Weekend Screensaver - Plowing Ahead

Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." Luke 9:62

Weekend Screensaver- Healing the Gerasene

Stained Glass design of Christ healing the demon-possessed man from Gerasene, as described in Luke 8:26-39

The Missing Page

Isaiah 46: 10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.
(NIV)

In Britain, there was once a great comedian called Tony Hancock and in the early years of television, he had his own situation comedy show. As a boy, I used to watch him every Saturday and laughed until tears came down my face. He was always getting into silly situations and the comic stories that he told through drama still invoke happiness in my heart.

One show was entitled, “The Missing Page.” It was all about a library book that he was reading. This was a mystery novel and the crucial solutions were printed on the last page, except in Tony’s book, because the last page was missing.

The whole comic episode revolves around Hancock desperately trying to solve the whodunit or get a complete copy of the book. Just when he thinks he has solved the case, he discovers that the author died before he could complete the work. It’s an unfinished mystery novel. Tony’s bewildered look at the end of the show is absolutely hilarious!

For some people, life is a great uncertainty and they travel through their lives not knowing where they will end up. Their journey does not seem to have any proper conclusion or final destination. Faith is a mystery to them and God is a great unknown. They live for today and die tomorrow, not realizing that God has given us many clues through scripture about where we all are headed.

This is where the church and our faith have a message to bring to the world. We are not here haphazardly or accidentally. We don’t exist as a result of some chemical or physical reaction that occurred billions of years ago. The answer to the whodunit about life in the universe is God and the last page is not missing. It has already been written. All we have to do is read it through the life, message and teaching of Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. In You, all life is created and through You all life can be reconciled to God. Be with us throughout our days and bring us to the glorious conclusion of all time. In Your Holy Name, we wait and pray. Amen.

Tony Hancock Video here

Striking Shepherds

Scottish audio version here

Zechariah 13:7 "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me!" declares the LORD Almighty. "Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones. (NIV)

This is one of my least favorite verses from the Bible. It disturbs me and every time I go through some trouble or turbulence in ministry, this verse keeps popping up at the back of my mind.

I’ve seen this happen in other churches. I’ve watched pastors lose their position at a church because of their theology. I’ve seen congregations become divided over denominational issues that the pastor couldn’t stop. I’ve known sessions and elders to be split over money, ministry or mission conflicts. In most of those situations, the pastor has left, defeated and demoralized. The shepherd has been struck, so the sheep begin to scatter.

Ministry is not easy, just like any other caring, counseling or teaching profession. On any given day, you can go through a whole gamut of emotions. Every phone call can be a crisis. Every email can be demanding. Every visit can be serious. The church is never quiet, for there’s always someone, somewhere in the congregation who is carrying painful burdens and facing personal problems. To be a good shepherd means to lead people through tough times, as well as celebrating the joyous moments in their lives.

What I fear is happening across the country is that pastors are becoming the scapegoats in a theological tussle that is presently splitting every mainline denomination in America. We are loading our leaders with an unbearable burden of trying to please and satisfy everyone, which cannot be done. The shepherds are showing fatigue and losing their energy. They’re being struck by discontent and malcontent. They’re being paralyzed by people who use churches to feed their ego and slake their thirst for power. Pastors are easy targets, so the shepherds are being struck, causing the sheep to disarray and scatter.

Maybe we should pray for our pastors today and ask God to uphold them.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You call women and men from different places, backgrounds, and cultures to serve Your Kingdom as pastors in the church. Their lives are different from most folks and the demands that are sometimes placed upon them are unbearable. Pastor our pastors and save them from being struck; for without our pastors, the sheep would scatter all over the place. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Peace and Security

Scottish audio version here

Jeremiah 33:6 Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security. (NIV)

Explosions in Afghanistan. Fighting in the streets of Baghdad. Brutal slayings in Gaza. And genocide still going on in Darfur. When, o when will all this warring madness end?

We all want abundant peace and security, but the forces of greed and evil, pride and power are corrupting the earth.

We all want wars to cease and killing to stop, but men with guns in their hands and leaders with hatred in their hearts want to obliterate their enemies, opponents, and competitors.

The old prayer of Jeremiah falls upon deaf ears – when was the last time we heard that the UN was getting involved? When did they last reconvene to hold emergency meetings over these current crises? When did they send out people to bring about a lasting peace?

And what about our churches? We’re so tied up with our own theological problems, issues, and divisions that our voice is no longer heeded, heard or hoped for. We’ve become so insular that we forget there’s a world out there full of starving and suffering men, women, and children.

We need to do something more than just hoping for the best and praying for peace. We have to tear down the walls of indifference in our hardened hearts and begin to care about these issues. We cannot let another day go by just being thankful to get through it. We must begin to apply Christ’s message in our lives, so that, instead of ignoring these problems and switching off our compassion, we get agitated about the injustice, indifference, and inhumanity that billions are experiencing in our world today.

For too long, we’ve become cozy Christians who seek comfort in our own isolated world. Christ didn’t come to be among us just to set up a private faith and personal spirituality. He came to call us to be servants of God’s Kingdom, to agitate the world, to confront evil, and to bring a healing across the nations.

We all want abundant peace and security – so what are we going to do about it?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the Prince of Peace and we are Your servants, therefore we are called by You to be instruments of peace, reconciliation, and compassion. Shake us from the tree of coziness that we shelter in. Take us out of our comfort zone and make us into the peacemakers that You want us to become.

And at the end of this day, may our hearts and minds be open to what’s going on in the world, instead of casting it aside as just another day. In Your Holy Name, we seriously pray. Amen.

Shuck and Jive: Why Isn't Stushie in the Consistory?

Shuck and Jive: Why Isn't Stushie in the Consistory?

Weekend Screensaver - The Martyrdom of Thomas

Stained glass mosaic design of the martyrdom of St. Thomas. He was killed by being pierced with arrows whilst he was kneeling in prayer.

Blogachute #5

It’s Friiiiidaaaayyyyy! That can only mean one thing: blogachute time!

Let’s go, Geronimo…


8000feet: The Eagle and the Child – one of my favorite Presbyterian Bloggers.

Russell Smith is a pastor in Cincinnati, Ohio and writes some well researched articles about current issues in the church and across society. He also does some great Book and Movie reviews – check out his Pirates of the Caribbean faith perspective. Through his blog, Russell also introduced me to the www.kiva.org website which raises loans to help people in the developing world create their own businesses.

Current topic: Blogger plagiarism – the morality of quoting our sources….

7000feet: The Evangelical Outpost – reflections on culture, politics, and religion from an evangelical world view.

This is a smorgasbord of information, comments, and youtube videos. I was overwhelmed by the amount of reviews, opinions, and articles. This is a site that is ideal for your RSS feeder (if only I could work that daggone system for my own blog!)

This site is well worth a visit and return, but it will take you long to get through it.

Current topics: a great youtube video on what children see, children do and a very well written commentary on Christian virtues in the marketplace.


6000feet: The Marshian Chronicles – written by Louie Marsh, a pastor in rural Arizona. Very easy to read, as he reflects upon what’s important to him. He also links to his sources of information. Today’s links include tributes to Ruth Graham, as well as breaking news on the ministries of Randy & Paula White.

Louie also has two well worth reading blogs about books and reading. Should books be more compact as our reading skills change? Are there too many illustrations and not enough substance, especially in popular Christian books today? Check out what Louie thinks on his blog.

5000feet: Every Thought Captive – a set of reflections on the contemporary church, culture, Christian philosophy and doctrine.

Phil Steiger is a pastor in Colorado Springs and he’s wrestling with contemporary issues just like the rest of us. This week, he’s dealing with stem cell research, frozen embryos, and what is termed “snowflake children.” I like his reflections and the questions Phil raises. It’s an issue that sadly we seem to have quietly set aside whilst we deal with ordination issues and denominational squabbles.

A good read and a great starting point for Sunday school topics or small group studies.

4000feet: The Little Fights – are the ones that make the difference. Nathan is a story teller, so he uses his blog to express his feelings about the world around him. He wears his heart on his sleeve, so you can get into his soul very quickly. His recent blog about the man with Alzheimer’s is very insightful and will tug at your heart, as well as challenge your mind. His style reminds me of Damon Runyon, without the Broadway street slang.

You can also link to a site of which he is a contributor – the Orthodork café via his profile. I might use that for a future blogachute.

3000feet Schlog – Shaun Groves is a songwriter, performer and artist who seriously likes to communicate the Gospel in many spheres. The blog is well organized and easy to follow. This guy is leading an interesting life!

His comments about the contemporary and emergent church are worthwhile noting, especially for those of us Boomers who don’t have a clue about what’s happening now. His last post was more of a confessional, in response to being tagged. A very enjoyable site that is worthwhile “digging.”

2000feet Ragamuffin Soul – man, I am way out of my depth here! I bet this looks good to other folks, but way too much information – overloaded with so much stuff that I didn’t know where to start. Music, photos, youtubes everywhere.

But then I settled down and took my time. The blog about Helping Folgers to help the homeless was a great challenge – why spend $35 per month at Starbucks, when a can of Folgers costs $3? Use the extra $32 to help the homeless!

1000feet Rich Kirkpatrick’s Weblog I saw this blog appear on several other sites. Rich is an X-gener musician who blogs about Christian life, ministry and culture. (I’m beginning to see a pattern here).

Rich’s site has a Celtic feel to it and is appealing to the eye. He writes about worship themes and links to various worship, music and lyric resources to help his readers develop their own worship ministries. He also has a lot of his own personal photographs and comment about the changes he is going through. I guess at the age of forty, he’s about to hit the mid-life crisis point – wait until you get to 50 Rich!

0000feet – I hit the ground running…wow!

Do Not Lose Heart

Scottish audio version here

2 Corinthians 4:1 Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. NIV

At this time last year, our church underwent some serious trouble. One of our staff members had terrible personal problems, which in turn affected the whole congregation and created a small division. It took a great deal of focus, energy, and determination to endure and overcome the fall out. A lot of prayer was said and eventually the tide turned. We lost eight members, but by the end of the year, we still managed to have an overall gain of eighteen people. God’s mercy enabled us to carry on our ministry and mission at Erin Presbyterian. Through His grace, we did not lose heart.

Since then, we’ve undergone recovery. We’re still picking up the pieces and are only beginning to restart some projects that fell by the wayside. For the first time in a long time, we’ve let God carry us, as well as lead us. It’s been a humbling experience, but in the end it will prove to be a worthwhile one.

When Paul wrote to the Corinthians so long ago, he was addressing them as someone who had been through a lot of trouble, grief, and pain. He had been beaten up for his faith, cast out of different cities, shipwrecked, and almost lynched on several occasions. He had also been arrested, thrown into jail, and was now awaiting trial. If anyone had a right to lose heart, it was Paul, but he also relied upon God’s mercy to get him through the bad times, as well as the good ones.

He was also writing to a church that had its share of problems. The Christians at Corinth were going through a cultural war, where members of the congregation were struggling with adhering to Christ’s demands, as opposed to accepting the world’s ways. They wanted to be holy, but not different; they aspired to be faithful, but not unfashionable. Paul reminded them of their special calling in order to help them get back on the right track. And even though he was hundreds of miles away from them, Paul embraced them in his heart and loved them back to the Gospel.

Today, you may be doubting yourself, your faith, your church, your purpose, your personal ministry and mission. Remember that God is merciful and that through Christ, He will sustain you. Do not lose heart, for remember, He who called you to do His will is patient, gracious, faithful, and forgiving.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we feel so unworthy, so unprepared, and so faithless at times to fulfill the ministries that You ask us to undertake and accomplish. We get frustrated and impatient, bedeviled and beguiled by our fears, our doubts, and our problems. Grant us Your grace to sustain us through our worst experiences and most troublesome of times. Lead us by Your love, so that we will not lose heart, nor let go of our calling. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

The School Bully

John 12:27 "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. (NIV)

I was bullied at elementary school by an ugly looking kid who just loved to terrorize me. I hated going to school because I knew that at some point in the day, he was going to get in my face and scare the living daylights out of me. What made matters worse was that he was in a grade below me and his friends really got a kick out of watching me squirm.

It got so bad that I came up with different ways of going to school. I volunteered to help put milk in crates early in the morning, so that I could come in by the teachers’ entrance and avoid the playground bully. I stayed late in school helping my teacher clear up the classroom, so that I could avoid meeting the bully at the school gates. I even started to remain in class during breaks to get away from any confrontation or trouble. I was isolating myself because of my fear. I was making myself ill with worry, too.

One day my teacher noticed that I was in the classroom during a break when the sun was shining outside. She told me to get out and play with the other kids. I reluctantly headed to the playground, but before I could meet up with my friends, I bumped into the bully. He started his usual name calling and pushing, and his friends were laughing all around me. And then something flipped inside of me and I shouted out those dreaded words of challenge, “Your fight’s on at four!” Everyone was silent and then the bully sniggered as he walked away.

I was sick for the rest of the day. I knew that at 4.00pm my life was over as I knew it. Hardly anyone in the class would talk to me and I felt a bit like Gary Cooper in High Noon. When the final bell rang, I headed out to the playground, feeling as though I was doomed for my execution. And then something wonderful happened.

The bully was nowhere to be seen. He was gone. Someone said that he had run out of school as fast as he could when the four o’clock bell rang. No one had ever challenged him before, so I guess I had called him out and discovered he was a coward, just like me. After that day, he never bothered me again. I had faced my fear and overcame my trouble.

When Jesus faces His troubles, He has all the power in the universe at His disposal. He could easily have defeated His enemies and overcome His troubles with His almighty strength. But instead, He chooses to confront His affliction by remaining obedient to God. It was not the easy way out. It was the hardest test of His character that He had experienced up till that point.

We all have different ways of dealing with our troubles. If we avoid them, then we will probably undergo more misery. However, if we confront those hard issues and events in our lives by relying upon our faith in Jesus, He will give us the ability to endure all things and the strength to overcome our fears.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, our lives are complicated by the troubles we experience and the hardships we endure. We are hurt by other people and we fear confrontation. Grant us the will to be assertive without being aggressive, and the power to be righteous without becoming self-righteous. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Another Cuban Crisis

Scottish audio version here

Luke 6:22 Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. (NIV)

There’s a report out this morning that the Stated Clerk of the PC(USA), Clifton Kirkpatrick, has signed a petition urging the present Whitehouse Administration to lift restrictions on travel to Cuba for missionaries and other church workers. Because of the current political climate, American churches that want to work with congregations in Cuba have to get through a lot of bureaucratic red-tape and accept time restrictions. This is hindering vital missions on the island, especially when the church appears to be under-going a revival.

In this morning’s report from Presbynews, several faith leaders expressed their concerns as follows:

Citing a long, shared history of relationship, interaction with and support of Cuban church partners, the American faith leaders say the recent re-interpretations of U.S. travel regulations and the resulting limitations "are unfair and inappropriate, restrain religious freedom and reflect undue governmental interference in the exercise of religion.”

Their concerns are genuine, but the issues involved are not just one-sided. The Cuban people have been restricted by their own government, too; and throughout the decades of Castro’s dictatorship, the church has been persecuted, oppressed and harassed. In 1998, when Pope John Paul II visited the country, he asked that a Christian leader, Jorge Antuñez, be released from prison. He had been held in captivity since 1993 for demanding reforms in the country. Antuñez was only just released in April, 2007.

If releasing the restrictions on travel to Cuba will help the Cuban churches, then we should pray that our own government will be sympathetic to this inter-denominational petition. But we should also remember those whose travel is restricted in Cuba, especially those pastors who are under house arrest or being badly mistreated by prison guards, according to some Christian ministry reports.

As we celebrate Flag Day this week, perhaps we should remind ourselves of the blessings that our freedom has given to our faith, as well as remembering the plight of those around the world whose loyalty to Christ as their Lord and Savior costs them their homes, their livelihood, their liberty, and sadly, sometimes their lives.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, it is so easy for us to become complacent about what our faith is all about. We don’t realize how hard it is for some people to take up Your Cross and walk in Your path. Help us to recognize that unjust things happen to Christians all over the globe. Give us the heart and determination to support them, their families, churches and Christian communities through being aware of these situations, instead of ignoring this information. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

A Stained Glass Design for Flag Day

For June 14 - Flag Day...



I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Halfway Healing

Scottish audio version here

Mark 8:25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. (NIV)

I almost died of hepatitis in my last year of college. Somehow I had contracted it which was either the result of the lack of food hygiene in the university canteen, or a chemical chlorine reaction to some prescribed medication. Whatever it was, I was at death’s door and couldn’t do anything to save my life.

I remember that my minister and an elder came to visit me. They were shocked when they saw me and consoled Evelyn when the visit was over. They believed that I didn’t have any chance of recovery, and I could hear the hopelessness in their voices when they prayed with me.

But recovery did come after three grueling months. It was a slow process and I owed everything to Evelyn and God for taking care of me. Healing came in stages, but not overnight. By the end of that summer, I was ready to begin work as an assistant minister.

Sometimes healing comes in stages, even with Jesus helping you. Take this blind man, for instance, in today’s gospel passage. He has to experience three stages before being cured. First of all, Jesus isolates him. Secondly, He makes some sort of mud paste to re-hydrate his eyes. Finally, Christ touches his eyes and that’s when the man can perfectly see. It’s like a Trinitarian process of healing, not an immediate one.

We all have people to pray for. We all have loved ones that we want Jesus to heal. Sometimes it looks as though nothing is happening, but given time we may see the long term results of healing, recovery, and cure come back into other people’s lives. We cannot give up on faith and give in to frustration. We need to hold onto hope and see healing as a process, as a package of recovery, and not some instantaneous divine reaction to our anxious prayers.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, there are some situations in which we feel powerless and have no control. When we, or our loved ones, are suffering from illness, injury, or even addiction, we wish that everything would clear up quickly and completely. Grant us the patience to wait for healing and to remain hopeful in our hearts, especially during those moments and times when our anxieties, impatience and frustration threaten to wear us down. In Your Holy Name, we make these prayers. Amen.

A Crossful of Promises - Stained Glass version

A church stained glass window based on the photograph from below.

A Crossful of Promises

Photograph taken this evening at Parkway Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee...



Lead kindly light amidst the gloom...

Or....I trace the rainbow through the rain...

Blogachute #4

It’s time to blogachute once again, folks! I’ve been real busy and haven’t had time to get this done for two weeks. Wowsers. I really need to float through cyberspace for a while!

8000 feet - The Naked Pastor - not what it sounds like, thank goodness! David Hayward bares his soul, asking awkward questions about faith, Christianity and church. He also draws some darn good cartoons.

Oh, and if you like his musings, as well as drawings, you can buy him a cyber beer!

7000 feet - Please Convince Me – did you hear the one about the minister who was a church planter as well as a detective? Then you must have visited this site before. Pastor Jim writes this blog as a tool for outreach to those who have questions about religious issues. He calls it sharing the Gospel of grace with those who have questions. Some clever graphics here and great use of space.

6000 feet - Delectatio Dei – written by Jared Coleman in Sparta, Ohio. He’s part of a house church, so his web has an emergent, postmodern feel to it. His writings and questions have got a unique ‘edge’ to them. Well worth visiting if you are wondering what people in house churches are thinking.

5000 feet - World Magazine – A weekly news source, with Christian viewpoints, about what’s happening in the world. Some highly informative articles here and a great source for pictures for any teaching or presentations. The latest disturbing headlines are about Pakistan, which is currently undergoing a potential Talibani-style revolution.

4000 feet - God’s World News – this site is a great resource for homeschoolers for Bible study, as well as current news items and other classroom topics. The Bible study has a Greek/Hebrew study tool with audio. Well laid out and easy to navigate. Always interesting to see what people consider important for hoemschooling.

3000 feet - …Thousands and millions… - written and compiled by a young preacher/teacher from Manchester, England. Has some great podcasts on the site, but also gives a different perspective to the emergent church movement as it occurs in Britain.

2000 feet - Sounds of Grace – I must admit, I’m a fan of John Piper. I like his style and content of preaching. This webpage is a scriptural doorway to his notes from most of his sermons. Valuable notes can be gleaned here for your sermon preparation.

1000 feet - Pushing the Envelope – unashamedly promoting my cartoon site on current issues, politics, entertainment, etc…I may develop some sort of lectionary connection to it. Just drawing what’s on my mind right now.

Zero feet - back to earth!

That Empty Feeling

Scottish Audio version here

Isaiah 63: 17 Why, O LORD, do you make us wander from your ways and harden our hearts so we do not revere you? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes that are your inheritance. (NIV)

One of the saddest sights that I see in ministry happens when people decide to no longer come back to church. It happens in every congregation that exists, but for different reasons. Sometimes people fall out with the pastor; at other times they fall out with the denomination; and there are other occasions when they just fall away for no apparent reason at all. They just fade quietly into the background and then they’re gone. Their spirits are empty of God and their hearts are hardened. Whatever faith they once experienced is all gone, used up, and diminished.

In Glasgow, Scotland, there’s a controversy brewing because the Presbyterian Church of Scotland is closing a church building that was built over the site of a sixth century church. People from Glasgow are protesting and citing family connections of their great-grandparents as reasons for keeping the church open. But the sad and realistic fact is this: if the people have stopped going to church, why keep it open? Sometimes the biggest hypocrites are those who are outside of the church who want to keep it open for all the wrong reasons.

A church has a life, a ministry, and a mission to accomplish – it’s a living organism. It’s not a building, a sacred sanctuary, or a treasure house of memories. Every church is a mission station, not a museum.

As society changes and our Christian culture become more irrelevant to our civilization, we must ask ourselves this question: are our churches empty because our spirits are empty? Are our churches being closed because our hearts are closed to God?

I think we know the answers.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, come into our hearts so that we may come into Your churches. Take away our pride and arrogance, so that we may humbly serve and worship You. Remind us that faith is not a leisure pursuit, but that it is an eternal lifestyle choice. Keep us mindful that our lives belong to You and that our souls are empty without You. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Willie

Scottish audio version here

Romans 9:23 What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory (NIV)

I had a friend in High School who was called Willie. He was a good guy, who never caused any trouble nor brought any harm to anyone. We used to meet every morning on our way to school and as we walked the mile long distance, we would talk about football, television, and, sometimes, girls.

Willie was fascinated with machines. He wasn’t very academic, but in woodwork and metalwork classes, he outshone the rest of us. I liked him and enjoyed his company, and looked forward to walking to and back from school each day.

Well, one morning Willie didn’t appear and I just presumed he was sick. It was influenza season, so I just naturally supposed that Willie was back home in bed, suffering from the ravages and discomfort of the flu. But when I reached the school yard, I could tell that things were wrong. One of my other friends came up to me and said, “Did you hear about Willie? He got arrested for making a bomb. He tried to blow up the Catholic chapel!”

I was struck dumb with disbelief. My quiet friend had been a secret terrorist and I never suspected anything.

The incident was all over the news that night and in the front page of the newspaper the next day. Willie was taken away to a special detention center, where he remained for several years. I wanted to go and see him, but my parents wouldn’t allow me. They didn’t want me to be tarnished with Willie’s poor choices.

Years later, I met Willie at our local community center. He had changed, but our friendship was still evident. He smiled at me quietly and we shared some stories. We never talked about the bomb incident or his jail time. He just wanted to put all of that in the past. He had been a model prisoner and the authorities released him early. He was now working in the community center, helping troubled kids avoid the pitfalls of anger and extremism. He was at peace with himself and the world. He was a given a second chance to redeem himself and he took it.

The mercy of God has the quality of wiping out our past mistakes and granting us the opportunity to begin again. All of us are selfish and sinful; we all fall short of God’s expectations. But instead of making us the objects of His wrath and punishment, He gives us Jesus, His Holy Son, as the One who can forgive our misdeeds and restore us to God’s unending love.

Isn’t that why we call Jesus “Savior?” Isn’t that we address Him as “Lord?”

Prayer: Lord Jesus, today we remember those in prison who regret their past mistakes and crimes. We pray that You will surround them with good people, compassionate pastors, and merciful authorities. May those who choose to change their lives be given opportunities to redeem the damage they have caused and return to our communities as helpful citizens. And may we receive them gladly and uncritically back into our midst. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Unworthy

Scottish audio version here

Acts 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: "We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. (NIV)

Some of the congregations in the highlands and islands of Scotland are amongst the best attended churches in Britain. They are isolated from a lot of the cultural pressures that hamper faith on the mainland, so the people tend to turn out to church on Sundays. Except for Communion, which is very strange.

The reason that they don’t come to Communion services is because it requires full membership status. Many of the people who regularly attend church are adherents to the congregation, not members. They don’t believe that they are worthy enough to become members, which is a throwback to the times when the first Calvinist ministers came to the islands. Because they preached an uncompromising message of double predestination, the highlanders and islanders feared that they were damned and cast off from God forever.

Joining the church was deemed to be presumptive and taking salvation for granted, so the people didn’t become members. This understanding has passed down generation after generation until the present day. So, the churches are well attended throughout the year, except when it comes to Communion, which only occurs about two or three times annually.

When Paul and Barnabas took the gospel message to the Jews across the cities and towns of the Mediterranean, their preaching was rejected. It was too radical for many conservative Jews, so the two missionaries took their message to the Gentiles, where it was gladly accepted. Paul complains that the Jews did not consider themselves worthy of the promises of eternal life, but what he really meant was that they did not want to place themselves under the grace of Jesus Christ. The Gentiles on the other hand, knew that they were unworthy and they rejoiced in Christ’s grace.

Sometimes, especially when we need forgiveness for our sins, we may not feel worthy of God’s mercy. We may even not want to go to Him and ask for grace because it involves admitting our mistakes and submitting ourselves to Christ’s will. But if we don’t seek forgiveness, we shall never know of the joy, peace, and delight that Christ’s grace can bring into our lives. It’s a humbling experience, but it’s also a beautiful one.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we all have regrets in our lives and have made many mistakes. We carry the burden of guilt and shame in our hearts, minds, and souls. Grant us the strength to humbly come to You and help us to truly ask for forgiveness. Let the beauty of Your grace release us from the sadness of the past, bringing us to the joy of everlasting love and life. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

Making a Whistle

Scottish audio version here.

John 10:16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. (NIV)

My father-in-law, Bill Smith, was a remarkably talented man. He was a hydraulic engineer, so he could fix basically anything that was mechanical. He grew up in the countryside and worked on various farms as a young man. I guess he learned how to repair things when he worked with farming machinery.

Years later, I remember one occasion when he took an empty can and cut it apart with metal shears. I wondered what he was doing as he flattened out the piece of metal and folded it over several times. He then put it to his lips and blew. He had made a whistle! I don’t know how he did it, but I was really impressed. I think he learned this craft when he worked for a short time as a shepherd.

Scottish shepherds use whistles to guide their collie dogs as they herd the sheep over the hills. A talented shepherd can herd sheep half a mile away by blowing different signals to his dog. It’s a remarkable feat and requires a lot of concentration by the shepherd and his dog, as well as the willing cooperation of the sheep!

From the scriptures, we know that Christ is our Good Shepherd and that He calls us to His flock. Today’s Bible verse has been used by some people to falsely suggest that other religions are acceptable to Him. They state that the “other sheep” are adherents of other faiths. But those who interpret scripture in this fashion conveniently forget the next part: that they will listen to Christ’s voice and then become part of the one flock.

In other words, to be accepted by Christ, they have to listen to Him and follow Him.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You call all people to listen to Your voice and become Your followers. You want everyone to be a part of the One, True Flock. Help us to help You with this calling. Grant us the courage to ask others to come to church, to come and be a part of Your Kingdom. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Rest for the Weary

Scottish audio version here

Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (NIV)

Have you ever had a wasp in your home and watched it struggle against a window pane trying to get out? It constantly buzzes and desperately attempts to find a means of escape. It can see the real world outside, but it doesn’t understand what a glass window is. I guess the wasp must think it’s some sort of impenetrable force field that prevents it from joining the real world. And unless someone opens a window or a door to the outside world, it will keep trying to scratch, bite or claw its way through the glass until it falls exhausted to the ground.

I’ve seen people in similar circumstances throughout my years of ministry. They feel trapped in their careers or marriages. They feel isolated and frustrated. They busy themselves in the belief that somehow something will happen and they will make the breakthrough into a better, more rewarding and highly successful life. Sadly, I’ve seen them exhaust themselves until there was no more fight left within them. Instead of leading a normal life, their hearts turn bitter and they end up becoming lonely.

One of my seminary professors at Glasgow University once said something like: “The world is full of restless people. They are always striving to make more money, be more successful, and to satisfy their desires. They don’t realize that they are empty inside – an emptiness that can only be filled by God.”

I guess this is why Jesus invites people to come to Him. He knows about our struggles with life, our wrestling with emotions, and our fighting against our feelings. He offers us rest for our restlessness, peace for our minds, and presence for our loneliness. He calls it a yoke, not a burden. Why? It’s because a yoke is shared, where two can carry and pull the burden easier. In other words, Jesus is telling us that He is willing to share our struggles and help us to carry our burdens.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we are constantly applying more stress and pressure to our lives. We are weary of wrestling against ourselves; we are spiritually exhausted with the burdens we carry. Help us to come to You to take up Your offer of sharing our troubles. Grant us rest for our souls and hope for our hearts. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Weekend Screensaver - Patrick's Trinity

Tomorrow is Trinity Sunday. This is a Celtic design with Trinity symbols all over it. I dedicate it to St. Patrick, a Scotsman who converted Ireland to Christianity.

Rag and Bone Man

Scottish Audio version here

Ezekiel 37: 14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.'"

When I was a boy, the rag and bone man used to visit our street every summer. He came with his old chestnut-colored horse and a cart filled with castaway clothes. He usually wore a cloth cap, checkered shirt and leather waistcoat, along with some faded corduroy trousers and steel toe capped boots. He came ambling into our street, tooted his bugle, and hollered “Rag and Bohs! Rag and Bohs!” This let all the street urchins know that he had arrived.

Immediately, there was a hive of activity as kids scampered into their homes begging their moms to give them some old clothes to barter with the rag and bone man. From all over the street, like bees to a honey pot, children joyfully carried bundles of rags and brought them to the cart.

We waited reverently and expectantly as the rag and bone man examined our wares. Eventually, he would open up a large tan suitcase, which was full of cheap plastic toys and hand them out to all the kids with rags. Shrieks of delight resonated throughout the street as child after child received a gift. It was like Christmas in July and our spirits soared as we played with water pistols, plastic sunglasses and toy cameras. Then we would hear him give a gruff command to his old horse, followed by the clopping of hooves and squeaking of wheels. We would watch him go down the street until he turned the corner. Faintly, we could hear the bugle toot and the echoes of his call “Rag and bohs! Rag and Bohs!”

Before he arrived, our street was dead. After he was gone, something sacred occurred; we were all given new life. I learned all that I need to know about incarnational theology through a nameless rag and bone man.

Presence is everything.

Christ breathes His Spirit into our hearts and minds, our homes and churches. What once was dead can experience new life. All that we need to do is bring our bundles of burdens and cast them before Him. He takes them from us and in return He gives us the riches of His grace, the blessings of His eternal summer.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, enter into our lives so that we may know the power and blessing of Your sacred presence. Allow us to be touched by Your Spirit and to be changed by Your love. In Your Holy Name we pray. Amen.