Did you know that it’s likely that up to 61% of people check their phones within five minutes of waking up? In a global study done by Deloitte focused on mobile consumer behaviour in 2020, they found that this is a habit of our current day and age. Within the first 30 minutes of waking up, 88% of those in the study checked their phones in the first half hour. It’s scary to think how often we’re glued to our phones. Me included. I’ve recently finished a book called The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer, and I was quite challenged by the reality of how often we tu ..read more

I must confess, I do enjoy my instant noodles on odd occasions. Instant noodles are quick to make, easy to cook, and can be elevated from a cheap $1-$2 meal to a 3-Michelin-starred meal. I don’t need to prep; I don’t need to plan; I just simply add a bit of hot water, wait about 3.5 minutes for the noodles to get al dente, and I’m good. If I’m feeling a bit fancy, then maybe I’ll add in some napa cabbage or fry up a nice overeasy egg (the yolk must be running or else the whole dish falls apart). As I was slurping away at my highly processed and artificially flavoured meal the other ..read more

For those with East Asian roots, it’s Chinese New Year (or lunar new year). You may notice as you go to Chinatown or the Mandarin that there’s extra décor hanging around with Chinese characters. You may notice a single Chinese character, often written in gold. That one character is 福, which means “fortune.” As a part of tradition, families will hand out “red pockets,” which are often filled with money or chocolate (for the kids, I personally prefer the former). When one gives these “red pockets” generously, the “god of fortune” gives his blessing. This gives you an idea that within East Asia ..read more

Spending time in airports and flying in planes are very strange experiences. Growing up in Asia, I have had the chance to travel to many airports across the world—my favourite being the airport in Singapore. Airports are a weird place where the usual rules don’t apply. If someone were to down a few loaded potato skins and a beer at 9 a.m., no one bats an eye. Airports are a place of often bittersweet, sometimes sad departures—to see a loved one go, to leave home, to say goodbye—and happy arrivals—a new unexplored location, a vacation, or a chance to see mom after many years. In terms of flyin ..read more

Norah, my four-year-old daughter, has now been in junior kindergarten since the new school year. It’s been so much fun watching her develop and grow. From writing her name to drawing to now reading her first book, it blows me away how quickly she can pick things up with such joy. One of the programs I love to be a part of is “snuggle up” book homework. Every day, Ms. C. will provide each child with a book of their choice to bring home and read with their parent. The whole idea is that the child gets to grow in their reading comprehension, and as the name implies, the parent “snuggles up” with ..read more

We’re born into a world where things are not always certain, and as we go through life, we can’t ignore the fact that someday we’ll die. This blog post talks about what we can learn from Jonathan Edwards, an important Christian thinker from America, about how short life is and why it’s important to live it well for God. Jonathan Edwards was born in 1703, and he was a big deal in American Christianity. When we look at his life story, we see that he always thought about life and death. From when he was a kid to when he passed away, Edwards always knew that life is short and death is something ..read more

In the cozy city of Mississauga, where everything seems perfect with neat lawns and fancy amenities, I recently got a reality check. Fifteen minutes before I got home, a shooting happened right down the street from my home, shattering the illusion of safety that surrounded me. It made me remember that the peace we enjoy in our comfortable neighbourhoods is not as secure as it seems and that the violence and evil we see on the news are not just far-off stories. Living in a comfy city can make us feel really safe, like nothing bad could ever happen. The quiet streets, the trees lightly dusted w ..read more

Pastor Deric, April, and the City Centre team wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!   ..read more

I’ve always been intrigued by God’s unexpected appearances. He shows up in the most unusual places. He is spotted in the most unlikely places. Because He is the God of grace and the God of hope. He loves to arrive in the very places where He is most unwelcome. He has an uncanny habit of appearing among the people voted least likely to know Him. Because that’s who He is. Don’t get me wrong. He doesn’t force His way on anybody. He does not ignore the offer to get lost. I’ve heard people tell Him to take a hike. And He did. Sometimes to return at a later date, other times to never come ..read more

  The words and the music of one of my favourite contemporary worship songs were written by Shawn Craig and Connie Harrington, copyright 2001. Shawn Craig was part of the Christian music trio Phillips, Craig, and Dean, which was formed in 1991. Their music still tops the charts of my private worship. And the song “Your Grace Still Amazes Me” is probably one of my favourite songs of all time. It lights my heart on fire every time I think about the words. GRACE is the shining theme of the Bible. It’s the thread that runs from Genesis to Revelation, unifying the Bible. Grace is the word t ..read more