I always wanted to be a musketeer. Alexandre Dumas' story of D'Artagnan and the Three Musketeers has enthralled me since I was a boy. I think I first saw them fighting together in the 1939 movie, "The Man in the … Read more
Author Archive
God's Final Revelation
You may not know it, but I love drawing as well as writing. I find both to be very therapeutic. I tend to draw late at night just before I go to bed. It helps to switch off my mind … Read more
Nigerian Scams
Do you ever get those e-mails from Nigeria where someone claims to have twenty million dollars ready to deposit in your bank account? Quite often, the sender writes that he or she is a Christian, and that the Lord has … Read more
Monkey Puzzle Tree
Have you ever seen a monkey puzzle tree? They are also known as Chilean Pines and come from the Andes regions in South America. They prefer a cold, wet climate, so you see a great many of them in Scotland. … Read more
God's Sense Of Humour
My eldest daughter was travelling from Roanoke, Virginia, USA, to Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, one morning for a business conference, a distance of about 265 miles. Even although she is twenty-one, I always pray for her safety whilst flying. I woke … Read more
Working In Us
Our church has been growing steadily for the past four years. Through God's blessings, we've managed to breathe new life into our congregation, and we are beginning to outgrow ourselves. We're at an awkward stage because of the current transitions … Read more
When God Says No
For a while, I've been praying hard about something that I think is important, and I've been trying to convince God of the same. My prayers have been carefully spoken and well thought out. I've been looking to God to … Read more
Dreaping Walls
Have you ever dreaped a wall? "Dreap" is an old Irish word which means to climb, and the action required by dreaping is to run as fast as you can towards a wall, leap high into the air, and try … Read more
A Surprise Package
At this time of year, I find it difficult to type things on my keyboard. The dry heat of summer dehydrates my hands, and I end up with horrendously painful hacks on my fingertips. Ten years ago, it really didn't … Read more
Backsliding In Faith
Recently, our Celtic band Glenfinnan played at a Scots-Irish festival in Dandridge, Tennessee, USA. We performed from the front porch of an old inn, right in the heart of the town. As well as listening to our music, people were … Read more
Picking Blackberries
Years ago, I used to go bramble picking with my brothers, usually during the fall. I think that brambles are called "blackberries" in North America. They look like dark-coloured raspberries, and they grow wild in Scotland. They have a bittersweet … Read more
Finding Real Joy
One of the very first Sunday school lessons that I can remember was all about joy. My teacher asked our class what joy was, and we all answered with the usual "being happy", "smiling", and "laughing out loud". She then … Read more
Struggling With Surrender
When I first became a Christian, I found it tough to try to live up to Christ's standards. I wanted to remain the same and Christ to be different. I wanted Him to accept who I was, instead of me … Read more
Small Fish In Jelly Jars
When I was a child, I used to love visiting Springburn Park in Glasgow, Scotland. It had three massive ponds, full of sticklebacks, minnows, and perch. The park was about three miles from my home, and, during the long days … Read more
Going Paddling
I used to love going "paddling" in the Firth of Clyde before it connects with the Irish Sea. Each summer, Evelyn and I would take our kids down to the beach to build sandcastles, look for shells, and go "paddling" … Read more
Starting Over
I love being a Christian. I love the experience of being a sinner saved by Christ. Without Christ's grace and mercy, I don't know where I would be right now. Without God's compassion, I don't know where I would end … Read more
The Divine Attributes Of GPS
I've never been in a car equipped with GPS (Global Positioning System), but it must be fascinating. Recently, I was travelling to a funeral in a remote part of East Tennessee, and I was worried about getting lost. I looked … Read more
Calling The Unworthy
There's a beautiful song based upon this Bible verse which is called "Here I am, Lord." I love singing it in church. The first time that I heard it was in Scotland when a choir member at the Maybole Church … Read more
Seasoned With Salt
I gave up salting my food years ago. I felt like all I tasted was salt, and no matter what type of food I ate, it was too heavily layered in salt for me to get to the heart of … Read more
Christian Candy
I feel so guilty. The other night, I ate a whole giant bar of chocolate. I should have left some for my family, but I wanted all of it for myself. I even felt a bit nauseated before I finished … Read more
Escaping Envy
Psalm 73 is one of my favourite psalms. It deals with jealousy and envy. The writer feels that he is losing out on the spoils of life and the riches of success. He is faithful to God but not wealthy. … Read more
Tom And Jerry
Do you remember the old Tom and Jerry cartoons? Long before they were deemed politically incorrect because of the comic violence in them, I used to love watching them every night on television. They made me really laugh, but I … Read more
Grace Gifts
At our monthly Session meeting recently, one of our elders gave the devotional. She read from a similar passage of Paul's on this subject of gifts, using the new Message version of the Bible. The elder reminded us that we … Read more
The Good Old Days
We call them the good old days — times past when life was less stressful and people were more innocent. We remember them fondly in our hearts. For every generation, "the good old days" are a different decade, a different … Read more
Helping Others
There's a family in town that our church has been helping for years. They always seem to get hit with a crisis, illness, or injury that makes it difficult for them to keep up with house payments, utility bills, and … Read more
Overturning Tables
There's an old hymn called "Gentle Jesus, Meek and Mild", which a lot of people have bought into theologically. It depicts Christ as being a peaceful, loving guy Who wouldn't dream of disturbing anyone's life or meddling with their lifestyle … Read more
Godly Guidance
I love looking at maps. If anyone wants to keep me occupied and quiet for a while, all that is needed is to give me a map, and I will pore over it for ages. I love to look at … Read more
Abundant Life
It's a question that we all ask at some time in our lives: "How can I beat death and obtain everlasting life?" When I was eighteen, I overdosed on tranquilizers and almost died. I was saved by three friends, to … Read more
Christian Chameleons
Chameleons fascinate me. I am amazed by their ability to change their colours in order to blend into the background and remain hidden from both their enemies and their prey. I think God must have had a lot of fun … Read more