Month: July 2004

I remember being in a teaching hospital where an eminent Jewish psychologist was interviewing a young girl. She was deeply troubled by the unholy thoughts that kept penetrating her peace of mind. She was restless and agitated, wounded and suffering. … Read more

I am an interim pastor. My job is to go into a church and help to prepare it for a new "settled" pastor. Looking at the goals of the church is part of this. Our "Thinking-Big Day", as I call … Read more

One morning recently, I awoke early, feeling sad. Where could I turn for wisdom and understanding? The previous day's events lay heavy on my heart. I had been in a situation where many opinions had been expressed. To say the … Read more

At a recent conference that I attended, I was reminded about how easy it is to look for answers within our box of understanding. Often it is not until we look beyond the box that we discover the answer to … Read more

When I was a child, mayhaw trees grew down by the riverbank. In March, we would locate the tree by its bloom, then in May, go back and pick the berries for jelly. It made a fine jelly, with colours … Read more

Having had a difficulty that I didn't know how to deal with, I finally came to discuss it with clergy. I was told that I wasn't the only one having the same problem, meaning that others suffer from the same … Read more

"Never hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk." This was one of the statements on an e-mail list containing "great truths children have learned", and it reminded me of something in my own childhood. On my seventh … Read more

Our church was excited over the forthcoming wedding of two of our favourite young people. Their marriage had been the favourite topic of conversation for some time. Two days before the ceremony was to take place, three of the beloved … Read more

I always emphasize to my students that Jesus is the way; karate is a hobby. I support this position by giving a youth sermon during each martial arts class. In fact, all of the devotionals that I have submitted started … Read more

One night, I took my coffee into the family room and decided to watch a popular television show. On that particular show, a number of guests were being "made over" by several experts. At the start of the program, the … Read more