There are times where life hits us and just strikes a nerve with us, causing a change in attitude and to recognize what really matters. We all go through struggles and it’s important that we remember to look to the right places for comfort, understanding, help, and healing during these times. This is one of those times for a particular family in my church and it’s pulling at my heart to share. The Inspiration for This Madison Davis is 6 years old. She has been battling cancer with a good amount of success since she was 4 1/2 years old. Her parents, Destry and Christy Davis and her siblings, all have a very strong faith in God, even through the struggles they have had to endure. However, a recent scan showed that the cancer has come back in multiple places including her bone marrow and a spot on or near… read more
Insights
Another capture of a park bench; don’t they just look so romantic? And because I think they are romantic they remind me of something happened about two weeks ago. Two weeks ago I was working with a co-worker who is new to Canada (he has been here for only four months) and has been married not long ago (he celebrated his first wedding anniversary a couple of weeks ago). He speaks English but a bit broken; he certainly speaks better English than I did when I came to Canada. He is truly a joy to work with because he is very easy going, funny, and hard working, that’s why I usually work with him. We were just talking while working, and he told me about his first wedding anniversary being that week, and how he used to work as a marine engineer back in his home country, and so on…. read more
The book, “Creation, The Dawn of Mankind” by Mark Taylor, presents a fresh look at an old story, the story of man’s beginning, as recorded in the book of Genesis. Genesis gives a compelling answer to man’s greatest question, “where did we come from?” The book is illustrated in a comic format using unique full color artwork, created with 3d and 2d software. It captures the wonder of creation and the fact that God made it all for man, His ultimate creation. God’s plan of salvation is revealed in the story and we get to see the loving grace and mercy of God, to His fallen and disobedient children. Read and Share it today. Click the lower right edge of the Flash Book after it is loaded. Book also available in paperback on Blurb Why Did I Write The Book? As a kid, I often pondered the question of, “how… read more
The story of the dry bones mentioned in Ezekiel chapter 37, has been interpreted as the re-gathering of the Jews from many nations back to the land of Israel, this event happened in our time, when Israel was established as a nation in 1948. An interesting fact is that one of the first places that was excavated shortly after Israel received it’s sovereignty was the site called Masada, the last Jewish stronghold against Rome. The archaeologists that excavated Masada knew all about it, based on the writings of Jewish historian, Josephus Flavius. They came upon a synagogue on the mountain fortress, and there they found only one preserved portion of scripture, Ezekiel 37. When they uncovered this find, the discoverers wept, realizing that they themselves were these “dry bones that came to life.” At a time in which this prophecy was being fulfilled, this portion of scripture was preserved in… read more
Ever heard something that just made you chuckle, and at the same time, warm your heart so much you gave praise and thanks to God? We were watching the news yesterday when the upcoming headline was announced, “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?”. The headline left me waiting for the answer as they switched to commercial. While we waited for the news to return, I said to my brother, “Here they go again with these wasted researches that we already have an answer to, the chicken came first, don’t they know that?”. My brother and I had a nice laugh, then reflected on why we knew the chicken came first; I explained that maybe everyone does not know the reason why we have that conclusion in our heads, but it just seemed so obvious to us. Bible believing Christians would agree with me that the chicken had to… read more
For the last year I’ve been struggling with doubt off and on…from the little things to the big things. Some days I feel that nothing can shake my faith, and other days I feel nothing can make it continue. So recently I’ve been going to God asking Him questions about this and that, and why did this happen and why that didn’t happen, etc. I am determined to face this struggle head on and overcome it, rather than just let it make me drift away from trusting God. God’s faithfulness is probably His most important attribute to me. I simply must know that He does not change, keeps His promises, does not mislead us, makes His will clear, guides us to His best at all times. And He has given me many promises concerning an issue I’ve been facing for quite sometime. All those promises add up and confirm each… read more
Today I was taking a long walk in the mid-day sun, with the temperature at about 88 degrees and the wind blowing mildly in my face. About 15 minutes into my walk the thought came to mind about the cowardly act of many Christians that claim they love people and how they certainly don’t want people to go to hell yet, they refuse to be open about their faith in a way that would make a non-believer want what they have. Please, don’t make the mistake of assuming that I didn’t examine myself as well, so I’m certainly not being too critical, or judgmental. I think sometimes as Christians, we find all types of excuses to not share the Gospel ( the good news about Jesus). If the News is so good, why not share it? If we really believe that we are saved from hell and cleansed of our… read more
Relating to all the aspect of what a father should be is sometimes difficult for me, because I grew up with a father who was abusive to my mother and was not there totally for the family. In spite of my father’s abusive tendencies and erratic behaviors, it’s amazing to me that I was always glad when he came home. There was just something about his presence that, in itself, brought a feeling of security and oneness, even though that was not the reality that existed. At one point things got so bad at home that my mother decided she had enough of the abuse and she fled our island home of Jamaica and came to the US to live. Mom brought my younger brother with her and left me and my older brother in Jamaica with relatives. This was a very heartbreaking time of our lives and it took… read more
Every day on the subway on my way to university I pass by this cemetery, Mount Pleasant Cemetery, and in the morning it looks so beautiful from outside: the sunlight going through the trees and people are walking through it. It looks peaceful so I decided last summer to visit it and take some pictures. I visited it on a beautiful summer evening but I didn’t take any pictures because the awareness of death’s reality and ugliness was all around me. (I only took one picture on my way out.) So I decided to visit the cemetery again but this time not to photograph its natural beauty but I wanted to capture the reality of death. I settled for this capture because as sure as the yellow and white lines separate so our souls will leave our bodies one day. Death is one of the most misrepresented facts of life…. read more
This shot is very dear to me because it reminds me of when we first came to this wonderful country Canada. We arrived in Toronto late of 1999, and I had just accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior few months prior. I didn’t come to know Jesus through a pastor or a person’s testimony—I accepted Him through reading the Bible and few books by Josh McDowell mainly “More Than a Carpenter”—so I didn’t know what it means to accept Jesus. When we arrived here we were not lonely in the sense that we didn’t have anybody because almost my mom’s entire family have been living in Canada for quite a long time. I found myself very lonely on the inside and kind of emotionally disoriented because I was in a strange country where I didn’t feel like I belong. That’s why I started talking to Jesus whenever I… read more
I woke up around 5:30 this particular morning and I had to take this photo! It is a photo of the moon above Toronto seen through my bedroom window. I love the red shade in the curtain, the ceiling, and my table lamp. My alarm clock says “5:49â€, and that’s because I spent 20 min in the balcony listening to the birds, watching the moon, but mostly taking photos. I even took a 30 seconds long video of the birds chirping (He he! I learned the word “chirp†from Dr. Stanley!) . But it is this photo, taken from inside, that captivated me mostly. This photo reminds me of certain times. You see when I go to crowded places for a prolonged period of time, I like to take few minutes to be alone with God. I’ve never told this to anybody because the people who know me, think that… read more
This is my classmate Katya who is an Orthodox Christian from Russia. Katya has an amazing voice—the best I have ever heard in real life. She can sings anything from a deep voice like Louis Armstrong in What a Wonderful World to an angelic choir voice which she does regularly at her church. She has an excellent control over her vocals even though she has never taken any singing lessons! Her voice is a true gift from God because she is a very, very talented singer and it is true joy listening to her sing. The godly women in the Bible are amazing. Just few weeks ago I was thinking about Hanna, the prophet Samuel’s mother. The Bible says in 1 Samuel 1:10-11, “And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish. Then she made a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts,… read more
In the last year or so I’ve been encountering the number 316 a lot—almost every few days. I am encountering the number everywhere: digital clocks , watches, street numbers, my professor’s laptop battery life, homework, receipts, pay checks, etc. Few weeks ago my dad was watching an Iraqi TV station because Iraq was having its second elections and on the top right corner of the screen the number 316 was displayed! I asked him about the number and he said, “That’s the election ballot number for some political party.†Every time I see the number 316 I remember John 3:16. This has been very encouraging to me because recently I have been uncertain about my place in Christ. Before it was very easy to come pray because I had a much closer relationship with Him, but now it is much harder. But when I remember 316 it encourages me to… read more
The Bible Translation issue is more challenging than what it seems, we as Christians need to be careful on how we approach this topic, or else we can go down some dangerous paths, sometimes we see missing verses or seemingly changed words in the new translations eg. the New International Version, but we do not know the reason why these changes or omissions have been made. So the question about these are quite reasonable, but we must try to find the answers before we jump to conclusions. This is what I found out. A pastor was speaking on the radio, and answered a question from a caller who asked him why some Bible translations have missing verses? The pastor explained that there are three different “text” that governs Bible translations, I also found a forth. Deciding which translation is more accurate depends on who you ask, but the majority of… read more
This red leaf was on the wall of the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library at the University of Toronto. It was one of many leafs on a long stem running horizontally on the wall. I would say the stem run for more than 5 meters, and since I had my mini tripod with me, I decided go rest it against the wall and shoot a super macro shot. However, all the leafs were too big for a super macro, so I ended up going up the stairs alongside the stem all the way to the end to this little leaf; it was the last in the long string of leafs and it fit perfectly in my camera’s super macro zoom. That’s when I remembered the verse: “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone.†Psalm 118:22 That incident kept me thinking that day. This little leaf was so much… read more
In 2006, I was walking to work around 7 AM and my heart was very heavy burdened to the degree where it felt as if I was dragging my feet. I asked God why He was allowing that heartache to continue, I needed to understand! What He said caught me by surprise, He said, “I’ve always loved you!†I started crying on the road, I didn’t know what to think, what to feel, what to say. Somehow He knew why I had that heartache: I was looking for love, but I didn’t receive it, while all along I had access to a fountain of eternal and perfect love pouring out from Him. The only person who truly showed love me while growing up is my mom. I cannot describe to you how much she loves me. The daily sacrifices she makes, her service for me (and her awesome cooking!) are… read more
Macaws are the largest and the brightest in the parrot family. They are easy to recognize, because they are big colorful birds. Macaws live in the tropical parts of South, Central America. The biggest macaw’s wingspan is around four feet, the smallest macaws wingspan is fifteen inches. Most species are associated with forest, especially rainforest, but others prefer woodland or savannah-like habitats. Macaw Wings by ravi.k Some of the macaw species are known for their impressive size. The largest parrot in length and wingspan is the Hyacinth Macaw. The heaviest macaw is the Buffon’s, although the heaviest parrot is the flightless Kakapo. Macaw Cleaning by royal19 Scarlet Macaw – Macaw Mountain Bird Park -by Adalberto H. Vega What’s So Special About The Macaws? Macaws eat poisonous berry seeds as a main part of their diet, they also eat a clay that absorbs the poison and provides much needed minerals… read more
Before I became a Christian I used to hate the phrase “blind faith†as it represented ignorance to me. And I believed that’s what Christians wanted me to have in order to become a Christian like them. As a new believer I still hated that phrase because I believed that I became a Christian based on logical thinking because of the overwhelming evidence supporting Christianity’s claims. Ten years later I am starting to think that blind faith is true faith. Let me tell you how I came to start thinking that blind faith is important. About three weeks ago around 5 in the morning I heard a very sad news; this news was so tragic to me that it was by far the saddest and most painful experience I have ever been through. I was so sad and shocked I couldn’t even cry. For the next several hours I was… read more
The giraffe is an African even-toed ungulate mammal, the tallest of all land-living animal species that exist today, and the largest ruminant. Males can be 16 to 18 feet tall and weigh up to 3,800 pounds. The record-sized bull, shot in Kenya in 1934 was 19.2 ft tall and weighed approximately 4,400 lb. Females are generally slightly shorter, and weigh less than the males do . The giraffe is related to deer and cattle, Its range extends from Chad to South Africa. Giraffes can inhabit savannas, grasslands, or open woodlands. They prefer areas enriched with acacia growth. They drink large quantities of water and, as a result, they can spend long periods of time in dry, arid areas. When searching for more food they will venture into areas with denser foliage. Many people think that giraffes are mute. This is a myth. though normally silent, calves bleat and make a… read more
Have you ever read those statistics or articles about how for many people, the holiday seasons are the most depressing? Well, it is true. I am one of those people who feel lonely in the holidays. Christmas has always been the most depressing season for me, mainly because my birthday is around Christmas and I have never been fond of my birthday. But that does not mean I don’t like to be among people. Actually it is the opposite: people feel depressed in holidays because they feel that they don’t have any meaningful relationships. That’s why it is so important that we, Christians, be generous and hospitable in those times. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. ~1 Peter 4:9 In the holidays my family and I are sometimes invited by relatives or friends to spend it with them, but somehow I’ve always felt the happiest when I went to… read more
In March of 2003 my sister invited me to her Arabic church because they were having a play called Heaven or Hell. I went to it, and in one of the final scenes, one of the actresses was so shouting of joy “Jesus! My Jesus! Hallelujah, it’s my Jesus!†over and over again as the character of Jesus appeared on the stage. I wondered then, how many more people in the world there are, that are in love with Jesus just as I am and even more? (Of course, I have not always been in love with Jesus; it seems that it is an on and off love affair at times!) Few months before I came to Canada, in late of 1999, I accepted Jesus as my personal Savior and Lord and that proved crucial to my well being here. You see, as a teenager who is an introvert by… read more
When I was approximately 5 years old, I was rescued in a way that has stuck with me until this day and have even influenced my faith in God. I lived about two and a half blocks from school and everyday my brother and I was escorted to and from school by our Mom’s friend. One day our escort did not show up and we got tired of waiting. We decided to take the matter in our own hands by leaving school, instead of waiting any longer. Since home was not far away, we felt safe except that our school resided on the opposite side of the road. We started off on our journey, making sure to stay on the sidewalk all the way and we didn’t stop to speak to anyone. As we reached the point where we needed to cross the street (a few feet away from the… read more
To me this car, the Mazda Protege, along with some other cars like the Ford Focus, BMW M3, Porsche 911 and Boxster, Lamborghini’s…look really nice in yellow! (The yellow is also helpful when it is snowing to make the car stand out!) I like yellow for sporty looking cars because it is a light color so it shows the reflection off the body, yet not too dark like black that conceal the body lines. Beside it makes the car looks like it is a race car! There is a little story about the yellow color that I would like to share with you. One day last year at work I put a desktop wallpaper of a yellow Porsche Boxster on one of the computers we use in the warehouse. When one of my coworkers, who was around my age , saw it he liked it, but didn’t like the yellow… read more
This is part three and final part of my previous article called “Who is God”….Most of the time I live as if I had figured God all out and that there is nothing new to learn about Him. And after reading the Bible few times I feel that reading it again is just redundant. Yet it is so untrue. Sometimes when I read the letters of the apostle Paul which stresses holy living (which is of course God’s will), and then I go back to the Old Testament and see how He worked through prostitutes and murderers, I am forced to ask Him, “Lord, who are You?†Not that I don’t know Him: it is just that He is so great and He doesn’t overlook anybody which makes it is so hard, if not impossible, to categorize Him. I think we all have heard the saying, “You can’t… read more
