Author: John Stuart

Recently, I was watching a television program in which Madonna, the pop singer, was being interviewed by a British journalist. He was asking her about Kaballah, an ancient Jewish mysticism that she, and a number of pop celebrities, have begun … Read more

My dad taught me how to swim the old-fashioned way — in the sea. He had been an engineer in the merchant navy, so he knew the value of learning how to swim in the ocean. One summer when I … Read more

When I was a boy, I was very moody at times and would go into a huff at the drop of a hat. Usually, it happened on the soccer fields close to my home. Whenever the opposing team, which was … Read more

I think it was during the 1960s that the phrase "generation gap" was first used. All over the world, young people were rebelling against the institutions of their day by dropping out of school, confronting the authorities, and staying away … Read more

When I was twelve years old, I ran away from home. I caused my parents a great deal of grief and dismay. When I returned in the wee small hours in the morning, I expected to be punished. Instead, my … Read more

On Sunday mornings at Erin Church, all of our young families come down to the front of the sanctuary to hear a story, sing a song, and say a prayer. During Lent, we're singing the old spiritual, "He's Got the … Read more

Almost thirty years ago, I visited a university town in Spain called Valladolid (pronounced 'baya-dolith). It was originally a castle town and had some beautiful medieval buildings, cathedrals, and colleges all over it. I was there with a friend of … Read more

At the 428 Gospel Club in Glasgow, where I gave my heart to Jesus in 1977, we used to finish the Wednesday night meetings by singing an old hymn. It was called "Turn your eyes upon Jesus", and each time … Read more

For six long years, I studied Hebrew at Glasgow University and became known for translating the Psalms into Glaswegian slang, or as my father used to call it, Scottish guttural. I enjoyed poring over the Scriptures, looking at the different … Read more

My dad was an excellent engineer, and there were many evenings in our household when I would just sit and watch him at his desk. He would pour over blueprints and designs for machinery for hours, checking all the specifications, … Read more