Year: 2008

When I was a child, we made a big deal out of Dad's birthday. Since it was celebrated in October, we would make a card or bookmark for him at our kitchen table with Mom helping us. At home with … Read more

Four years ago, when our now almost-six-year-old granddaughter was "almost two", she and I found a feather together while out walking and exploring. Immediately, she wanted me to bring it home with us and put it on the aerial of … Read more

One of the very first Sunday school lessons that I can remember was all about joy. My teacher asked our class what joy was, and we all answered with the usual "being happy", "smiling", and "laughing out loud". She then … Read more

During my reading through the Bible again this year, the above verse jumped out at me. It reminded me of the olive trees I saw in Jerusalem at the Garden of Gethsemane. There are several there which are of a … Read more

At a recent worship service, the congregation witnessed the baptism of a young child, with his parents and grandparents. The mother of the child had grown up through the ranks of the Christian education programme within the church. Now with … Read more

When I first became a Christian, I found it tough to try to live up to Christ's standards. I wanted to remain the same and Christ to be different. I wanted Him to accept who I was, instead of me … Read more

The principal of my rural school in the nineteen thirties and forties was convinced that the today's Scripture was the answer to all child-rearing problems. The parents, who supported him completely, backed up his theory of "tough love". In those … Read more

Many years ago, when I was a young, inexperienced seminarian, my path crossed that of a woman who was consumed by guilt. Seeing my clergy collar, she wailed, "God may forgive you, but never me, never me, never me…" Her … Read more

My mom used to make great steak pies. I loved to watch her make up the dough for the crust and pound upon it until the pastry was ready to be rolled. She would then get out the rolling pin … Read more

I love watching wild birds — whether they are flying across the sky, or hopping around my yard, or swimming in a lake. Recently, while going for a walk, I stopped and rested on a park bench by a small … Read more