Year: 1999

In August, I signed up for a third and final course at the local college, which would complement two others I'd taken from the same instructor. The course, to run two weekends in October, if ever even offered again, would … Read more

On the horizon there is a trip planned, one that I am looking forward to with great anticipation. The itinerary for Easter Sunday says we will be at the Garden Tomb for a sunrise service. We will be present in … Read more

When Jesus was hanging naked on the cross, the soldiers divided his last earthly remains. His mother, the beloved disciple, and others were close by, looking on. They were more concerned about Jesus than they were about what happened to … Read more

What's a crucifixion like? A Jewish writer, Klausner, describes it as being the most cruel and terrible death that has ever been devised for taking vengeance by men against men. Cicero called it the most terrible and most cruel torture. … Read more

As we come to Good Friday, I want to describe what happened to Jesus on his final journey, to the cross. Scourging, or flogging, always preceded crucifixion. Under Pilate's order, Jesus was stripped naked, his hands tied behind his back. … Read more

On a recent trip to the north-eastern part of our province of British Columbia, Canada, the farther north we travelled, the more I was saddened to see what seemed to be a high number of fatal accident memorials beside the … Read more

This week my wife and I lost a dear friend through death from cancer. She died painfully, struggling to the very end. It is so easy to ask, "How can this happen? Why? Why?" If we try to find a … Read more

It didn't look like a tree, more like a giant white thimble that had been abandoned by some fantasy giant, in the forest where I was skiing. All the other trees had shed their covering of snow and were standing … Read more

There is always something wonderful and stirring about Palm Sunday. Many of us celebrate by waving palm fronds in our churches just the way the people did at the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem. We sing songs with the … Read more

A couple of years ago I went on a five-five day hiking trip in Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada. There were about ten of us and we had only ourselves, our gear, and our own personal determination. Most people in the … Read more