Reach

14-year-old Jaukeem Fortson who made his name known in households across North America as a contestant on season 26 of The Voice was part of a special performance last week. 

Fortson performed "God Only Knows" alongside for King & Country at the Grand Ole Opry on Dec. 19.

The performance blew away the crowd and Joel and Luke Smallbone.

A grain farmer from Acme, Alberta has been elected as the new chair of Grain Growers of Canada (GGC).

Tara Sawyer, who is also the Chair of Alberta Grains, is the first woman to take over the role of chair for Grain Growers of Canada.

Joining her are Scott Hepworth, a grain grower from Assiniboia, Saskatchewan and a Director of the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission, as First Vice Chair and Sally Parsonage, a grain producer from Baldur, Manitoba and the Secretary of Manitoba Crop Alliance, joins the executive as Second Vice Chair.  

Luke 2:11-14

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

1 Corinthians 16:14

Over the past several days, we’ve been talking about how to face chaotic times with courage. So, once you’ve identified the enemy, gotten your marching orders, and plucked up your courage, then what? Surprise attack? Storm into battle with guns blazing? Climb into your planes and tanks and blow the scum away? “Come on, we’re ready! We studied four commands in 1 Corinthians 16:13. What’s the final command?” There is a fifth one—in verse 14. You thought I missed that, didn’t you? 

A British Columbia community's "out-of-the-box" plan to ease its family doctor shortage by hiring physicians as city employees is sparking interest from across Canada, says Colwood Mayor Doug Kobayashi.

The mayor said the community has hired its first family doctor for a city-operated medical clinic, and the Victoria-area city is looking to hire seven more under the first-in-Canada pilot project.

The family doctors will be paid as community employees, receiving full medical benefits, vacation and a pension, he said.

An "overheated" immigration system that admitted record numbers of newcomers to the country has harmed Canada's decades-old consensus on the benefits of immigration, Immigration Minister Marc Miller said, as he reflected on the changes in his department in a year-end interview.

The system, he said, needed some discipline to get the country back on track.

Luke 2:8-11

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

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1 Corinthians 16:13; Hebrews 10:35-36

We've been talking about the need in our day for a courage transfusion. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 16:13, we've looked at three important commands: Stay alert! Stand alone! Grow up! 

Now the last command won't surprise you at all; you're all ready for it: Get tough! I didn't say "mean," I said "tough." Look at the way it reads: "Be strong." 

Refugee crises have been on the rise in many parts of the world for over a decade, often met with widespread hostility and indifference. Yet, in the midst of this global pattern, Mizoram, a small Christian-majority state in northeast India, has been quietly providing not only aid but a sense of dignity to those fleeing a violent conflict in neighbouring Myanmar.

As part of my “The Dinner Table” series, I set out to understand what life as a refugee really means — and how this generosity shapes their experience — within this uniquely welcoming corner of the world.

After 10 minutes of furious bidding, an inscribed marble slab featuring the Ten Commandments sold for $5.02 million on Wednesday at Sotheby’s auction house in New York.

The stone — written in archaic Samaritan Hebrew script — is the oldest known text of the Decalogue of its kind and estimated to have been carved sometime between 300 and 800 C.E.

The identity of the winning bidder was not disclosed.