Today I have been thinking about knowing things.
Here in Scotland and Britain there is a great emphasis on being informed.
It begins in school days, when children are pressed to follow the set curriculum, and are tested to make sure they are progressing well and achieving a good standard of knowledge.
Then people leave school and either start work, go to college, or university.
Again there are induction courses, and training courses, and trial periods, and initial and annual reviews. There is so much emphasis on what you know and how well you do your work.
Even in church we can sometimes feel that to be a good follower of Jesus what we need to do is know and understand everything. Some people want to know everything about people. Others want to know everything that's been decided. Others are keen to study the Bible and know everything in there too.
One time a rich young man came to Jesus and asked what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus said he should give away all his money to the poor and come travelling with Jesus. (Mark 10:17) It was too hard for the young man. He loved his wealth more than his poor neighbours.
On another occasion a lawyer asked Jesus the same question. Jesus replied "Love God and love your neighbour" and defined neighbourliness with the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37).
The answers Jesus gave were not complex and did not require a lot of learning or knowledge. To be with God forever is a question of love and not a question of knowledge or even of rules.
The Bible makes clear that God loves all people. But only those who return his love are invited into his family. Only those who love God want to be with him forever. Who would want to spend eternity with someone they didn't like. It's bad enough when you get stuck with someone you don't like on a holiday.
And if we love God then we will love everyone he loves too. Not just the other people in his family, but even those who reject God.
How can we love people the way God does?
By allowing the Spirit of God to permeate every part of our being.
The bread that we eat and the wine that we drink are absorbed into our body and feed every cell with the power and energy it needs.
So too, when we let God into every part of our lives He becomes one with us, and we become one with Him. Jesus said, "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them." (John 14:15-24).
Friday 31 October 2008
Thursday 30 October 2008
Dr Who and Jesus
I heard today that the Scottish actor who has been playing the BBC TV character Dr. Who will not be doing any more series after the 2009 specials. It's a shame for us because he played the role really well.
But one of the exciting aspects of the programme is that new actors can take over the part and bring their own interpretation of the character. This is accomplished by the process of 'Regeneration'.
In Regeneration the character morphs (or changes) from the appearance of the previous actor to the appearance of the new actor. Although he remains the same person he now has a new body that looks completely different. And to some extent his personality characteristics change as well.
It occurred to me that this process of Regeneration is remarkably similar to the Resurrection that Jesus experienced after he had been crucified and buried.
Although he remained the same person, knowing his friends, journeying with them, eating with them, living with them, bearing on his new body the scars of his resurrection wounds, he was different in some respects too.
Jesus' friends didn't always recognise him at first, and he was able to appear within locked rooms, etc.
An average of 8.1 million people tuned in to watch each 45-minute-long episode of the most recent series of the Dr. Who programme (according to the BBC). And that's a fictional programme with no basis in reality.
It's difficult to find an accurate figure for the number of people who attend a church each week in the UK, but my quick estimate is around 2 million people, about 3% of the population.
So why is it that four times as many people watch Dr Who as go to church?
But one of the exciting aspects of the programme is that new actors can take over the part and bring their own interpretation of the character. This is accomplished by the process of 'Regeneration'.
In Regeneration the character morphs (or changes) from the appearance of the previous actor to the appearance of the new actor. Although he remains the same person he now has a new body that looks completely different. And to some extent his personality characteristics change as well.
It occurred to me that this process of Regeneration is remarkably similar to the Resurrection that Jesus experienced after he had been crucified and buried.
Although he remained the same person, knowing his friends, journeying with them, eating with them, living with them, bearing on his new body the scars of his resurrection wounds, he was different in some respects too.
Jesus' friends didn't always recognise him at first, and he was able to appear within locked rooms, etc.
An average of 8.1 million people tuned in to watch each 45-minute-long episode of the most recent series of the Dr. Who programme (according to the BBC). And that's a fictional programme with no basis in reality.
It's difficult to find an accurate figure for the number of people who attend a church each week in the UK, but my quick estimate is around 2 million people, about 3% of the population.
So why is it that four times as many people watch Dr Who as go to church?
Tuesday 28 October 2008
Disillusionment and Purpose
Some would say that Faith and Doubt are opposites.
But in John Ortberg's book "Faith & Doubt", published this month, he suggests that being open to doubt enables us to work through our questions honestly and in the end work through to a stronger faith than previously.
Earlier this week I was feeling a tad demoralised. I won't bore you with the reasons why, for they were comparatively minor. It had been a long day!
But as I was thinking about why I had been feeling so low, and self-pity was the primary culprit, I realised that it was important that I be honest with myself, and honest with God too.
What is life all about? What's the point?
Or as one of my inspiring theologically-minded friends said, pointedly(!) - "Who's the point?" (Thank you, Mary!)
In wrestling, momentarily, with whether God was being sensible in Calling me into Ministry, I came to understand that it's not about being 'sensible' but about being 'Called'. I am who I am (to quote somebody famous!). Having been Called, there is no point in asking whether it is 'sensible'!
Jesus' disciple Peter had to wrestle with the same issues when he stepped out of the boat and started walking on the water (as in another well-known John Ortberg book!). Jesus held him tightly by the hand, and they returned safely to the boat.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is foolishness to the wise, for God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom (1 Cor. 1:18-25). It was foolishness for God to come and live amongst us, and then to allow mankind to kill him on the Cross. But that's what he did. And God demonstrated his wisdom and power when Jesus was raised from the grave in his resurrection body.
He did it all because he loves us.
He loves you.
Jesus invites us to lose our life for him.
And in so doing, to find life in him - eternal life.
(Matt. 16:25)
On Tuesday I enjoyed the beauty of the early morning frost on the grass and the beautiful evening sunset. But the camera was not at the ready - so enjoy your own memories, or imagine them!
But in John Ortberg's book "Faith & Doubt", published this month, he suggests that being open to doubt enables us to work through our questions honestly and in the end work through to a stronger faith than previously.
Earlier this week I was feeling a tad demoralised. I won't bore you with the reasons why, for they were comparatively minor. It had been a long day!
But as I was thinking about why I had been feeling so low, and self-pity was the primary culprit, I realised that it was important that I be honest with myself, and honest with God too.
What is life all about? What's the point?
Or as one of my inspiring theologically-minded friends said, pointedly(!) - "Who's the point?" (Thank you, Mary!)
In wrestling, momentarily, with whether God was being sensible in Calling me into Ministry, I came to understand that it's not about being 'sensible' but about being 'Called'. I am who I am (to quote somebody famous!). Having been Called, there is no point in asking whether it is 'sensible'!
Jesus' disciple Peter had to wrestle with the same issues when he stepped out of the boat and started walking on the water (as in another well-known John Ortberg book!). Jesus held him tightly by the hand, and they returned safely to the boat.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is foolishness to the wise, for God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom (1 Cor. 1:18-25). It was foolishness for God to come and live amongst us, and then to allow mankind to kill him on the Cross. But that's what he did. And God demonstrated his wisdom and power when Jesus was raised from the grave in his resurrection body.
He did it all because he loves us.
He loves you.
Jesus invites us to lose our life for him.
And in so doing, to find life in him - eternal life.
(Matt. 16:25)
On Tuesday I enjoyed the beauty of the early morning frost on the grass and the beautiful evening sunset. But the camera was not at the ready - so enjoy your own memories, or imagine them!
Monday 27 October 2008
What if? Oh, what's the Point?!
This evening I was wondering what would have happened if Jesus had got to the Garden of Gethsemane, and then decided it was all too hard - and gone back home to his old job of being a builder.
After all he was meeting a lot of resistance. Most people seemed to prefer the old way of doing things. After all - that way had been good enough for generations. Why change things now?
It would have been a lot easier to give up this Messiah lark and go back to being a builder. After all being a builder was the job he had been trained for. That's what he was good at. This dying business - it takes a bit of getting used to.
Unfortunately, there was a problem with giving up and going back. The problem was that there was no way back. He had burned his boats. Everyone knew who he was. Everyone knew who he claimed to be. He had nailed his colours to the mast. He couldn't go back to being a builder. Too many people wanted him to go on to be their Messiah. And too many people wanted him dead.
Sometimes preachers have to preach a difficult message from the pulpit. A hard message. The kind of message that people don't like to hear. It's Good News alright - but only if you want to hear it. It's Bad News if you don't want to hear it.
I wonder what would happen if a Preacher told people that the old way of doing things wasn't good enough anymore. In fact, it had never been good enough. Doing things the old way was exactly how we had got into the mess that we are in. The mess where hardly anyone comes to hear the message because they think it's Bad News.
And when you tell the people inside that we have to find better ways of telling the Good News - they say, "Well the old way was good enough for us." In other words, what you're saying is Bad News to everyone!
Perhaps that Preacher would get some criticism. Especially if he carried on telling the insiders that the Old Ways were history. God is doing a New Thing (as he does, you know). Jesus isn't standing still. That's why he told his disciples they were to Follow Him. Standing around wasn't going to work. They would get left behind. In the Old Days. In the Dark Ages. In the Ways that didn't work anymore.
If you're not moving then you are not following. And if you're not following then you're not a disciple. You've got to change. Step out in faith. Get out of the boat and walk on the water. Jesus is calling 'Come'. If you won't go - you won't get.
That's dangerous talk that is. It could get you crucified - well in the olden days it could anyway! Nowadays, well I don't know what would happen. Crucifixion is not legal anymore - and just as well!
Perhaps the Preacher would get the sack. Or perhaps the Preacher would get moved - so that the people would get a new Preacher that would not stir up so much trouble. Perhaps the Preacher would just go back home and return to the building trade, or whatever.
The guy that wrote Ecclesiastes was pretty disillusioned at times of his life. We were reading about it at the Bible Study tonight. That's what sparked off my wondering above. This guy had tried everything to get happy - pleasure, drink, women, fine building projects, cynicism, despair. Nothing worked. It all seemed so pointless.
And he was the King. The people owed him happiness. He had inherited it.
But it was not so. Although there was a Time for Everything under the Sun - that didn't include Happiness - unless you chose to obey the commands of God - and follow his ways.
There's that little word 'follow' again. It's inescapable. There is no happiness without God. And if we stay stuck in the past - God will leave us behind. Isaiah preached to his people. He told them God was saying, "I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?" (Is.43:19).
After all he was meeting a lot of resistance. Most people seemed to prefer the old way of doing things. After all - that way had been good enough for generations. Why change things now?
It would have been a lot easier to give up this Messiah lark and go back to being a builder. After all being a builder was the job he had been trained for. That's what he was good at. This dying business - it takes a bit of getting used to.
Unfortunately, there was a problem with giving up and going back. The problem was that there was no way back. He had burned his boats. Everyone knew who he was. Everyone knew who he claimed to be. He had nailed his colours to the mast. He couldn't go back to being a builder. Too many people wanted him to go on to be their Messiah. And too many people wanted him dead.
Sometimes preachers have to preach a difficult message from the pulpit. A hard message. The kind of message that people don't like to hear. It's Good News alright - but only if you want to hear it. It's Bad News if you don't want to hear it.
I wonder what would happen if a Preacher told people that the old way of doing things wasn't good enough anymore. In fact, it had never been good enough. Doing things the old way was exactly how we had got into the mess that we are in. The mess where hardly anyone comes to hear the message because they think it's Bad News.
And when you tell the people inside that we have to find better ways of telling the Good News - they say, "Well the old way was good enough for us." In other words, what you're saying is Bad News to everyone!
Perhaps that Preacher would get some criticism. Especially if he carried on telling the insiders that the Old Ways were history. God is doing a New Thing (as he does, you know). Jesus isn't standing still. That's why he told his disciples they were to Follow Him. Standing around wasn't going to work. They would get left behind. In the Old Days. In the Dark Ages. In the Ways that didn't work anymore.
If you're not moving then you are not following. And if you're not following then you're not a disciple. You've got to change. Step out in faith. Get out of the boat and walk on the water. Jesus is calling 'Come'. If you won't go - you won't get.
That's dangerous talk that is. It could get you crucified - well in the olden days it could anyway! Nowadays, well I don't know what would happen. Crucifixion is not legal anymore - and just as well!
Perhaps the Preacher would get the sack. Or perhaps the Preacher would get moved - so that the people would get a new Preacher that would not stir up so much trouble. Perhaps the Preacher would just go back home and return to the building trade, or whatever.
The guy that wrote Ecclesiastes was pretty disillusioned at times of his life. We were reading about it at the Bible Study tonight. That's what sparked off my wondering above. This guy had tried everything to get happy - pleasure, drink, women, fine building projects, cynicism, despair. Nothing worked. It all seemed so pointless.
And he was the King. The people owed him happiness. He had inherited it.
But it was not so. Although there was a Time for Everything under the Sun - that didn't include Happiness - unless you chose to obey the commands of God - and follow his ways.
There's that little word 'follow' again. It's inescapable. There is no happiness without God. And if we stay stuck in the past - God will leave us behind. Isaiah preached to his people. He told them God was saying, "I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?" (Is.43:19).
Sunday 26 October 2008
Autumn Flowers
Not all plants flower in the Spring. You can see that one of my so-called Christmas Cactus plants is just bursting into bloom right now.
Some plants flower when the snow is still on the ground, some flower in the Spring, or the Summer, and the yellow Winter Jasmine can provide colour when everything else is looking dead.
I think that people are like that in some respects. Some people have their best times are in their early years, or maybe their teens. Others have their best times in later years, maybe not even until they are retired. Plants blossom - and then their purpose is to bear fruit - fruit that will last.
Jesus talked about that in John 15. Someone who lives 'in' Jesus bears much fruit; for apart from him we can do nothing. That passage talks about fruitful branches being pruned to make them more fruitful, and fruitless branches being discarded.
But I think that a plant benefits from all of its branches. They may not all produce fruit, but the branches that are 'fruitless' still provide energy for the plant, and support and shelter for the other branches. Even the invisible roots play their part.
Today the Body of Jesus, the Church, benefits from the contributions of everyone who supports it. Whether you are bearing visible fruit, or invisible fruit, keep up the good work so that the plant may flourish and grow, and bear much fruit.
Friday 24 October 2008
Autumn Scenes
I wanted some more photos of the parish to show during the service this Sunday but it was bucketing rain when I started out. I took a few at Bridgend and then decided it was more useful to be indoors and went to visit the Beadle Nancy. She has a lovely, real coal, fire!After the rain stopped the scenery was magnificent and I took about 50 photos before I got home. I don't have space to share them all here, but the canalside photo above is a good example. I added another 7 to my Facebook album which anyone can see here.
At home in my garden there are still some blues and yellows amongst the reds, browns, and greens, as you can see below.
Tuesday 21 October 2008
High and Dry?
After we saw the numbered sheep yesterday we moved on down to the village of Blackness with its picturesque castle perched on the shore of the Firth of Forth. The yachts in the bay are designed to sit upright when the tide goes out, but they looked sad and forlorn sitting on the mud.
Boats are meant to float on the water - out of their depth. That's the way they are designed and made - and that's the way they are used. When they are high and dry they are useless.
In their element these yachts are full of power and life; agile, graceful, and full of purpose.
But when they are left high and dry by the falling tide, they are the opposite. They are powerless, dead, immobile and graceless.
I suppose that all this makes them like people. When we are in our element then we are full of power, life, agility, grace, and purpose. And when we are not in our element then we are powerless, unable to move, clumsy and graceless, dead.
God said that we are made to be in relationship with Him. God himself is the element in which we are designed and made to move, live, and have our being.
Are you in your element?
The proximity of the seafront houses in Blackness to the high water mark on the beach reminded me of the rising sea hazard threatened by Global Warming.
The sea is rising and those who live near it must get ready for a change in their circumstances.
Some say that the Church of God is on the move too. Those who are close to the Kingdom of God should also be ready for change.
The legendary King Canute tried to hold back the tide - and failed!
As you can see below, the tide comes in, but the yachts were ready for it. They returned to their element once again.
Monday 20 October 2008
Every Sheep Numbered
The prophet Isaiah confessed that "All we like sheep have gone astray." (53:6) But as you can see above, the farmer we met today wasn't taking any chances. Every sheep was numbered - from 1 all the way up to 45.
Jesus told the story of the farmer who lost one of his sheep (Matt 18:12). He had 99 in the fold, but one was missing. Well today's farmer would have known exactly which one!
To the Good Shepherd each person is of infinitely greater value than the sheep of the farmer's field. Not only is each one of use uniquely identified and known by God, Jesus told his followers that "even the hairs on your head are counted." (Luke 6:7)
So in these days of confusion and uncertainty, be comforted that your Father knows exactly who you are, where you are, and will keep you safe, now and always.
Today we did find out why the farmer had numbered each one of his sheep. It wasn't so that he would know which one was missing. It was so that he would know in which order the sheep would have their lambs in the Spring! Farmers are smart indeed!
Sunday 19 October 2008
Living Lord prayer
For our opening prayer in worship this morning I wrote (mostly) new words to the P.Appleford song Living Lord (as found in Songs of God's People, 72). It was rather radical, and somewhat old-fashioned too, but I felt inspired to lead our prayer by singing these words to the Living Lord tune.
In orthodox church traditions their worship liturgy is led by the priests in song - as indeed we heard in Bethlehem this year on the eve of the Greek Orthodox Pentecost.
So here are the words from our prayer this morning.
Lord Jesus Christ,
You have come to us,
You are one with us,
Living Lord.
Showing the way that we should live,
Giving us strength your way to live,
Walking with us each day we live,
You are Lord.
Spirit of Fire,
Deep inside of us,
Yet surrounding us,
You are God.
Filling us with your strength and power,
Leading us through each day and hour,
Speaking to us your words of power,
You’re our God.
Father of ours,
We have let you down,
But you love us still,
Father God.
Washing away our darkest sin,
Pouring your love and healing in,
Father, we worship you and sing,
We are yours.
Friday 17 October 2008
Swans & Geese
Jesus once referred to the difficulty of telling the difference between sheep and goats. In those days sheep and goats were very similar to each other and it took an expert to tell them apart easily.
This week I was in Linlithgow on a nice fresh and sunny day and parked down by the lochside. There were swans and geese swimming about on the blue water as well as sunning and preening on the grass. At first glance I found it quite hard to tell the difference between them. And I wondered whether if Jesus had been telling that same story in Linlithgow that day if he might have used the Swans and Geese to illustrate his point instead of sheep and goats.
Jesus was saying that even though we might find it quite difficult to tell apart those who are members of God's family, from those who choose not to be in God's family, God wouldn't have any difficulty. He would find it easy to separate the sheep from goats, and no doubt the swans from the geese.
The sheep, and let's say the swans, are those who are Children of God. They feed the hungry, give a drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, give clothing to those with none, take care of the sick, and visit those in prison.
You can't tell them apart just by looking at them - only by the way they live their lives. Are you a goose or a swan?
Friday 10 October 2008
Fruit and Weeds
I've been working in the garden this week. I was pleased to find another apple on my tree. It was a big one too!
That apple tree produced an amazing amount of fruit this year. I have eaten my way through a big bowlful. And more than half of the apples fell off before I got round to picking them.
It's surprising because my tree is shaded by my neighbour's pear tree. Their tree had not been pruned for over 20 years (since we've been here). As a result it had grown into the 'free space' above my apple tree.
Of course I have to keep my apple tree pruned otherwise all the fruit is out of my reach. And those of you who know me will know that I don't have a long reach!
Although my neighbour's pear tree does produce pears each year, they are hard and woody, and not nice to eat. Don't tell them, or my wife, that I have tried to eat them! So it doesn't matter that no-one can reach them (unless you happen to be underneath when one of the pears drops out of the sky). Ouch!
So, if a Fruit Tree only produces inedible fruit, does that make it a Weed Tree?
And what about us? If we are growing fruit, is it useful 'edible' fruit, or useless 'inedible' fruit?
Last week our mid-week service was based on John 15:1-8. It makes rather uncomfortable reading. It's all about pruning, which can be a rather painful experience - since it involves bits getting cut off!
Fruitless branches get cut off, wither, and then get burned on the fire. It's not a literal scenario, since we are told we are like these branches if we produce 'bad' fruit. But we could be producing 'good' fruit. And even the 'good' branches get pruned.
Pruning cleans away the parts of us that are fruitless, or bear 'bad' fruit, and allows fresh new branches to grow, bearing sweet, pleasant-tasting, edible fruit to grow instead. Indeed, in the original Greek, Kathairow, the word used for 'pruning' also means 'cleaning'.
I wonder how my neighbour's tree will respond to the rather major 'cleaning' I gave it yesterday? Perhaps that part of the tree will now produce nice sweet pears. Although if it does, I think they will be my neighbour's pears!
But maybe my apple tree will be even more fruitful next year now that it can 'see the light' again.
Perhaps we could all do with a good clearout so that once again we could 'see the light'!
That apple tree produced an amazing amount of fruit this year. I have eaten my way through a big bowlful. And more than half of the apples fell off before I got round to picking them.
It's surprising because my tree is shaded by my neighbour's pear tree. Their tree had not been pruned for over 20 years (since we've been here). As a result it had grown into the 'free space' above my apple tree.
Of course I have to keep my apple tree pruned otherwise all the fruit is out of my reach. And those of you who know me will know that I don't have a long reach!
Although my neighbour's pear tree does produce pears each year, they are hard and woody, and not nice to eat. Don't tell them, or my wife, that I have tried to eat them! So it doesn't matter that no-one can reach them (unless you happen to be underneath when one of the pears drops out of the sky). Ouch!
So, if a Fruit Tree only produces inedible fruit, does that make it a Weed Tree?
And what about us? If we are growing fruit, is it useful 'edible' fruit, or useless 'inedible' fruit?
Last week our mid-week service was based on John 15:1-8. It makes rather uncomfortable reading. It's all about pruning, which can be a rather painful experience - since it involves bits getting cut off!
Fruitless branches get cut off, wither, and then get burned on the fire. It's not a literal scenario, since we are told we are like these branches if we produce 'bad' fruit. But we could be producing 'good' fruit. And even the 'good' branches get pruned.
Pruning cleans away the parts of us that are fruitless, or bear 'bad' fruit, and allows fresh new branches to grow, bearing sweet, pleasant-tasting, edible fruit to grow instead. Indeed, in the original Greek, Kathairow, the word used for 'pruning' also means 'cleaning'.
I wonder how my neighbour's tree will respond to the rather major 'cleaning' I gave it yesterday? Perhaps that part of the tree will now produce nice sweet pears. Although if it does, I think they will be my neighbour's pears!
But maybe my apple tree will be even more fruitful next year now that it can 'see the light' again.
Perhaps we could all do with a good clearout so that once again we could 'see the light'!
Monday 6 October 2008
Spiritual Fruit
It's been a very varied day for me. Started off at Falkirk Crematorium (first time there), then to Stirling Royal Infirmary (first time there too), then to Abercorn Guild in the afternoon, and finally Winchburgh Bible Study in the evening.
At the Bible Study we were talking about being fruitful, looking at John 15:1-8. Unless we remain in God, and let God remain in us, then we can't bear any fruit for God.
We wondered what 'fruit' was.
One person thought it was these high point moments when we feel we have been particularly close to God. Vines bear fruit, but not all year round. And during our celebrations of the Lord's Supper we drink the fruit of the vine.
Another person suggested that 'fruit' was love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22), or at least some of these.
Another suggestion was that 'fruit' is helping new people to start following Jesus; a bit like the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-23).
In the variety of my activities today I feel that I've been fruitful, although I would find it difficult to define exactly which of the above fruit I've been bearing!
At the Bible Study we were talking about being fruitful, looking at John 15:1-8. Unless we remain in God, and let God remain in us, then we can't bear any fruit for God.
We wondered what 'fruit' was.
One person thought it was these high point moments when we feel we have been particularly close to God. Vines bear fruit, but not all year round. And during our celebrations of the Lord's Supper we drink the fruit of the vine.
Another person suggested that 'fruit' was love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22), or at least some of these.
Another suggestion was that 'fruit' is helping new people to start following Jesus; a bit like the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-23).
In the variety of my activities today I feel that I've been fruitful, although I would find it difficult to define exactly which of the above fruit I've been bearing!
Sunday 5 October 2008
Organic Birds
It's been a glorious sunny day. The sky has been almost cloudless throughout. This afternoon Liz and I went down on the farm - that's East Coast Organics Farm, near Pencaitland.
We get a fruit & vegetable box from them each week and today was their annual Open Day - it couldn't have been better weather. When we got there about 3 o'clock, the temporary car park was full and cars were queued up on to the road.
Inside we saw the colourful vegetables that we have been eating all summer; green lettuce, purple kale, ruby chard, speckled courgettes, apples, beans, tomatoes, beetroot, etc.
They keep hens as well, free range and organic of course, to browse through the leftovers, and to turn over and fertilise the soil. So today was a bird day too, although they weren't as colourful as the pheasants last week.
And in the sky there were mechanical birds too! Tricky to capture on camera because they were so high up, soaring over the fields and countryside. But one of my shots came out. I guess they are free range too, although not so eco-friendly!
We get a fruit & vegetable box from them each week and today was their annual Open Day - it couldn't have been better weather. When we got there about 3 o'clock, the temporary car park was full and cars were queued up on to the road.
Inside we saw the colourful vegetables that we have been eating all summer; green lettuce, purple kale, ruby chard, speckled courgettes, apples, beans, tomatoes, beetroot, etc.
They keep hens as well, free range and organic of course, to browse through the leftovers, and to turn over and fertilise the soil. So today was a bird day too, although they weren't as colourful as the pheasants last week.
And in the sky there were mechanical birds too! Tricky to capture on camera because they were so high up, soaring over the fields and countryside. But one of my shots came out. I guess they are free range too, although not so eco-friendly!
Saturday 4 October 2008
Candidacy Reinstated
Back in April one of my friends in the Candidates training programme was told that he could not continue with his training. In his path towards Ministry he had suddenly run up against a roadblock.
I was shocked, although no doubt not so much as he was. Although most of us trainees have our ups and downs, he had got through the previous tricky spots, and was only six months away from his Final Assessment. In one moment everything turned upside down.
I was disturbed myself because I too had passed by some rocky places and was near the end of an extra training placement. I was pleased to have the opportunity to improve in some areas, but I didn't know whether I could improve enough to satisfy my Assessors. The termination of my friend's training made me realise afresh that I also could be stopped at any of these assessments.
I questioned my sense of God calling me into Ministry. But I was certain I was following the path God had laid before me. If the Church of Scotland turned me away, then God must have some other place where He wanted me to Minister. So I continued with my own training, following the path to see where it would lead.
As for my friend, he decided to appeal against the decision. There were several stages to the appeal process. The last stage took place yesterday, and the outcome is that his appeal has been successful! He is to be reinstated into the Candidates training programme.
Back in April I was disturbed. Today I am thrilled for my friend, and for the Church in which we serve both God and his people.
I was shocked, although no doubt not so much as he was. Although most of us trainees have our ups and downs, he had got through the previous tricky spots, and was only six months away from his Final Assessment. In one moment everything turned upside down.
I was disturbed myself because I too had passed by some rocky places and was near the end of an extra training placement. I was pleased to have the opportunity to improve in some areas, but I didn't know whether I could improve enough to satisfy my Assessors. The termination of my friend's training made me realise afresh that I also could be stopped at any of these assessments.
I questioned my sense of God calling me into Ministry. But I was certain I was following the path God had laid before me. If the Church of Scotland turned me away, then God must have some other place where He wanted me to Minister. So I continued with my own training, following the path to see where it would lead.
As for my friend, he decided to appeal against the decision. There were several stages to the appeal process. The last stage took place yesterday, and the outcome is that his appeal has been successful! He is to be reinstated into the Candidates training programme.
Back in April I was disturbed. Today I am thrilled for my friend, and for the Church in which we serve both God and his people.
Friday 3 October 2008
Pheasants Galore!
One of the delights of working in the country, after living in the city nearly all of my life, is seeing so many beautiful plants and creatures.
Yesterday I drove round a corner and there were four young pheasants sitting on the wall in the sunshine. By the time I got my camera out there was only one left. I parked and looked over the wall so discover a whole covey of pheasants browsing around the edge of the field, as well as these two scurrying along another wall.
After I had taken a few photos I drove on. And round the next corner were even more pheasants - on the wall and on the road. Despite the rain coming on I took a few more photos out of the car window, before a couple of cars coming the other direction ended the photo shoot.
And earlier in the day I had to photo this beautiful Dahlia outside Winchburgh church. It would be even better in the sunshine.
Yesterday I drove round a corner and there were four young pheasants sitting on the wall in the sunshine. By the time I got my camera out there was only one left. I parked and looked over the wall so discover a whole covey of pheasants browsing around the edge of the field, as well as these two scurrying along another wall.
After I had taken a few photos I drove on. And round the next corner were even more pheasants - on the wall and on the road. Despite the rain coming on I took a few more photos out of the car window, before a couple of cars coming the other direction ended the photo shoot.
And earlier in the day I had to photo this beautiful Dahlia outside Winchburgh church. It would be even better in the sunshine.
Wednesday 1 October 2008
First Anniversary?
I can hardly believe that my placement at the parishes of Abercorn linked with Pardovan, Kingscavil, and Winchburgh, began a month ago. It seems like just a few days ago. I think I must be enjoying myself!
I recall being quite surprised when my daughter told me she was celebrating the anniversary of going out with her then boyfriend. They had only being going out a few months, but it was a whole number of months. Apparently every month many young folk today celebrate the start of their going out together - calling the celebration an 'anniversary'.
So I guess today was the First Anniversary of me starting my placement!
Last week someone was saying that by the end of my fifteen months here I would be feeling like I had been fifteen years. So maybe 'First Anniversary' is not so far off the truth after all!
So now there only 14 months until the end of my placement, 11 months until my Final Review, 10 months until we submit our Final Reports, 5 months until my Interim Review, and 4 months until we submit our Interim Reports. I'm not going to tell you all that in weeks or days - you can do the arithmetic yourself - Am I bothered?!
Mind you, the practice of celebrating an Anniversary every month is a bit of a sad reflection on the length of time people expect to be together. Counting years takes too long, and many couples won't even reach a First Year.
Mind you, for those of us that have reached 30 years, it would be hard to count Months! We'd be celebrating our Three Hundred and Sixty First Anniversary on October 20th!
I recall being quite surprised when my daughter told me she was celebrating the anniversary of going out with her then boyfriend. They had only being going out a few months, but it was a whole number of months. Apparently every month many young folk today celebrate the start of their going out together - calling the celebration an 'anniversary'.
So I guess today was the First Anniversary of me starting my placement!
Last week someone was saying that by the end of my fifteen months here I would be feeling like I had been fifteen years. So maybe 'First Anniversary' is not so far off the truth after all!
So now there only 14 months until the end of my placement, 11 months until my Final Review, 10 months until we submit our Final Reports, 5 months until my Interim Review, and 4 months until we submit our Interim Reports. I'm not going to tell you all that in weeks or days - you can do the arithmetic yourself - Am I bothered?!
Mind you, the practice of celebrating an Anniversary every month is a bit of a sad reflection on the length of time people expect to be together. Counting years takes too long, and many couples won't even reach a First Year.
Mind you, for those of us that have reached 30 years, it would be hard to count Months! We'd be celebrating our Three Hundred and Sixty First Anniversary on October 20th!
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