Year: 2009

As a prison guards, there is one thing which we must do constantly — and that is to watch. Day or night, it doesn't matter. When we are on duty, no more than fifteen minutes may pass without a visual check on our ward. Even though each … Read more

In my early years of office work, one of my (long-forgotten) bosses had a sign above his desk which said, "What part of no don't you understand?!" At the time, it was quite frightening, but now, in retrospect, it's somewhat amusing. … Read more

Sometimes God says "No." Over the years, I have pleaded to God for the healing of others, the mending of broken relationships, and the ability to overcome my problems immediately, only to discover that God isn't going to do what I ask. … Read more

I always knew when there were elk in the yard. My young daughter would be standing silent, still as a statue, watching out the window. Truly, elk are magnificent creatures. A grown male, resplendent with a mature antler rack, is a … Read more

I have been busy, and I will be for quite a while yet, with a major renovation project. So, I get sucked in by the doing, focused on the job. Quiet times are fast and fleeting. Okay, so that also has to do with sleep deprivation and … Read more

In the end, salvation is the most important event in the church. We tend to get caught up with dogmas and decisions, interpretations and issues, business meetings and ecclesiastical meanderings that don't bring one single person into the … Read more

On a four-family camping trip during the summer, a feature of every evening was a campfire. We gathered around it, talking and making s'mores (roasted marshmallows and chocolate between graham crackers — each one tastes so good we always … Read more

Our staid, turn-of-the-nineteenth-century, Presbyterian sanctuary had been miraculously transformed into a "television game show studio" for our week-long running of the summer Vacation Bible School (VBS) program, "Studio Go" by Standard … Read more

This is one of my favourite verses from the Bible, because it encapsulates the work of the church. Congregations can get caught up in building programs, financial campaigns, and missional projects, but in the end, if no one comes to see … Read more

I skimmed over Matthew's parable of the talents this morning, knowing the parable's content, yet I gained a new insight. As someone who has sympathised with the poor chap who was given a single talent as a reluctant servant, I have … Read more