Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR The Nail January 16, 2026 Search me, God, and know my heart... ~ Psalms 139:23 NIV ~ Even though I now reside in a special care home, I still worry about my wife. She is just too independent! The last week of November, 2024, she left for an 800 km drive to see her American family for Thanksgiving. By herself, naturally.... Doesn't she know this is potentially dangerous? Especially wh ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Purely Unselfish Gifts December 12, 2025 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law... ~ Galatians 4:4 NIV ~ Every year since my wife and I have known each other, we have given Christmas gifts to one another! Wait. That isn't entirely true ... There was that one year where we decided between us to not give eac ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR The Intention December 10, 2025 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. ~ Ephesians 1:4 NIV ~ "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight." (Ephesians 1:4 NIV) It was October and Christmas catalogues had already begun to arrive. When we we ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Let It Snow December 8, 2025 Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. ~ Isaiah 1:18 NIV ~ I never did like snow very much. Please don't ask how we ended up in Canada, of all places, because when everyone is all excited to see the first flakes of snow, I'm the one who is grumpy. ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR An Angel Tree and the Child in Me December 7, 2025 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. ~ Luke 6:38 NIV ~ "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR The Deformed Christmas Tree December 5, 2025 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:12 NIV ~ "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known." (1 Cor. 13:12 NIV) ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR The Announcement December 3, 2025 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them. ~ Luke 2:9 NIV ~ "An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them." (Luke 2:9 NIV) "Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, 'Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR A Haunting Memory December 1, 2025 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. ~ James 1:27 NIV ~ "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you." (James 1:27 NIV) ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR Tears in a Bottle November 30, 2025 You have collected all my tears in your bottle ~ Psalms 56:8b NLT ~ When was the last time you shed a tear, or many tears? Just this morning, while watching an online church service, I was moved to tears as I prayed for my wife during a healing prayer as offered by the church pastor. As tears rolled down my cheeks, I brushed them away with my sleeve onc ...Continue Reading

Welcome To THE ILLUSTRATOR The Case of the Disappearing Parrot: Seeking the Lost, Part 3 November 28, 2025 God is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. ~ 2 Peter 3:9 NIV ~ These past two Fridays we have been exploring the first two of the three categories of those who are spiritually lost. We ha ...Continue Reading