Year: 1996

Four-year-old Debbie not only insisted that Grandpa read her a story; she would have no substitute for Hansel and Gretel. Repeatedly, Grandpa stopped at points where violence erupts: a hungry mother and father plan to solve the food shortage by … Read more

So how long can you hold your breath? I can do it for a minute and ten seconds. You can hold your breath if you want, and turn a delicate shade of Presbyterian blue. But most of us don't want … Read more

Meet my pet rock, Ebenezer. You may laugh at having a pet rock and you may think Ebenezer a presumptious name for a dumb rock but it is all scriptural and it is all significant in informing our faith and … Read more

I recently ran across a framed certificate of recognition that I was given a year or so ago by my congregation for my leadership of the Youth Group. As soon as I turned it over, I remembered why it was … Read more

Growing up, I had a grand-uncle John Lauchie, who was a gruff old farmer. He was married to Mable. My memories of them are from the time when they were in their late seventies. Both of them were getting old … Read more

Despite all the blatant commercialism of the centennial Olympic Games, few could be unmoved by the spectacular opening ceremony with its multi-media variations of "the power of a dream" theme. The audio/video clip of Martin Luther King's famous 1963 "I … Read more

On December 11, 1995, I asked God "What is my call?". I heard back, "Be a good father and do the best you can for him." Not a typical call. More like a general expectation He would place on any … Read more

As a Christian teenager, I heard this message a lot: God calls each of us. I've repeatedly sought His call for me over time, through university, embarking on a career, and starting a family. Yet when I asked Him, "what … Read more

During our Vacation Bible School this week, my prayer was that God would make our VBS a memorable experience. The theme for the week was prayer, and the curriculum worked through the Lord's Prayer in five sections, dealing with our … Read more

I recently watched the movie Dead Man Walking and was moved by the power of the story. The movie is based on the work of Sister Helen Prejean who acts as spiritual advisor to death-row inmates. A scene near the … Read more