For over twenty years, the community of Fort Assiniboine, Alberta, has produced an interactive play, Journey to Bethlehem, that retells the story of Jesus' birth. Each year, as many as a hundred actors and other volunteers give their time and talents for the four nights of performances. And each year, hundreds more attend---one year as … Continue reading Journey to Bethlehem
Dear April, After careful consideration, our editorial, marketing, and business management team has decided to declare the following Work(s) out of print: Christ Is for Us Christ Is for Us Large Print Christ Is for Us Epub. I can't say I was surprised to receive this notice from Abingdon Press. After all, I had written … Continue reading The Family of God
Last night I went outside to look for Jupiter. "Look to the east," I was told. "After sunset, Jupiter will be the brightest thing in the sky." "You can see it even from the city." The great planet was brighter than usual last night because it was the closest it's been to earth in 59 … Continue reading When You’re Longing for Light, Where Do You Look?
Last Sunday I co-hosted my church's online worship and conversation as usual. Everything went smoothly, but afterward I felt agitated and stressed out. Not because of any technical glitches. Not because of anything anyone said or did. Not because I was thinking about anything in particular. But just because. Life is stressful. The last few years … Continue reading 5 Five-Minute Strategies to De-Stress
In How to Read the Bible and Love It, I share ten ways of staying engaged with Scripture. Today I'm taking my own advice with variation #1 - try a different translation. Ever since its publication last year, I've been wanting to read the First Nations Version: An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament by … Continue reading Becoming a True Human Being: First Nations Version
Years ago when my father died suddenly of a heart attack, his loss was unexpected and enormous, and I felt as if my entire world had shifted on its axis. I remember wondering, how can everyone and everything else go on as normal? How could the sky still be clear and cloudless? How could students … Continue reading In Deep Grief and Deep Gratitude
On Saturday, February 19, 2022, my husband had been in the hospital for three weeks dealing with complications from his cancer, but he was feeling better and asked for some wonton soup. "Great idea," said his doctor. "Wonderful," said his dietician. So I brought my husband the wonton soup he asked for, and spooned some … Continue reading Safely Home With God
This week my too-much-to-do list includes connecting with my publisher about my next book, confirming the text and title for my next sermon, starting my class prep for Sabbath: A Life-Long, Life-Giving Rhythm, tending to my social media and the Facebook pages for my church and writers' guild, picking up my husband's medications from the … Continue reading Too Much to Do? Choose the Better Part
April Yamasaki 