle and Hum. My youth pastor loved U2. We listened to the album the whole way from Winnipeg, Manitoba to Matamoros, Mexico. The chorus of the song, Get Ou
Embracing this countercultural act of trust and praiseWritten by William DmytrowI’ve often heard the idea of Sabbath rest referred to quite negatively. Some people say, “I don’t rest because Satan never rests” or “It’s selfish to take time off, the Lord’s work never ceases.” These attitudes were ver
Letting others shine while shouldering the hard partsWritten by Kristy LoewenMany people can show leadership in the workplace, not just those who are in charge. And, sadly, some of the people in charge are not great leaders. I’m sure many of us have experienced the difference between following someo
Written by Cindy PalinWhen we honestly face up to our own sin, it’s challenging to consider becoming a leader. We’re flawed! We’ll certainly mess up. As a teen, I wondered why anyone would want to lead. But when the love of Christ got hold of me, I understood. Sharing His love with others requires u
Our response to horrific injusticeWritten by Shawn NaylorThis summer, there was a huge unveiling of some of the atrocities committed against First Nations children. I am fully aware that this news is just the re-opening of deep wounds for others. I know this hasn’t been the only gut-wrenching event
How my parents taught me gentleness and forgivenessWritten by Robbie Down“Ego kills what we love,” states Ryan Holiday in his book Ego Is the Enemy (Penguin, 2016). The past year or so has been isolating in some form or another for most of us. And isolation naturally leads to ego, since we’re left t