News Release

Local Writer Finalist for National Award

Heather Kendall, a resident of Innisfil since 1997, received a national award on Wednesday, June 16, at The Awards Gala of The Word Guild. She won first place in the Article—News category of The Canadian Christian Writing Awards. Faith Today published her article, Reach Out With Good Friday Drama, in March/April 2009. In it she described the interactive play, In Search of Jesus, which New Life Fellowship Baptist Church has put on every Good Friday for the last four years.

Heather is the author of the book, A Tale of Two Kingdoms, and a freelance writer for various Christian publications. Her latest work is a poem in the anthology, Grandmothers’ Necklace. The Stephen Lewis Foundation is sponsoring this book to support grandmothers in Africa who are looking after their grandchildren, orphaned by AIDS.

Heather is a member of The Word Guild, a national organization of writers, editors and speakers who share a Christian worldview. With 350 members, it provides professional development to published and aspiring writers through multiple channels, including writing contests and awards, newsletters, Internet discussion groups, manuscript critiques, workshops and conferences.

For the third year in a row, Herbie Kuhn, popular speaker and in-house announcer for the Toronto Raptors basketball team, hosted the black-tie gala. It was held at the headquarters of World Vision Canada in Mississauga, Ontario.

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A Leap of Faith

Birdfeeders only feed birds, or so I thought. Apparently squirrels do not know this. Seeing how easily squirrels snatched the seed from our birdfeeder, my husband decided to move it. He hoped to outsmart them by dangling the birdfeeder on an abandoned satellite dish. Surely squirrels cannot climb a metal pole!

A few days later we saw a squirrel clinging precariously to the top of the birdfeeder. He looked very determined to feast on the forbidden sunflower seeds on the ledge below. With head down he gulped a few seeds before hurling himself to the ground. Another time a squirrel lunged onto the birdfeeder, swinging it enough to spill the seeds onto the grass below. Then the squirrel jumped down onto the grass to enjoy his ill-gotten gains.

Both of these squirrels took a chance leaping onto a swinging birdfeeder. The Bible records the story of Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples, who jumped out of a boat. He walked on top of the water on the Sea of Galilee to meet Jesus. As long as he kept his eyes on Jesus, he was safe. But when he looked down, he sank.

Like the squirrels, jumping to be near food, Peter took a leap of faith to be close to Jesus. He faltered when he stopped looking at Jesus. All the other disciples never even left the boat. Are you like Peter, risking everything for Jesus? Or are you like the rest, staying safely in the boat? God expects every believer to put Jesus first and risk everything for the glory of God.

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Frolicking Squirrels

Did you know that squirrels like to play tag? When the poplar trees behind my house stand tall and barren of leaves, I can see far into the bush. One day I spied four black squirrels frolicking by jumping from thin branch to thin branch. Weighed down by the squirrels, the branches bobbed up and down in the cool spring air. Those squirrels appeared to enjoy playing with each other.

Just as squirrels take time to revel in each other’s company, God expects believers to enjoy spending time with him in prayer and Bible study. The Westminster Confession states that the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. John Piper prefers to say that the chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever.

Let us show our enjoyment of God by praising him for sending his Son to this sin-filled earth. Let us fill our hearts with rejoicing that Jesus did not stay dead. Instead Jesus rose from the grave victorious. Now he is busy gathering a people, redeemed by his blood, to be the future residents of a new heaven and a new earth. Satan will never be able to ruin that earth the way he has this one.

These past seven months I have been suffering a constant low-grade pain in one of my eyes. Nevertheless I have joy in my heart, which sickness cannot quench. As a hymn by Luther B. Bridgers states, “There’s within my heart a melody Jesus whispers sweet and low, “Fear not, I am with thee—peace be still.” That is why I can sing the chorus: “I have the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart—down in my heart today.”

Grandmothers' Necklace

Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Grandmothers' Necklace was launched!

In her blog Hilda Young writes:
As a member of the Petawawa Grannies I attended the first two launches of Patricia Elfords anthology "Grandmothers' Necklace". It was a fun experience. More than 60 people crowded into the Rotary room at the Petawawa library to hear readings from most of the writers in Eastern Ontario who contributed to the book. It was a great beginning as many books were sold. On Monday 22nd there was another launch in Deep River at The Bean House coffee shop which was also well attended. Copies are available for purchase in Petawawa at Coates engraving 3584 Petawawa Bld 687-1064. cost $20. All profits will go to the Stephen Lewis Foundation Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign.

Copied by permission of Hilda Young from http://hildaleapsforward.blogspot.com

Tuesday, February 16, 2010
GRANDMOTHERS' NECKLACE LAUNCH

In her blog Hilda Young writes:
WATCH FOR A LAUNCH NEAR YOU!

GRANDMOTHERS’ NECKLACE
is an anthology created in honour of grandmothers. Over 60 professional, and some gifted non-professional, writers and poets of varied backgrounds from across Canada, the United States and Ireland. Joyous and wistful, hilarious and serious, the collection is too rich to be scanned all at once. Appreciate it a few gems at a time.
Through Patricia Anne Elford, one of the Petawawa Grannies , the Editor and Compiler, ALL profits go to Grandmothers to Grandmothers, a branch of the Stephen Lewis Foundation, www.stephenlewisfoundation.org , to assist the grandmothers of Africa, aged anywhere from their 40’s to their 80’s who have lost their adult children and are raising their grandchildren, alone, under unbelievably impoverished circumstances. These children were orphaned due to the death of their parents from AIDS and AIDS-related illnesses.

GRANDMOTHERS’ NECKLACE ISBN 978-1-5542-468-6 Essence Pub., Epic imprint, 200 pp $20.00 Cdn, incl. taxes
Can be bought on-line now, in many stores later.

Copied by permission of Hilda Young from http://hildaleapsforward.blogspot.com

A note from Heather:
As one of the author’s in this book, I hope to take part in a launch very soon in the Barrie and/or Toronto area of Ontario. In the book I share my poem, "My First Grandchild."

The Problem of Multiplying Snails

I never realized snails would become a terrible problem for me. It started when I wanted a plant in my 20-gallon tank. Taking a leaf from the 10-gallon tank, my husband found an identical plant at the fish store. Shortly after I had planted it, I noticed a snail.

Within a couple of weeks these creatures had infested the tank. My children insisted I needed to clean the tank thoroughly and start over with new rocks. I preferred searching for snails daily and then disposing of them. It did not work. The more I caught; the more I discovered.

When the tank began to leak, I knew I must buy a new one. If I was going to start over, I figured I should buy rocks as well. It would be silly to transport my problem from one tank to another. Instead of buying a plant, I took a clipping from the 10-gallon tank and planted it in the new tank. Why did I not do that in the first place? Perhaps God wanted me to learn an important lesson.

Thinking how quickly the snails multiplied reminded me of yeast. Every bread maker knows that given time a little yeast will work its way through the dough and make it rise. In the Bible, God uses yeast as an example of the spread of good and evil.

Jesus told a parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough” (Matthew 13:33, NIV).
Another time Jesus said, “How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (Matthew 16:11, NIV). Then the disciples understood that Jesus was warning them about the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. In the first example yeast represented the multiplication of good whereas in the latter it symbolized evil.

I doubt I shall ever forget this episode with the snails. Whenever I remember, I shall pray that my life will influence others for good and not evil.

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A Troublesome Beaver

Hair blowing in the wind and eyes eager with anticipation, I waited as my husband carefully guided the boat to a stop at our dock. As I walked up the hill, I pondered the year-end chores needing to be done that weekend. Up on the deck I looked with horror at the poplar tree lying on the ground close to the cottage.

My husband remarked, “It’s the work of a beaver.”

“You mean a beaver climbed up a sixty-foot hill to chop down a poplar tree?” I wailed.

Two weeks later we returned to the cottage and found chew marks on two other poplars by the cottage. One was a huge tree with a diameter of approximately twelve to fifteen inches. I had no idea beavers would dare to tackle such big trees. If that particular tree had fallen toward the lake, it would have landed on top of our roof.

I never did see the beaver guilty of causing such devastation. That beaver reminded me how the effect of our works remains long after we are gone. Paul writes to the Philippians, “I thank my God every time I remember you” (Philippians 1:3, NIV).

How will people remember you after your death? How will they remember me? I hope they remember how much I loved Jesus and trusted him for my eternal salvation. I hope they remember that I walked in obedience to my Lord.

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Christian Book Expo

Over thirty Canadian Christian authors are gathering at Faith Family Books, in Scarborough, Ontario, on Friday November 20th from 7 to 9 pm.

Event: Christian Writers of Canada Expo '09
What: Festival
Start Time: Friday, November 20 at 7:00pm
End Time: Friday, November 20 at 9:00pm
Where: Faith Family Books & Gifts (45 Milner Ave., at 401 + McCowan Rd)

If you live nearby, you are invited to come out and get to know some Canadian Christian writers. The Word Guild and Maranatha News support this endeavor.


Check out this link: faithfamilybooks.ca/id11.html

See you soon!

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The Wary Deer

Head down, my mind wandering with a myriad of thoughts, I walked slowly to my vegetable garden in the back yard. Suddenly I heard the noise of several deer running from my neighbour’s yard. A few weeks later, the same thing happened at the cottage. As soon as I opened the front door, deer scattered into the woods.

Those deer were smart. Wary of danger, they fled as quickly as possible. They were like Joseph, who fled from Potiphar’s wife, rather than give in to temptation or be caught in the sin of adultery.

Paul writes, “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:18—20 NIV).

We do well to remember that God bought believers with the precious blood of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is living inside us. Let us be like those deer and flee from any sign of danger.

The Garter Snake

Like a lot of women, I prefer to keep my distance from snakes, the farther away the better. One year this was impossible. A garter snake forced me to walk frequently a few inches from it. This particular snake had made its home underneath a large rock. I understand that is what snakes do. Unfortunately, the chosen rock was at the foot of my stairs. In order to enter or leave my cottage, I had to rest my foot on that rock. Every time I passed by the snake poked its head out and hissed at me. After awhile I began to admire that snake. It stood its ground against intruders.

God exhorts believers to be like that snake. Paul writes, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his power…Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, and with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:10, 14, 15 NIV).

As believers God exhorts us to remain strong in the Lord, tenaciously holding to the truth, clinging to what is holy, ready to share the Gospel with others. Are we doing this? Are we like that snake, not willing to give up? Do we stand our ground? Instead do we find it easier to give in to deception or take the easy way out of a situation?

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Maui Memories

When I visited Maui last month, I admired the lush vegetation and beautiful flowers. The impatiens and dusty millar were twice as high as in my garden. I even saw a 100-year-old mango tree. One particular kind of bird intrigued me, however. It looked like a dove with white-tipped wings.

This bird appeared unaware of its surroundings. Once, as my husband and I walked down the concrete pathway to our hotel room, I spotted this bird standing by the nearby wall. Although my husband stepped a few inches from this bird, it never flinched. A few days later the bird looked as if it was waiting for us by our door. It never flew away as we approached and seemed oblivious to a cat peering intently at it several feet away.

This bird reminded me of our spiritual condition before we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. The Bible says that everyone is born spiritually dead. We were born with a sin nature because of Adam and Eve’s rebellion in the Garden of Eden. Since this is true, it does not take very long before we personally commit sin.

Just like that bird, dead people do not react. We are utterly incapable of responding to God and blind to spiritual realities. The Holy Spirit must first lovingly open our hearts to hear the Lord speak through his Word, the Bible. Only by the grace of God do spiritually dead people become alive. What a precious gift of God!

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient” (Ephesians 2:1, 2 NIV).

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Waiting on the Lord

After scurrying across the yard, the rabbit plopped down on the driveway. Its ears stood straight and tall, listening for any sign of trouble. For more than five minutes, the rabbit sat still and did not move a muscle.

Several times I left the room and then came back to see if the rabbit was still there. It was. How unlike that rabbit most of us are! We hurry from one activity to another, never stopping to take a break. Life is a rat race, a never-ending whirl of things to do.

We need to sit down like the rabbit and listen to the Lord. The Psalmist writes, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10 NIV).

If we take the time to be quiet and hear God in his Word, then we will not be caught off guard or unprepared when the trials of life besiege us. Instead we will draw our strength from the Lord.

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Struggling with Sin

Sometimes the changing seasons appear to engage in a tug of war with each other. Are you glad when you see a robin, the first sign of spring? Yet that robin does not necessarily mean the end of winter weather. Less than a week after I saw a robin this year, winter returned with a vengeance. Some communities in southern Ontario received the same amount of snowfall as a January storm.

I do not know how you feel, but I enjoy the opposite—a heat wave in September. It means one more chance to go canoeing or sailing before cold grips the land. In contrast, skiers rejoice when they can ski in April. Others prefer not to have to deal with shoveling more snow. Whatever your preferences, everyone must accept the fact that summer and winter do not usually end abruptly. From a human viewpoint, there is a tug of war between the seasons.

The same situation occurs spiritually. When a person is saved, he or she accepts Jesus as Lord and Saviour. No longer are we legally guilty of our sins because Jesus took the punishment, which we deserve. Nevertheless the long process of sanctification begins. The new nature in Christ struggles to eradicate and replace the old sin nature. What a tug of war spiritually!

The apostle Paul lamented, “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing” (Romans 7:18, 19 NIV).

Paul struggled with sin in his life, just as we do. Thankfully, the Lord continues the painful process of sanctification in believers. He never gave up on Paul. Likewise God will never stop working to make us more like Jesus.

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God's Hidden Handiwork

During the winter snow covers the landscape and hides the dead grass. In the spring the snow melts and reveals dormant plants waiting for warmth to grow again. Sometimes you may notice long wiggly paths imprinted in your yard—the work of voles winding their way over the frozen ground.

I have often looked out the window after a storm to admire the smooth layer of freshly fallen snow. Until recently, it never occurred to me that some animals might be busy going about their business, sight unseen.

God operates like those voles, hidden from view. If you are a believer, he is busy working in your life as well as mine. Often we do not know or understand what is happening. We likely will not fully comprehend everything the Lord has done until we get to heaven. As the hymn writer William Cowper explains, “God moves in a mysterious way his wonders to perform.” We are God’s handiwork. He weaves your life experiences and mine together into a beautiful tapestry.

Perhaps you are experiencing sorrow or heartache today. Take heart. If you belong to God, he is working out everything for your good and for his honour and glory.

A Winter Wonderland

A thick layer of freshly fallen snow covers the yard like a pure white blanket. Tiny crater-like holes are scattered haphazardly under the trees—the result of snow falling from branches. The tracks of a rabbit cross the backyard. The ditch by the road shows evidence of children tumbling down the incline as they wait for the school bus.

Without the snowfall, I would never have known that a rabbit had scampered through the yard. Without the snowfall, I would not have realized that children liked to slide into the ditch. Free of snow, the trees would not bow down and shed their heavy load.

I was unaware of all these activities taking place in my yard. It took the snowfall to reveal them. Likewise, we are unaware of sin in our lives until we gaze upon the holiness of God. His purity sheds light on our sinfulness. Like Isaiah of old, we will fall down in dismay.

“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty” (Isaiah 6:5 NIV).

If you feel like this, do not fear. Jesus paid the penalty for sinners. If you believe that Jesus died for you, then he will remove your guilt. Look to Jesus and live!

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Economic Uncertainty

We live in interesting economic times. How often have you heard those words? Companies are laying off workers. Other businesses have declared bankruptcy. Retirees do not have as much disposable income, especially if they depend on dividends from their stock portfolio. Baby boomers wonder whether they will have to work longer than they intended.

Lately the news consists of a constant diet of doom and gloom. Therefore many people are afraid to spend although they can afford it. Banks are refusing to lend even when they are able.

How should believers, who trust in the goodness and providence of God, react to this economic uncertainty? God reminded me of the answer when I looked outside my window the other day. A brightly coloured blue jay landed on a snow-laden evergreen tree. Tiny chickadees, almost hidden from view, hopped from one pine branch to another. They were not worried about what they would eat or wear.

Jesus instructed his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear…Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:25, 26 NIV).

I know a chorus, “Why Worry When You Can Pray?”. Let us learn from the birds. Do not worry about the falling stock market or the subprime mortgage fiasco. Instead ask your Heavenly Father to supply your needs, not your wants. Then trust him to do it.

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Unexpected Winter Driving Hazards

Long ago God promised Noah, as long as the earth exists, we would always have four seasons. Winter follows fall every year. It’s guaranteed. Yet, when it comes to winter driving, people seem to have short memories.

Although it is not officially winter, this season has arrived in southern Ontario and is here to stay for a while. Last week Toronto received its first snowfall of the season. In one day police responded to over four hundred accidents. The next day a policeman commented on the television news that all those collisions were caused by speed.

Many people are caught off guard and unprepared for winter even though it happens every year. Are you ready for Jesus’ second coming? I wonder how many will be unprepared or shocked.

Jesus told his disciples, “The Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” (Matthew 24:44 NIV). This means that Jesus will come back when he is least expected. Since this is true, what advice does Jesus give believers? “So stay awake and be prepared, for you do not know the date or moment of My return” (Matthew 25:13 Living NT).

How are we to be prepared for Jesus’ return? Those who do not know Jesus as Lord and Saviour will definitely be unprepared. This fact should sadden the heart of every believer. Judging by the rest of Matthew 25, believers must do the work, which Jesus wants us to do. This means that we should live to please him by sharing the good news of salvation through Jesus alone.

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The Curious Squirrel

Animals like our house. The stucco contains tiny pebbles making it easy to climb. Once I saw a mouse climbing up the wall. I wondered if it had found a home in our eaves.

One morning my husband and I woke up startled to hear noises on the exterior wall of our bedroom. We wondered who was clattering up and down the wall. Then, for a brief second, a squirrel peered through the window at us. I am not sure who was more surprised, the squirrel or us.

Seeing the squirrel staring at us reminded me that we were not alone. People often think they are alone when they are not. Sometimes believers are hurting so much that they need assurance of God’s care and presence. Other times, people mistakenly assume no one is watching them. Therefore it does not matter what they do. Both are wrong.

The story of Hagar is a good reminder of God’s all-seeing watch over everyone. Long ago Sarah encouraged her husband Abraham to take her handmaid as a concubine. According to the custom of the day, any child conceived would be considered Sarah’s. When Hagar did conceive, Sarah became so jealous that Hagar fled into the wilderness. The angel of the Lord assured Hagar that she was not alone or forgotten. Hagar responded by acknowledging, “You are the God who sees me” (Genesis 16:13 NIV).

God is keeping an eye on you just as he did for Hagar. You are not alone. May this be a comforting thought for you today!

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Life and Death Realities

I have experienced a series of contrasts about life and death this past summer. My nephew married his sweetheart near the shores of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. They stood in front of a beautiful arbor under sunny skies as the water lapped gently onto the shore. That scene reminds me of the blessings of being alive physically and of loving another person.

A few weeks later my husband and I helped to deliver Gospels of John at Hope for Quebec 2008. This summer marked the 400th anniversary of Quebec City. As part of the celebrations, believers from Europe, United States, and Canada united together to help distribute 400,000 Gospels to every household in Quebec City and to many visitors. As a result of this outreach twenty-one people accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. These new Christians not only have physical life now, but also eternal life. They are alive spiritually and belong to God’s family forever. Once they were dead spiritually, but now they are alive.

We cut our time short in Quebec City because of the hospitalization of my mother-in-law. For the next few weeks my husband and I watched her gradually die of congestive heart failure. Death is a horrible reality! It is the visible result of sin in this world. Until Jesus returns, every one of us must face this enemy. Thankfully, the nurses were kind and compassionate. They made sure she was not in distress. My mother-in-law did not fear dying because she knew Jesus. Now she is alive with her Saviour in heaven.

“ ‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’…But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:55, 57).

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Meeting Deadlines

Have you ever had to meet a deadline? Most people have at one time or another. My family and I wanted to see the high tide on the Bay of Fundy. It was due at 11:30 am at the Tidal Bore near Truro. We had two hours to travel there from our hotel in Halifax. Going directly would have taken about forty minutes. Instead we decided to take the scenic route so that we could see more of the Bay of Fundy.

A star on the map indicated an attraction at Burncoat. When we couldn’t find it, we headed back toward the Tidal Bore. A short time later we took another detour on a road leading to the Bay. Getting out of the car we walked leisurely up and down the water’s edge and took a number of pictures. Not hurrying, we finally got back into the car. After a short drive we discovered a park with a deck protruding out into the Bay. Of course, we stopped to admire the view and to take more pictures. Because we took our time sightseeing, we arrived at the Tidal Bore five minutes too late.

This experience reminded me how easy it is to get distracted in this life from important spiritual realities. Once Jesus told a parable about a sower who went out to sow a field. Some seed fell on the path, but the birds ate it. Some fell on stony ground. It quickly withered and never took root. Some fell among thorns and thistles. It grew for a short time. Then choked by the weeds, it withered and died. Some fell on good ground, took root, and grew to produce fruit.

Do you feel like the seed that grew among the thorns and thistles? Are you easily distracted by the cares of this world? I hope you are not like us on our trip. We thought we had lots of time, but we became more interested in beautiful scenery than in keeping a deadline. We only missed the reversal of water at the Tidal Bore. It is much more serious to miss out on eternal salvation. Now is the day of salvation. When Jesus returns, it will be forever too late.

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Write! Canada

Every June Canadian authors and editors who are Christian gather together at Guelph Conference grounds in Ontario for three days of companionship and learning. This was my second year, and it was fantastic. The organizers always make sure there are classes and workshops, which will interest everyone from aspiring writers to those who are career-oriented. Since I have written a book, I signed up for all of the marketing courses.

Teresa Evenson taught five sessions on preparing a pitch for the media. I learned how important it is to be prepared. Most of all I learned to be vulnerable and share my feelings, what I am passionate about and why. It’s about presenting who I am, not trying to sell the book.

The workshop on Speed Networking and Professional Pitch Practice with Wendy Nelles and Sandra Reimer complemented Teresa’s class. In it I learned to ask questions and find out what kind of book people are interested in first. If they like my kind of writing, then pitch away. I recommend this conference to anyone who wants to connect with other writers and editors who are Christian, especially if you are eager to improve your writing skills.

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