A Trip to Israel

The opportunity came in April 2012, for a tour of Israel with a group from our church. We were enthusiastic and knew that walking in the extreme heat would require lots of energy. For some, the trip would have been too strenuous. Our tour guide was Ellis Andre, our Senior Pastor, who has been there many times, as well as Andrew Turnbull, our Assistant Pastor. Danny Heifitz, our guide in Israel was familiar with Israel’s history and the Biblical account of Jesus. (He is related to Jascha Heifitz, the famous violinist.)



Where Jesus walked was of interest, particularly the Via Dolorosa, the route taken from the place where He was falsely tried, and made to carry his cross to Golgotha, the place of the skull, where He was crucified. It is a very narrow, stone-paved street. He was buried in a cave, which was provided by Joseph of Aramathea. The Bible tells us that Jesus was unable to carry the heavy cross and stumbled once, because of the severe lashing He had received. We were convinced that the location of the grave was accurate and that it was near the skull-like rock formation, although that was not as significant as knowing that Jesus sacrificed His life for our forgiveness and that He rose again. Mary Magdalene, speaking to Him in the garden, was the first to witness His resurrection.



While in Jerusalem, we visited the upper room, and the Garden of Gethsemane, where Judas came with a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent by the priests and elders, to capture Jesus. We stopped at the home of the high priest, Caiaphas, to visualize the place where Jesus was committed to death. It was the place where three times, Peter denied knowing Him.



The feeling of being where Jesus had been, was apparent when our tour ship stopped in the middle of the Sea of Galilee and our pastor read the account of the storm that caused Jesus’ disciples to cry out in despair, “Master, do you not care if we drown?” We imagined the angry waves tossing their boat around and Jesus calming the storm with the words, “Peace, be still!” We recalled His disciples uttering to one another, “What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”



It was on the Sea of Galilee that Jesus walked to join His disciples. They thought He was a spirit. Afterwards, Peter desired to go with them in the boat and undertook to walk to it on the water. Because the water was rough, he lost confidence and needed Jesus’ help. Jesus caught him and said, “O thou of little faith, why did you doubt?” The disciples acknowledged His deity, saying, “Of a truth, thou art the Son of God.”



An experience for our group to remember is to have been on the slope of the Mount of Beatitudes where we could look out onto the valley and know it was where Jesus delivered His Sermon on the Mount. Pastor Andrew confidently quoted the entire sermon. We could imagine Jesus teaching His disciples and those with them, that “Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven, blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted,” and more.



The city of Capernaum on the shore of the Sea of Galilee was where Jesus restored to good health, the servant of a Roman Centurion. The servant was “paralyzed and in terrible suffering.” Jesus recognized the Centurion as having considerable faith, and said, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.”



In Capernaum, we saw the ruins of Peter’s mother-in-law’s home, where a fine church is located over the site, and raised by pillars so the foundation can be seen easily. The significance is that Jesus frequently visited at this home and at one time, the dear woman had been seriously ill and Jesus cured her. Immediately, she was waiting on her guests.



We visited Tiberius, a fishing village on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus recruited His disciples, inviting them, saying, “Come, follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”



Nazareth was where Jesus was brought up. It is also where He read from the scroll in the synagogue, telling the people that “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” We saw the ruins of His parents’home, which can be seen easily, although the Church of the Annunciation is situated over the site.



St. Anne’s Church is located at the Pool of Bethesda. It is over 1000 years old and has remarkable acoustics. Julie Turnbull sang a hymn and it was beautiful, with the sound reflecting from the walls and ceiling.



To walk where Jesus walked was truly awesome. Our guide, Danny, related much about Jesus. We were shown the country of Israel from North to South, all the while being given a commentary on its history, especially the Roman influence. I shall follow up with a description of our trip from that viewpoint.

Ambitious Young People

                                                                                         Ambitious Young People!




Occasionally, one will attend a concert so fulfilling, that it contrasts with any concert in one’s memory. Last night’s Fountainview Academy’s performance in British Columbia’s White Rock Baptist Church sanctuary was that outstanding. Anyone who attended on Saturday night was talking about it excitedly after church on Sunday morning.



The group consisted of 85 musicians, both vocalists and instrumentalists of highest caliber. They completely filled the stage to overflowing. Gifted and disciplined individuals played violins, cellos, double bass, oboe, tubular bells, French horns, flutes, saxophones, trombones, clarinets, trumpets, a tuba, piano and harpsichord. Combined with the mixed choir, they delivered some unforgettable music. Hymns were animatedly enunciated, and conveyed their sacred messages.



Students and staff wrote all the arrangements and orchestrations. The songs were favourite familiar hymns. Some of the captivating hymns were, “Amazing Grace,” “O Love That Will Not Let Me Go,” and “Wonderful Words of Life,” accompanied by the fullness of a well balanced, precisely directed symphony orchestra. Softly played, smooth transitions between hymn arrangements made those interludes reverential, spiritual moments, when ovation wasn’t appropriate, while in the latter half of the program, appreciative acknowledgments after each rendition were made by the audience of several hundred.



Music students from  all over the world attend Fountainview Academy. I spoke with several. One young lady was from Minnesota. Others were from Spokane Washington, New Zealand, British Columbia, Norway and Iceland. The Academy is located in Lillooet, BC, amongst beautiful mountainous scenery. Their email address is, music@fountainview.ca Recorded music, entitled, “Steps to Christ in Song,” is available. Their CD’s were selling like hot cakes at the concert.



We were informed that this group of musicians travels considerable distances to perform, one excursion being to the southernmost part of California. I noticed their conveyances included two big buses and a trailer.



The music was both familiar and enjoyable. Personally, I have arranged many hymns in hymnbooks for the bagpipes, which I have shared with pipers  as The Church Piper. I reflect on how lovely it would be if a pipe band of this size could similarly perform  for concerts across North America, playing and singing the great old hymns. Maybe someday one will.

Enjoying the Symphony

A recent afternoon will remain in our good memories. We invited our seven-year-old granddaughter to a symphony concert. She loved the experience, both the symphony and the new methods of transportation. Besides, she is doing well with her piano and Highland dancing lessons.

The symphony concert is called Tea and Crumpets because tea with a cookie is served during the hour before the program begins. Since it starts at three in the afternoon, and we live in White Rock, about three-quarters of an hour from Vancouver, we picked up our granddaughter at her school, at noon, then left the car near the bus stop. Shortly, we were on the bus headed for Vancouver. Julia felt very special to have been given permission to be absent from  school that afternoon.

We transferred to the skytrain for an exciting ride to the inner city. With plenty of time before the concert, we had lunch in Sears. A short walk took us to the old, but beautifully designed and ornate Orpheum Theatre. We enjoyed our cookie and cup of tea. Julia was quite sophisticated, sipping her tea, with her little finger curved in the way stylish English ladies do it when they have afternoon tea.

Julia had the privileged seat beside her grandmother, while I sat twenty seats to the right. There, I could casually observe how our little granddaughter was enjoying the symphony. Afterwards, she told us that she had not realized there would be so many instruments playing together, and that she liked watching the busy conductor. Of course, Pierre Simard is an extraordinarily animated conductor and it was for everyone, entertaining to watch him conduct first one section and than another. When the music required more power, he supplied it. He used more and more energy, even working up a storm  which compelled the music and built it to a crescendo…for more than one selection. Julia would have much to tell her teacher and fellow students the next day at school. She took the program to show them.

Before boarding the skytrain back to the where we would transfer to a bus, we stopped again at Sears, to enjoy a hot chocolate and biscuit. Our return on the crowded skytrain and bus was an eye-opening experience as well for Julia, because she realized there are many people who rely upon this way of getting to work or school. By car, we took Julia home. She would tell her parents and brothers about her great day. Of course, her two brothers were confident that they can anticipate a special day too, with their grandparents; possibly an afternoon of geocaching, one of their favorite pastimes. Grandparents have a special roll familiarizing their grandchildren with things out and around, to build their confidence in being able to do the same eventually, alone.

A Tangled Web

My wife and I spent two evenings watching and listening to the two DVD’s about the sports career of a revered cricketeer, Hansie Cronje. The first was an enactment while the second was of endearing interviews; four hours with his brother, his mother, wife, sister in law, various teammates and authorities.

We were impressed as thousands were, by his objectivity in putting forth his best effort as an enthusiastic player and captain of his team, while leading his team  into world championships, to be revered by his country, South Africa, for his wonderful example of honest to goodness sportsmanship.

He was raised in a stalwart Christian family with principles of right and wrong. Hansie was confronted by bookmakers and enticed by their offer of thousands of dollars, to lose rather than win certain competitions. Either the temptation to have that much money in his pocket, or the inability to admit to his coaches and authorities that he had been bribed prevented him  from reporting the bribery. He kept the secret to himself and though he kept the money, he never threw a game. He always played his best and required his teammates to do likewise. Soon, he was ensnarled in illicit dealings with bookmakers.

We perceived that he responded like most people would, for he believed that by keeping his secret, no one would be affected. Only he and the bookmakers would know. Although he professed to have a personal relationship with God and wanted everyone to perceive him  as honest, he had been dealing with the devil and was in effect lying to God. As the Bible tells us, Satan is like a roaring lion. He walks up and down this earth, seeing whom  he can devour and will strike where persons are vulnerable. In Hansie’s case, it was by way of his unfortunate love of money. Before he knew it, he was ensnared in illicit dealings.

My mother used to tell us that a person weaves a tangled web as he or she intends to deceive. Hansie wove that web as surely as a spider constructs its web. He secretly dealt with the bookkeepers and yet, he wanted to do what was right in the eyes of God. His greed overpowered him, allowing Satan to be in control. The devil was ruining his life. He became irritable and unable to sleep at night.

If Hansie had admitted his dealings to those on the National Board, The Cricket South Africa Staff governing cricket competitions, acknowledging that he had been solicited by bookmakers not to win, he would have saved himself, his teammates and his nation much heartache.

After he admitted that he had accepted money from  bookmakers, even though he had never once purposely lost a game, he felt some release, but not the freedom  he had experienced previously, when he held to his principles of honesty. He decided to admit his dealings to God and ask forgiveness. Knowing God would forgive him, he would make a public declaration to say that he was sincere in his repentance. If God forgave him  the world would too. He asked for God’s help in restoring him  to his former trustworthy self and was baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. He began a new life for himself and a new trusting relationship with his dear wife, Beulah. He continued his education by earning a Master’s degree in business and entered a company’s employment. God gave him two more years in which his life was restored and fulfilling.

Hansie was killed in an airplane accident. The cargo plane in which he had hitched a ride, crashed into a mountainside. Although he missed his scheduled flight home because of a snowstorm, he went to his eternal home to be with his Lord. He left this world having given us a wonderful example of a person not unlike any one of us. All of us are prone to human weaknesses, and by Hansie’s example, we can ask God for forgiveness and a new start in life. We may allow our weaknesses to control us, and suffer the consequences. Nevertheless, we are assured that forgiveness and reconciliation is by trusting in God’s love.

Beyond the Sunset

In our Life Group, which is what we call our mid-week Bible Study, each person is given a turn to lead the others in a short devotional and prayer before the study begins. My topic was taken from the hymn, “Beyond the Sunset,” which I arranged for Volume 14 of The Church Piper. The music and its words are beautiful. I was impressed by how the author used his knowledge of Scripture to write poetry.

The beauty of the sky reminded Virgil Brock of Heaven. He reminisced that when our work is ended and day is done, we’ll go to Heaven and be with our Saviour. It will be a day of gladness and eternal joy, free from fears and worries. Christ will guide us to the Father we adore, to be welcomed.

The last verse is dear to us in that we have the eternal hope of being reunited with our loved ones.

Beyond the Sunset, O glad reunion,
With our dear loved ones who’ve gone before,
In that fair homeland we’ll know no parting,
Beyond the sunset forevermore.

Peter wrote of our thankfulness to Christ our Saviour, saying, “An entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:11

We who live in White Rock or South Surrey British Columbia, often walk along the waterfront as the sun is receding beneath the clouds. It is a spectacular sight and we easily imagine that wonderful place we call Heaven, lying just beyond the sinking sun.

At this point in the devotional, I will play several verses of the hymn on my practice chanter while the others read the verses they have been given.

An anonymous author composed a poem with words that fit the theme of Heaven very nicely. It is entitled, “Should You Go First.”

Should you go first and I remain, to walk the road alone,
I’ll live in memory’s garden dear, with happy days we’ve known.
In spring I’ll watch for roses red, and face the lilacs blue
And in early fall when brown leaves fall, I’ll catch a glimpse of you.


Should you go first and I remain, to finish with the scroll,
No lengthening shadows shall creep in to make this life seem droll.
We’ve know so much of happiness, we’ve had our cup of joy
And memory is one gift of God, that death cannot destroy.


Should you go first and I remain, one thing I’d have you do
Is walk slowly down that long lone path, for soon I’ll follow you.
I’ll want to know each step you take, that I may walk the same,
For someday down that lonely road, you’ll hear me call,
Yes, you’ll hear me call your name.


This beautiful poem reminded me of the pathway to Heaven that Jesus described in Matthew 7:13 and 14. He advised His listeners to “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

In John 14:6, Jesus referred to Himself as the gate to Heaven and said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” By this, He meant that to follow Him is the only way to Heaven. Comparatively few will understand this, but believe instead, that there are many ways to Heaven, such as keeping all the commandments and by leading a good life by helping others. Jesus compares this to a broad road that many follow, hoping it will lead to Heaven, but instead, that road leads to their destruction. In other words, it leads to Hell and not to Heaven. We know, like the person in the poem, that nothing enters Heaven by which it may be defiled and that Jesus paid the supreme sacrifice for our sake. Revelation 21:27 tells us, “Nothing impure will ever enter it (Heaven), nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” That Lamb is Jesus. “Jesus Paid it All.”

In the hymn, “Beyond the Sunset,” the person promises to walk slowly down that long lone path. That path is the one Jesus described. We are simply to have faith that we are forgiven of all sinfulness that would prevent us from defiling Heaven. Having been justified by His grace, we have the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:7

With faith in Jesus, we will meet those dear ones who have gone before, and most likely find them waiting to welcome us home. By taking that same pathway, we will be certain to meet our loved ones who trusted Jesus and went before.

My Admiration for Pipe Bands

I love belonging to a pipe band. The combination of playing my favourite instrument with others and the camaraderie of friends with the same interests have been compelling forces from the time I first joined a pipe band until this day. I love to play with the band either in a parade or just to practice. And, if I should happen to be standing on a street watching a pipe band leading the parade, it’s wonderful to see the pipers and drummers swinging along, gliding simultaneously to the beat, marching neatly, row on row, proud and disciplined, playing Scottish music and honoring their heritage. Even as they pass and all I see is the last row, consisting only of tenor drummers, I enjoy seeing them spinning their drumsticks upwards, wafting the band’s music to the sky, as though it was the sweet fragrance of perfume.

There has always been a deep feeling of friendship in the bands in which I’ve belonged. Older and experienced pipers have graciously passed along their techniques while younger members have responded with enthusiasm. The result has been an improvement in overall performance. Friendship has extended to the occasional Sunday brunch at a hotel, with members and their wives or husbands, and the tailgate picnics after out-of-town parades, which were prepared by the ladies in the band. These enjoyable informal gatherings enabled us to know each other as friends as well as fellow musicians.

What I love mostly, is to play harmony either in the band or with individuals. We were particularly fortunate in our Army and Navy and Air Force Pipe Band in Winnipeg, to have as our pipe major, P/M Ian Conn, an ex-member of the Schotts and Dykehead World Championship Pipe Band. He had a wonderfully keen ear for tuning, and it was because of his special efforts to tune chanters and drones to perfection, that our band was made to sound so well. He was careful to drill the band on its attacks, finishes, accuracy of notes and timing. He admonished us to listen to the piper on either side of us and to the drummers. Indeed, it was a pleasure to play under such dedicated leadership and with conscientious pipers and drummers. After practice, when the pipes were going so well, there was an urge to play just another tune or two for the benefit of anyone who wanted to listen. The tonal quality from such beautifully tuned pipes, steady from the evening’s practice was thrilling -as if the pipes just wanted to be played.

I was fortunate to have had many years of playing along with my Dad, Earl MacDonald and my brother, Ken. The three of us often marched in the same row. Dad would say we were three brothers. That’s how he described the picture taken of us in the Rosebowl Parade in Pasadena.

It was disappointing for P/M Hugh Fraser of the Saskatoon Light Infantry Pipe Band, when we moved from there to Winnipeg Manitoba, for he would have lost three pipers at once. However, for us, we were founding members of The Manitoba Pipes and Drums under P/M Jack Reay’s direction. Our band consistently won the Western Canadian Championship. Ken and I delayed our return to university each fall, to compete as soloists and with the band. Either of us loved to report to our inquiring professors, that our band had been successful once again.

I’ve enjoyed Mondays’ band practices. It’s so beneficial to belong to a band and practice its repertoire, new tunes and medleys. It keeps the pipes in beautiful playing order and ready to play for personal engagements. Consequently, I have had confidence that my pipes would be playing well for morning worship services, weddings, funerals, memorials or piping in a head table. I thoroughly enjoy playing in a pipe band and am thankful for the privilege of being a member.

A Wedding Medley

It was the biggest wedding for which I had ever played. The bride wanted a worshipful ceremony, with all her friends attending. The church was filled to capacity, which is 800 people. She knew and loved everyone because she administered the children’s program.  To assure full attendance, it was a holiday, Remembrance Day.

In planning the music, she asked the organist to play the introductory selections and the pianist to play for her singing group. The piper would play the bride and groom out of the church to the reception hall immediately after the ceremony.

The bride and I sat down beforehand in the sanctuary and discussed the piper’s music. She wanted it to be worshipful and to include recognizable hymn-tunes suitable to the occasion. My pipes were with me, so I began with, “Blest Be The Tie That Binds,” “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling,” and “The Love of God.” She was delighted and said she would love to have me continue the medley with hymns such as those, to lead the guests from the sanctuary into the reception hall.

When the time came, I played additional hymns to include, “When Love is Found,” “What a Fellowship,” “Standing on the Promises,” “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee,” “Hail the Glorious Golden City,” “Highland Cathedral.” and “I Am So Glad.”

Recently, I asked another piper what tune he played to bring in the bride. He answered, “Scotland the Brave,” adding that for most people, it’s simply the majestic sound of the pipes that they like to hear and that the tune itself doesn’t matter. Once, I heard a piper playing “The Road to the Isles,” to pipe the bride and groom out of the church. Appropriate tunes would have been “The Highland Wedding March,” Mary’s Wedding” or “Highland Cathedral.” Of course, it depends upon a piper’s repertoire.

To pipe in the bride, it is well to play classical pieces such as the ones to be found in “Wedding Music for the Church Piper.” Less formal music could be played to pipe the bride and groom from the church. For this recent wedding, I thoroughly enjoyed playing music that was familiar to everyone, having them stand around me, even singing, and taking pictures as I played.