We have a tradition at our home of making gingerbread houses around Christmas time.  We mass-produce the main shapes so that all that has to be done is the decorating part.

Everyone likes to decorate their houses in their own way - some put on lots of candy, while others would rather put on less; some like to make their houses fancy, while other prefer to keep their houses simple.  There seem to be two antithetical philosophies in decorating these houses: the goal is either aesthetic or palatableness.  Well, there are some in-between houses, too.

Elizabeth made this neat-looking gingerbread house.

Another tradition we have at our home is the making and distributing of cookie plates.  The recipients of these plates vary from year to year, but generally include friends, pastors, widows, people in need in various ways, and people or organizations that are helpful to the community.

This year we brought cookie plates and thank-you notes to the fire stations, the ambulance station, and the police stations.  The ambulance station was closed (because it was Christmas eve), but we happened to catch an ambulance pulling out, about to start their shift.  The police seemed the most surprised of them all.  I suppose most people don't think to thank the police.

I Peter 2:13-14 "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well."

This past week we have had the opportunity of ministering through music and chalk talks in a few different places.  On Tuesday the 6th, we were at Grace Christian Home for a chalk talk.  The unsaved residents need to hear the Gospel message preached and those who know the Lord appreciate hearing it again.  So, the staff of the home decided to schedule the chalk talk during the normal supper time, when almost everyone would be able to be there.  This chalk talk is called "The Shepherds' Story."

This past weekend we had more of an adventure.  I would like to thank all those who were praying for us on this trip - we really needed it!  We were scheduled to go to Beachburg, ON, for two events: one Saturday evening in a retirement home and the other Sunday afternoon at the local community centre.  However by the time we got to Montreal, our trailer was making funny sounds.  We investigated the problem and found that the axle had somehow slid forward a few inches and was now eating the wheel well.  We didn't have any tools to fix the problem, and weren't sure whether we could fix the problem even if we did have the tools.

We finally decided we had better locate a u-haul dealer.  Thanks to some mobile technology, we found that there was one only a few minutes out of our way.  We were very grateful that we didn't have to go far to find one.  When we got there we found that they had exacty two trailers, only one of which was large enough.  We had lost some time already by starting on our way a little later than expected and trying to fix our trailer without tools and having to drive smoothly (those who know Montreal roads know that is not easy...)  So, we unloaded quickly and loaded it all into the rented u-haul.

After this adventure, we were running rather later than we had hoped, knowing that retirement home residents do not normally arrive late for special events.  Amazingly we arrived in plenty of time to set up.  Praise the Lord!  Very few of the residents were Christians, as far as I know, so I am glad that every chalk talk we do is carefully planned to contain a clear salvation message.  Hopefully, some will be receptive to the message that God has for them and respond accordingly.

After this presentation, we went to the community centre to set up for the next day.  We were quite surprised to see this glowing sign (thank you Matthew!):

There were a lot more people than I had expected to come who once again heard the good news of Jesus Christ clearly presented.  May the seed that was planted in their hearts that day sprout up and bring forth fruit.

We did have time in between to fellowship with our host family.  Thank you for your warm hospitality!  Oh, and since the chalk talk we were doing was "The Shepherds' Story", I thought it might be appropriate to add a picture of one of their sheep.

"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.  He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth." - Isaiah 53:6-7

Yesterday afternoon we had the opportunity of visiting the Wales Home for a time of music and a chalk talk.  The residents apparently enjoyed it very much, and I rejoice that so many heard the gospel preached clearly.

I would like to thank those who are so faithful in praying for us as we minister through music and chalk talks.  The Devil does not want people to hear the truth of God's Word and will make every effort to twart reception of the Gospel by the hearts of those that hear.  "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." - Romans 10:17.

We have a few more events coming up, so don't forget to check our events page.  Please pray that the Lord would grant that we speak and share only what He wants us to speak and share, as it says in Ephesians 4:29, "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."

This on is an adaptation of Matthew Bowman's "Born to Die."  Although evangelicals rarely forget that Christmas is about Christ's birth, we often forget at Christmas time why Jesus was born.  It was fortold by the prophets and declared by Jesus before He died, but not even his disciples really understood it until Jesus himself explained it to the men on the road to Emmaus.  Jesus Christ was born to die.

I would like to thank everyone who prayed for us as we travelled to Newport Center, VT, to play music in a small church yesterday.  We figured the border crossing would probably be difficult, seeing it was the 10th anniversary of the attacks on September 11th.  But then, just a day or two before we were to leave, we realized that one of our passports was in Ottawa being renewed.  It was not expired, but we didn't have it with us, and a passport is required to go through the border.  So, we contacted the pastor and informed him of the situation and said that we weren't sure we would be able to be there at all.  He simply replied that if God wanted us there, we would get there, and if not this time, we could re-schedule.

So, we contacted the One in charge of the border crossing and asked Him to let us through.  We left early Sunday morning, and got through the border with somewhat less difficulty than usual!  And, yes, the music went well, too!

En route there was a lot of really pretty scenery.  It is very reminiscent of the scenery in the Eastern Townships of Quebec.  I guess that's because the scenery was made before the Canada-US border.    To get to Newport Center, we had to go through Newport, which is at the south end of Lake Memphremagog.

Nestled among the Appalachian Mountains and lakes of northern Vermont, Newport previously had a very present French population due to its easy access to Quebec via the lake, and with that, much Roman Catholic influence.

Proverbs 21:1 "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will."

On the 10th of July, we went to Beebe to play some music at the Advent Christian Camp.

Ever since we heard that we were going to Beebe, several of us began looking forward to helping wash the dishes.  They have a really good set up for hand washing dishes in that kitchen.

After washing dishes, everyone headed outside.  It was a beautiful day, and we stayed there most of the afternoon fellowshipping and playing box hockey.

The chapel's structure is completely open truss, affording a wonderful place to play violin for people who don't mind being high in the air.  We thought we might call him the "fiddler in the roof".  The sign below should probably read something like, "TAKE HEED HOW YE PLAY". Or perhaps 1 Corinthians 10:12 - "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."