Author: John Stuart

I failed only one test when I was at university. It happened in my first semester, and of all things to fail, I failed New Testament. The professor and I didn't see eye to eye, so I think that I was marked out for a humbling experience. I … Read more

Many years ago, when I attended the 428 Gospel Club on Wednesday nights in Glasgow, Scotland, several regular participants used to sing their own personal testimony songs. Iain, who ended up being the best man at my wedding, would sing … Read more

The current explosive situation in Gaza is affecting the entire world politically, economically, and even spiritually. Ever since the establishment of the Jewish State in 1948, Palestinian refugees have posed a large-scale humanitarian … Read more

Bill Shankly, a Scottish soccer manager, once said, "Football isn't about life or death — it's much more important than that." ("Soccer" is called "football" outside North America.) Bill Shankly coached the world-famous English soccer … Read more

Caregivers are some of the most undervalued people that we can ever encounter. Over the past twenty-five years, I've seen many caregivers who look after their spouses, their parents, or their special needs children, and I have marvelled … Read more

Recently, in the Sunday school class that I teach, we were discussing the parable of the Good Samaritan. It's probably the best-known story that Jesus ever told, so, throughout the class, the participants offered their personal ideas and … Read more

Every morning that I commuted to church, I used to take great delight in spotting two beautiful, large birds. The first was a red-tailed kite which perched atop an old dead tree, constantly surveying the fields alongside the motorway for … Read more

Sometimes when I read Paul's letters, I wonder what kind of situation he was writing about and actually dealing with. It seems to me that all of the young churches to which he was sending letters had internal problems which were … Read more

As a boy, I used to love making model aircraft. Most of my allowance was spent on buying small kits of plastic jets or World War II aircraft. Sometimes, I even purchased model vintage cars, but those were usually very difficult to put … Read more

I love debating with other people. It's part of my training as a pastor. At seminary or university, candidates for ministry are taught apologetics through class presentations or theological debates. The arguments usually spill over into … Read more