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Grief

LIVING WITHOUT JIM Uncategorized

LIVING WITHOUT JIM

“My best friend was in heaven. And I was still on earth.” Sue Keddy chose those bittersweet words to begin the story of her husband, Jim’s, sudden death and her life without him. What unfolds is an inspiring, raw account of grief, faith and courage. She has my gratitude for sharing her journey. Sue's story is personal for me. MARRIAGE, MINISTRY AND MISSIONS I attended Bible College with Jim Keddy for three years. His quit wit, winsome smile, artistic talent, gentle spirit and positive attitude won him the admiration and respect of classmates and profs, alike. Jim was our Student Council President. He married Sue Ozard, a pastor’s daughter, three months after I married Jocelyn. We graduated together a year…
Bob Jones
November 8, 2014
I MADE CAKE Uncategorized

I MADE CAKE

I made cake. It's just a store-bought box of cake-mix that I whipped up with some eggs and oil. I don't normally make store-bought cake, and in fact, the last cake I made was for my husband Tim's birthday about 3 years ago. With all the discussion about healthy food and trimming the extras, I don't bake too often. This is sad really, because I enjoy baking. I enjoy that sweet reward at the end of a meal. I used the word 'reward', did you catch that? Some would say sugar is not a reward. No. In fact, some may be poised at the keyboard looking to Google information here to "help me" avoid the hazards of sugar. Don't. Guest…
Bob Jones
July 9, 2014
Heroes in Life and Death Uncategorized

Heroes in Life and Death

Canada paused June 10, 2014 to honor three men who served their country as RCMP officers. I sat with some of our church staff to watch portions of the broadcast of the funeral service in Moncton, New Brunswick. At that time I blogged, "It is sobering to think this could have happened in St Albert where I live - the safest city of its size in Canada." And now "it" has happened in St Albert. Senseless Deaths Const. David Wynn, 42, and Auxiliary Const. Derek Bond, 49, were investigating a report of a stolen vehicle inside the Apex Casino on Saturday January 17th when they were both shot by 34-year-old Shawn Rehn. Bond was released from hospital after being shot…
Bob Jones
June 10, 2014
GOD NEVER WASTES OUR PAIN Uncategorized

GOD NEVER WASTES OUR PAIN

God never wastes anything…not even your pain. The pain we experience in life is precious. God cares for you, so He will never waste your pain. Greg and Sherry Stevens understand that truth. Their 13-year old daughter Cassie passed away on July 17, 2013 after a courageous battle with cancer. I knew Cassie only “from a distance.” She lived in Nevada and made summer visits to our church, North Pointe, to be with her grandparents. She was there when her grandfather, Richard, was baptized in water. Then there were the prayer times when she was hospitalized in California after the onset of brain cancer. Though distant, she was close to our hearts. Cassie passed away in July 2013 from cancer.…
Bob Jones
August 13, 2013
A Dream So Big Uncategorized

A Dream So Big

“A Dream So Big” is just what it says. The dream experience of Steve Peifer and his family is SO big you can’t miss the blessing of reading about it. Peifer begins his story with the surreal experience of being awarded CNN’s Hero for Championing Children Award. He then takes us to Rift Valley Academy (RVA) in Kenya, a boarding school for missionary children, where he and his wife Nancy served as dorm parents. The story gets personal for me because missionary friends of mine entrusted their children to the care of RVA. That’s a heart-rending choice for parents already making big sacrifices to serve. Trustworthy, surrogate parents are priceless. The Peifers were all of that and more. In 1997…
Bob Jones
April 19, 2013
FAITH, HOPE AND JOY Uncategorized

FAITH, HOPE AND JOY

"Faith, hope and joy to you." These are the words I write on the dedication page of each copy of the book Ornament. They aren't offered lightly. The words are tested and true. Kristen Fersovitch a thirty-year old wife, and mother of three boys under five, facing inoperable cancer, showed me over and over again how powerful the words are. Even in death they ring true. GREEN BALLOONS AND HOPE Kristen passed away on October 4, 2013 after a two year battle with cancer. The day after Kristen’s funeral I accompanied her body with John Davediuk from Serenity Funeral Services, to Garth Evangelical Cemetery - a small, countryside, cemetery. In preparation for the graveside service three green-coloured, star-shaped balloons had…
Bob Jones
January 14, 2013