Years ago, I participated in a small group which took place during the summer at Montreat College, North Carolina. Young people from across the United States had gathered for a conference which was meant to inspire their faith and encourage … Read more

There are two words for "children" in Scotland. "Weans" is one of them, and the other is "bairns". Usually, variation in usage was regional, dictated by the coast: east or west. I grew up in the west of Scotland, so … Read more

Years ago, I wrote a song called "Sacred Dancer" that our church band, Glenfinnan, still plays today. I wrote it for a gospel singing group in Scotland, but they didn't like the lyrics. They thought that it was too New … Read more

When I was about ten years old, my brother Andy, a few friends, and I dug a pit on a waste piece of ground. It was about three feet deep, and at the bottom was a puddle of oily water. … Read more

Do you ever get the feeling that you want to run away from all of your responsibilities and go hide somewhere? I did that when I was twelve. Things in my home were unbearable, so I decided to run away. … Read more

It used to happen every winter. Heavy snow fell on some local power lines and snapped the cables in two, causing all the lights in our house to go out. Instantly, I would head to the kitchen cupboard, in the … Read more

Years ago, when I ministered in Scotland, there were two elderly sisters in the congregation. Both of them had been members of the church all of their lives. One of them lived on a farm, which had a large acreage … Read more

Years ago, my wife and I visited the city of York, in England. It's a beautiful place and has a rich historical past. Yorkminster Cathedral is an amazing medieval building. As one walks into it, one can hear every sound … Read more

I thought it was going to be just another Monday morning: the usual commute to church, trying to avoid the usual traffic jam, whilst listening to the usual radio program. Just another Monday — until I arrived at the church. … Read more

I always used to love this time of year in Scotland. I ministered at a west coast fishing village called Dunure. We usually held our church meetings down in the village hall, which was right next to the beach. After … Read more

Bringing up kids is no easy task. Bringing up kids whose parents are in the ministry can be daunting. When the Committee on Ministry interviewed me for the position at Erin, one of the elders asked me what family devotions … Read more

When I was growing up, one of the biggest pop groups was the Swedish band "Abba". I can remember watching them for the very first time on television. They were participating in the annual Eurovision Song Contest, an international competition … Read more

Our family had just moved to America when the movie "Braveheart" was released. Like everyone else, we really enjoyed the story, and as proud Scots, we treasured Mel Gibson's portrayal of William Wallace. We had grown up hearing the stories … Read more

I was feeling tired and weary one morning, and the busyness of Christmas was beginning to get me down. I took the garbage bags out to the sidewalk in the bitterly cold pouring rain, and then slouched into my car … Read more

During this year's Christmas season, the most awaited movie will not be Harry Potter's latest escapade. Instead, a well-loved book, written by C. S. Lewis and called, "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe", will be released on the big … Read more

There's an old tradition that the bones of St. Andrew were brought to the east coast of Scotland to a town called Kilrymont in the ninth century. The place became a focal point of faith and learning, eventually becoming known … Read more

About eighteen months ago, I was in a restaurant having a coffee before Sunday School. At one of the tables, a woman was sitting alone, looking unkempt, unwashed, and untidy. She was having an imaginary conversation with someone who wasn't … Read more

Bill was in his late seventies when I met him. He had been a fisherman all of his life, save for the war years, when he and his four brothers served in the Atlantic and Mediterranean aboard minesweeping vessels. He … Read more

With seven in our family, Saturday was a big washing day for my mother. There were a couple of things that I liked to do to help her. She washed all the clothes in the big kitchen sink, and it … Read more

I once grew an apple tree from seed in my apartment in Glasgow. The bay windows in the living room faced south, so this tree flourished. I was very proud of it and even took it to the Maybole manse … Read more

When we first came over from Scotland, our family brought many cherished personal belongings that reminded us of the "auld country". Amongst these treasures was an old hickory-shafted putter that I had owned since I was a child. I bought … Read more

One day, the television in my mom's living room wouldn't work. My dad was at the factory, so I decided to fix it. I was fifteen years old at the time and reckoned it was my moment to do something … Read more

About forty-five years ago, my home town of Glasgow, Scotland, started to pull down many old buildings that had been condemned as not fit for human habitation. These inner-city slums housed thousands of families, who had built up a strong … Read more

Davie was a wild, reckless boy who wouldn't accept discipline, deadlines, or duties. He did his own thing, and when I met him, he had turned into a sour, drug-addicted man. He used to shout a lot when he was … Read more

Years ago, when I ministered in Scotland, I walked into the church halls one morning, only to discover that all of the windows had been broken. During the night, a local gang had come along, throwing bricks and stones through … Read more

When I was a teenager, I tried very hard to get rid of God in my life. I can even remember — when I was fourteen — saying to God, "This is my last prayer to you. I don't need … Read more

It's very hard not to be judgmental of other people, especially if they are different. I can remember my eldest daughter coming home from Middle School in tears. Earlier in the morning, she had seemed so bright and eager to … Read more

When I was about seven years old, I caught a large bumblebee by throwing my duffel coat over it. It was an act of bravado, which impressed my pals in the school playground where the event took place. Just as … Read more

One of the best programs that our church offers is called "Bread Breakers". For six months in the year — usually October through March — people in our congregation open up their homes, once per month, on a Friday or … Read more

When I ministered in Scotland, I served one of the most beautiful parishes in the country. Every morning, I would head out along the coast road to the village of Dunure, passing by many farms, fields, and forests. At the … Read more

I've met a couple of people who lived to be more than a hundred years old. One of them was a lady whose family were west coast of Scotland fishermen. She lived with her 75-year-old daughter, who treated her mother … Read more

As I'm writing this, I'm listening to Don McLean's song, "American Pie." It's being streamed over the internet from Radio Scotland and I'm reliving part of my past, remembering when the song first came out. Lots of theories have been … Read more

Over the past couple of years, we've concentrated at the church on building up our young families. We've helped young mothers through the wonderful MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) program. We've remodelled the church to include a new Family Centre. We … Read more