Year: 2002

Some years ago, the congregation I was serving gave my wife and me a trip to Israel, returning through Greece and Rome. One of the highlights of that trip was a visit to Athens, where I stood on the Areopagus, … Read more

On a Friday evening early in May, my husband and I attended an ordination and induction service at a local Presbyterian Church. It was a special occasion for everyone concerned, because a young woman, who grew up within the Presbyterian … Read more

I have just finished watching a documentary on television called "Ice Dogs", where an Englishman, Benedict Allen, learned to steer a sledge with a pack of huskies. I was transfixed by his willingness to risk his own life, as well … Read more

Located on the Trans Canada Highway in British Columbia's Fraser Valley, about an hour and a half from Vancouver, is a little community called "Hope". The name is derived from the original "Fort Hope", so named by the Hudson's Bay … Read more

Our fig tree started from a small sprout when our home was new. It grew with our yard, our children, and our lives. By the time the children were old enough to pick figs, the tree was an enormous size. … Read more

On September 11th, 2001, the acts of a few individuals changed the way we in North America regard our world. In the weeks following this morbid desecration, terror lurked in the shadows of our thoughts, ready to pounce again when … Read more

People were silently taking their leave after participating in "The Stations of the Cross" on Good Friday. Ever so gently, the silence was broken by the soft harmony of "How Great Thou Art", coming from three young teenaged girls sitting … Read more

Our hound, Grace, had grungy ears. Smelly, dark, oily yuck coated the inner ear canals, even blocking them in some places, impairing her hearing and causing her great discomfort. Allergies seemed to be the culprit behind this phenomenon. According to … Read more

Recently, I spent time in Rio Bravo, Mexico, working in a mercy ministry that builds small homes, casitas, for Mexican families. These homes are very small, only 12 feet by 16 feet. They are well-built with a concrete floor, concrete … Read more

A few weeks ago I received a "free gift" in the mail. I must admit that I felt very sceptical about the gift, and, in my usual fashion, I wondered what would be expected of me in return for accepting … Read more