Author: John Stuart

It never ceases to amaze me how preaching affects different folk. There are lots of jokes about people sleeping through sermons, and some comedians have made their name by mocking preachers, but when all is said and done, preaching is … Read more

It was an old Gothic church built in the early part of the eighteenth century. It sat in what was once the heart of the Bridgeton parish, but when a new bypass was built, the church was isolated from the … Read more

Years ago, I went to a conference in Los Angeles, California. One of the keynote speakers was known nationally as being a pastor to pastors in crisis. He spent over twenty years leading churches, so he experienced first-hand the trials … Read more

Sometimes we can get too pally with God and treat Him with unintended disrespect. I can remember hearing a pastor at a summer camp starting his prayer with the words, "Hey God," as if he were addressing a mule or … Read more

One of the saddest things that I have seen in more than twenty years of ministry is a person who refuses God's help and rejects His healing. I can remember being called to help one young lad, decades ago, who … Read more

My daughters are now at college, and the house is very quiet. There's an emptiness in my home, but also in my heart. I'm finding it very hard being an empty-nester, even although it's been less than a week since … Read more

I have a great friend who always confronts my weaknesses and challenges me to be all that I can be. We meet on a monthly basis, and he listens attentively to what I'm struggling with as a pastor of a … Read more

Sometimes, though not very often, I get up just before sunrise to look at the sky. I enjoy the transformation of the light and colours from indigo to blue, with a mixture of grays, yellows, oranges, and reds. On cloudless … Read more

I had a great English teacher named Mr. Cruikshanks when I was in high school. He not only taught me how to read poetry, drama, and literature effectively, but he also taught me how to write — quite literally. His … Read more

The other night, I was watching a documentary called "Battle for Souls" on the Discovery channel. It was all about the growth of Christianity in Africa, especially Nigeria. The program focused on some of the tensions between Christian and Islamic … Read more