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THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’
by Elder Aries de Vera Lamentations 3:22–23 (ESV) “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Nearly 20 years have passed since I first set foot in the land of the maple leaf, and in that time, I’ve watched…
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This Is Then How We Should Thank
By: Ptr. Genalyn Concepcion Today, somewhere between Vernon and Kelowna, I wake up with a greater sense of thankfulness. It is Canadian Thanksgiving Day. My husband draws open the bedroom curtain and Lake Okanagan and the mountain greet us with nature’s own unique and special way of saying ‘good morning.’ Yesterday had been a tremendously…
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A Life Set Apart
by Ptr. Jhun ValerosoReading for the day: Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing…
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THE WAY WE WERE: Living in the Present with Nostalgia for the Past
by Elder Aries de Vera Reading for the day: Psalms 77:11 Every time I hear music or watch movies from my younger years, I feel nostalgic. I grew up in one of the most colorful and defining decades in history—the ’90s. My music and fashion sense were mainly inspired by grunge and the post-punk movement…
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Taking Root Below To Bear Fruit Above
By Ptr. Genalyn Concepcion Lately I’ve been having the pleasure of harvesting sweet potato and wild spinach tops from the Toronto Pastoral House’s backyard. If you were to visit the garden right now, you’d be waved at by the ampalaya’s tendrils, delighted by new sweet potato sprouts, and feel proud of the beans’ graceful twirling…
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There’s More When We Pray More
by Elder Aries de Vera Reading for the day: Matthew 7:7 Have you ever thought about prayer not just as a duty, but as one of the most incredible gifts we’ve been given as believers? It’s so much more than a spiritual ritual; it’s a genuine communion with the living God. Yet, I know I’ve…
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Every Brick Matters
by Ptr. Miziel Zonio Reading of the day: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 Great Pyramid of Giza. Taj Mahal in India. Burj Khalifa in Dubai. What comes to mind when you hear these places? Iconic buildings. Impressive structures. Architectural marvels. Great Builders. Many individuals throughout history have made significant contributions to the field of building and architecture,…
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Called to Win More
by Ptr. Jhun Valeroso Reading for the day: 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though…
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The Season of Expansion
by Bro Philip Largas Let’s take a trip down memory lane to the year 2018. The year before a Wuhan lab accidentally leaked a virus that changed the world (or a bat soup as some thought). The year where US President Donald J. Trump made history by meeting with the North Korean president Kim Jong…
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Destined for Greatness
by Sis. Abby Bico Reading for the day: John 14:1-14 It’s been a week since we concluded our triple treat event here in the District. I can still recall the crowds that filled the Edmonton House of Worship for our conferences, and the even bigger crowd at the Edmonton Convention Centre for our Home Free…