On this Easter Sunday, we have a unique opportunity to think about the impact of Jesus’ resurrection on our lives in this unusual time....
In Bible times, it was widely assumed that if you had wealth, it indicated God’s blessing and favor. We see this in the disciple’s...
March 13, 2020 Dear SVBC Family: This past week, we have seen several extraordinary events associated with the spread of the COVID-19...
I read a great devotional this morning by Tim Keller in his book “God’s wisdom for navigating life.” I found it helpful for perspective...
Dear SVBC family: This Sunday, I will be preaching on Psalm 91. But I also want to share with you some encouragement from this passage...
Hello everyone: We continue in our walk through Psalm 91 as we adjust, react and process all the news regarding COVID 19. Today we look...
Good morning SVBC family and friends. Today I am thankful for the sunshine. Yesterday morning I awoke to a closed in foggy start to the...
Dear Friends: As the COVID-19 Pandemic continues to spread around the world and spill into our community, it is vital for us to keep...
It’s Monday morning and my devotional for today talked about waiting. Psalm 40:1 states “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to...
This morning while I waited for my car to get an oil change, I heard a morning radio show talk about living within the confines of the...
Over the past 24 hours, I think I had my first official mental freak out about everything going on. I received several pieces of bad...
I think we continue with this approach to life into adulthood. We may put on a brave face when we’re in front of other people. We keep...
Every day this week, I have heard about someone receiving lay off notices from their work because of this crisis. I was laid off in a...
Your heavenly Father knows your needs – Matthew 6:32-33 Yesterday, we talked about the reality that many have experienced this past...
Psalm 42:1-5 – (NIV)1 As the deer pants for streams of water,so my soul pants for you, my God.2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living...
Thankfully, God has provided the Psalms to help us navigate such times. One Bible Scholar named Walter Brueggemann said this about...
Today I want to talk about help. This Sunday, I will be speaking from Psalm 121. It starts out like this. “I lift up my eyes to the...
“He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” I...
“Pray without ceasing.” Early in my pastoral ministry, I sought our more experienced and seasoned pastors. I wanted to learn what they...
In our current circumstances I feel we cannot avoid the fear that seems to be pressing down on many. For Christians like me, there is...
Earlier this week we talked about how God never sleeps. But sometimes it seems like that’s the only explanation. We go through stuff...
“When things get back to normal” – That’s one phrase I’ve been hearing frequently over these days. “We need to keep these measures in...
Here’s a quick summary of today’s message if you weren’t able to join us live. Psalm 121 is known as the traveler’s psalm. Ancient...
Whenever Easter week arrives, I like to try to imagine what Jesus went through each day. It reminds me again of His incredible...
What do you think of spending a lot of money to buy a gift for someone else? I remember talking with a pastor friend of mine once. He...
Be still. Stillness is not a celebrated virtue in our regular culture. If someone asks, “How are you doing,” one of the most respected...
I think one of the most powerful moments in the entire Easter story occurs during Jesus’ arrest. We know he and the 11 disciples left...
It’s coming up to 15 years since my Dad passed away. I still miss him but when I think of his final days, I was ready to let him go....
Every day brings its unique joys and challenges. Sometime life feels light and joyful. Other days, life feels heavy and burdensome....
It’s been exactly one month since COVID-19 regulations began impacting our lives. So I thank the Lord for seeing us through this month....
Earlier this week, I watched a reporter interview a financial analyst. He summarized the findings of the International Monetary Fund...
Good day everyone, We would like to introduce our ‘Meals to Help’ Ministry for the people of SVBC, who find themselves in need, based...
We live in a time where a lot of people have experienced loss – lost income, jobs, savings, security, normal life, face to face social...
During this pandemic we have experienced a variety of losses. Many have lost income or lost your jobs. Some have lost some savings. We...
I am sitting at my kitchen table trying to get my head around Canada’s worst mass shooting in history. It happened through Saturday...
It’s Tuesday; the day after the extent of the shooting in Nova Scotia has become somewhat clearer; the day after Oil Prices went into...
Last week I was in a checkout line at a grocery store. I had already paid and was bagging up my items. The cashier then asked the next...
This post is totally overdue, but better late than never! Longing to connect with others to pray with them or fellowship or meet as a...
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to...
Yesterday, we talked about Paul’s insistence that we do not have to be anxious about anything. Instead, we could pray and ask with...
If anyone had reason for anxiety, it was the apostle Paul. He experienced multiple life threatening situations. “Far greater labors,...
I think one of the great challenges in life as a Christian is the daily battle for belief in Jesus’ presence and care. It’s “easier” to...
We have started into week 7 of the COVID-19 lockdown. I’m finding it hard to keep up with all the announcements and information – and...
Everyone has fears. We have different ways of revealing them. You would never know someone has a fear of spiders until a spider shows...
We have been having some issues with our wifi at home since the pandemic started. Devices take longer to connect to wifi. Or some don’t...
When I talk with people during this pandemic, one topic that has come up as often as the COVID-19 virus is work. People have had hours...
Sometimes, it’s easy to conclude that there’s only a few significant moments in our lives – Birth; Graduation; Marriage; Baby; Job...
When this pandemic first started, I noticed a softening of the words expressed online from people of different views. There was more of...
All Ladies Welcome! Ladies, grab your favorite cup of tea or coffee & please join us Wednesday mornings @ 9:30 am for a time...
Before the pandemic, it was easy for churchgoers to skip church if you didn’t have to be there. You could always go next Sunday. But...
I have always loved relying on my self. It feels good and powerful to plan my day and make it happen with my own efforts. On days when...
One of the battles we fight right now is for our mental health. I have heard of many who struggle to keep a healthy outlook during...
"Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is worthless. With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.”...
A summary of today’s text and message: 2 Corinthians 1:1-11 "1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our...
When something unexpected or troublesome comes into my life, it takes some time to adjust to it. I have many questions. I try to gain...
Sometimes the busyness of our lives blurs our vision of God. Add trouble to busyness and they can completely blind us to God’s presence...
This morning I read an article about fraud and the government assistance programs during COVID 19. The federal government launched the...
Yesterday, our province entered Phase 1 of the government’s reopening plan. It allows many businesses to reopen like restaurants (50%)...
Do you ever think that God is incompetent to deal with the complexities of your life or the problems in the world? I think we sometimes...
Sometimes, when I pause to look around, It seems like people who have no regard for God enjoy immense success. They keep succeeding....
Hi everyone: It’s Pastor Tom. Thank you again for your involvement in the ministry and life of SVBC. We really miss getting together...
A little phrase caught my eye in Psalm 65 the other day. Speaking to God, David writes, “O you who hear prayer, to you all flesh shall...
How do you respond when someone corrects you? How do you react if someone points out that you are doing something wrong? I remember a...
It is very easy to criticize – especially today online. You can make an anonymous twitter, Facebook or Instagram identity and slam away...
We can feel quite alone when we face something in life that only we can do. We are the only ones that can go to the job interview and...
“Father to the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.” Whenever I read about God being father to the...
Sometimes it feels like we fight life’s battles alone. We know our challenges both external and internal. If you’re a Christian, you...
When we get anxious, does it help? I think everyone gets anxious. Parents get anxious about sick kids. Teens get anxious about exams or...
I was deeply troubled last week when I viewed the video of George Floyd held down by police officers in downtown Minneapolis. He pleads...
Do we have to reach a level of goodness before we can ask for God’s help? I think believing this can sometimes hinder our prayers. We...
Unanswered prayer is frustrating especially when we believe our request aligns with God’s will. “Lord, please bring my loved one back...
I have been a Christian for 48+ years now. This morning I came across Jesus’ words at the end of Matthew 11 that have encouraged me...
Dear SVBC family: Greetings to you all. We continue to think of you and pray for you here at the church office. This past week our...
When I was in university, I would go with friends down south during our reading week break in February. We drove to California or...
“And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was...
Here is a series of recent blogs on marriage written by Prepare Enrich, an organization that provides information on relationships,...
Sunday night, our region got hit with pretty severe thunderstorms. They didn’t do damage like the storms in Calgary on Saturday that...
Father’s Day arrives on Sunday. This day can bring up many emotions – warmth; joy; sadness; bitterness; regret; gratitude;...
This morning I read the account of Jesus passing by 2 blind men. When they hear that it’s Jesus walking by, they cry out “Have mercy on...
A few weeks ago, the numbers of confirmed new cases of COVID 19 in our province plummeted. I had gotten into the practice of checking...
Which do you prefer to receive; Flattery or Constructive Criticism? Honestly, I like to receive flattery more than criticism even if it...
What do you think of the Bible? If you read it or listen to it, how do you hear what it says? Do you consider it the collected opinions...
Psalm 77 holds a special place in my heart. I frequently prayed when I went through a difficult time in my life and ministry many years...
UPDATE: July 9, 2020 Preparing for Sunday, July 12 2020 Hi everyone: I hope you are enjoying the sun these last couple of days....
I think most people today are turned off by holiness. Maybe it’s because of the “holier than thou” attitude of someone in their lives....
In-Person Sunday Worship Service When: Sundays @ 10:45 AM – 11:45 AM (Registration closes at 9:30 am Sundays, re-opens for...
There are people, situations and life challenges that test our patience. There’s that one person who is often opposed or disagreeable....
I once had a job interview where I was asked a question I did not know the answer to. I sensed it was a very important question. It...
I think one of the greatest challenges of the COVID 19 pandemic is isolation and loneliness. The restrictions on gathering, the mandate...
We have a new puppy who is now about 4 months old. She weighs just over 3 pounds. So when we go for a walk on a warm summer day, she...
“Summer – In the Northern Hemisphere, the usually warmest season of the year, occurring between spring and autumn, constituting June,...
Dear SVBC Family: Last Sunday, we enjoyed our first gathering together in 4 months. 76 attended and we were able to have a worship...
Hi everyone: I hope you are enjoying these last days of August. I am back after some time off. Thank you for praying for my refreshment...
Yesterday we talked about the reality of the ongoing spiritual battle we face. We learned about our need to take up the fight and use...
Some people say that if God revealed Himself more clearly, they would believe in Him. If He showed up in person or did something...
Everyday, our self looks for a verdict on us. Our self constantly asks the question – “Am I okay? Am I doing right? Do others accept...
“So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a...
Paul’s thorn in the flesh has gone well beyond the Bible. Many use “thorn in the flesh” or “thorn in my side” to describe some constant...
Would you sign up for something if you knew some people would hate you for doing it? We might quickly reject such an “opportunity.”...
“Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his footstool; he is holy.” Psalm 99:5 It seems to me that our culture generally sees holiness...
Sometimes we go through tough times that last a long time – weeks, months maybe even years. Such times include deep loneliness after a...
We’ve entered the September rush in Alberta where I live. Even though COVID 19 hangs like a shadow over us, kids are back to school,...
Hi everyone: A Merry Christmas to you as we approach the final days of 2020. Thank you to all of you for your patience and support...
Have you suffered loss over the past 2 years? Loss of a loved one, job, right of passage such as graduation? Unable to enjoy the...
Dear SVBC family: Last week, the provincial government announced that masks would be required in all indoor spaces. Throughout...
