Cedars

1 Kings 5:6 "So give orders that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. My men will work with yours, and I will pay you for your men whatever wages you set. You know that we have no one so skilled in felling timber as the Sidonians."

There’s a beautiful State Park just 35 miles east of Nashville, Tennessee called “Cedars of Lebanon.” It has some wonderful trails throughout the area, including an easy two-mile walk of the “cedar” trees. When the early settlers came to the region in the 1800’s, they mistook the trees to be cedars and declared that they reminded them of the Biblical trees from 1 Kings. Years later someone realized they weren’t cedars at all, but actually junipers. It was an easy mistake to make, but when it was discovered, the local people decided to keep the name, for they liked the Biblical connections.

The story of the cedars of Lebanon from the Bible reminds us of a golden age when the leaders and people of Israel and Lebanon were at peace and prospered through the whole experience. King Solomon was well known for his wisdom throughout the region, but the Lebanese King Hiram was renowned for having a people who were timber merchants and skilled carpenters. They were chosen and honored to be the ones who supplied the timber for Solomon’s temple, which as well as being a center of faith, became a symbol of peace between the two nations.

Today, Israel and Lebanon are experiencing a fragile peace which is threatened by the bullying tactics and hostile actions of the Hezbollah terrorists. It’s my prayer that the United Nations establishes the peace between these two nations by ousting these cowards, whose evil intention is to destroy Israel, using the beautiful people of Lebanon as missile fodder and human shields.

We need to pray that the cedars of Lebanon, which are portrayed on the Lebanese national flag, are one day restored and that both the leaders and peoples of these nations rediscover that biblical relationship of peace and prosperity.

Prayer: Almighty God, have mercy upon the Lebanese and Israeli people. Evil men have destroyed their relationships over the years and have almost ruined the economy, well-being and prosperity of both nations. Cast out those who seek to do evil and cause them to stumble and fall. Restore the joy of peace and prosperity to both people. Let Your holy words of long ago become a prophecy fulfilled today. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Go!

Genesis 12:1 The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.

I love the old Western movies, especially the ones that have wagons heading over the Oregon Trail. Those early pioneers of the West must have been amongst the bravest of souls on earth. To cross the wide Mississippi and head over the high Rockies in search of a new life must have taken a great deal of courage, grit, and perseverance. I don’t know how they managed to survive those long trips, but their character, determination and strength still lives on in many Americans today.

I think Abram must have been made of the same stuff. And Sarai, his beautiful wife, must have been a brave soul, too. To think that in their old age, they both set out on a long journey, not knowing where they were bound, is mind-boggling. Abram’s faith was simple and pure, unquestionable and completely reliable. He truly deserves to be called the Father of many nations because his obedience to God is a strong foundation for Judaism, Christianity and Islam. We are all Abraham’s children.

Paul also comments on this kind of faith. He challenges his readers to go out into the world, preaching the gospel and sharing the good news. He reminds the local churches that their function is to equip and send members into the wider community so that others may hear about Jesus, so that others may be saved.

Today, we are all commanded to “Go” by God, to live out the gospel wherever we abide, work and visit. There’s a whole world of people, young and old, just waiting for the good news in their lives, but, as Paul states, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?”

It’s our mission to go out into the world and help others come to God. We are His messengers; we are His servants; we are His pioneers.

Prayer: Almighty God, send Your Spirit into our lives, so that we may go into our community proclaiming the good news through our work, words and deeds. Teach us to take every opportunity of expressing our faith in ways that will not intimidate or repel others. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Daily devotions: Joy Seekers

Psalm 51:12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Years ago, I went to a conference in Los Angeles. One of the speakers was H.B. London, who is known nationally as being a pastor to pastors in crisis. He spent over twenty years leading churches, so he experienced first-hand the trials and tribulations of being the target of church members, especially when they were frustrated with his preaching or annoyed at his decisions. He called those people ‘joy-suckers’ because they literally sucked the whole joy out of his being and, funnily enough, they did the same to the happiness of the congregation. Many pastors at the conference understood how he felt and, at that time, I also knew what he was talking about.

Nowadays, I take a different view. I’ve discovered that people who H.B. London labeled as ‘joy-suckers’ usually have undergone a tragic or traumatic event in their lives, which overshadows their spirits. They carry burdens in their hearts and souls which affect their relationships and sometimes they become spiritually depressed. It’s not that they are ‘joy-suckers’; they are really ‘joy-seekers’ trying hard to cope with life and courageously carrying on despite the hidden heart breaks within them. They know the prayer of David, when he pleads with God to restore the joy of His salvation. They seek this above all things and desperately try to lead a normal, happy life.

Perhaps we are going to come across people who carry painful and heavy burdens this week. Perhaps our first reaction is to avoid or show a disinterest in them. They need to know that we love them, so we need to be patient and listen. We need to be open to hearing their hurts and help them to find the joy, healing and strength that their spirits yearn.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, keep us from being dismissive of others who appear to be ‘joy-suckers’, but who are really ‘joy-seekers.’ Teach us to be patient and help us to help those who are trying to cope with the hurts and hardships of life that we may never know or ever experience. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on this message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Radio Show

1 Thessalonians 5:16, 17 & 18 Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

I f anyone was to write a motto for the Christian faith, they could do no better than these three verses from Paul’s letter. They represent three qualities that the world sadly lacks: joy, prayer, and gratitude. If we could display these three fundamental elements in our lives, then the world would be attracted to the church. Sadly, however, we get pulled into doing the opposite: instead of communicating joy, we are critical of others; instead of faithfully praying, we capitulate to wishful thinking; and instead of showing gratitude to God, we are self-centered and feel entitled to what we get.

The world sees us as no different from them, so why should they follow our Savior when we don’t live our lives joyfully, prayerfully, and gratefully?

Today, I’m starting a new weekly radio show to challenge ourselves as much as the world. It’s called “Seven Days” and will deal with the issues we face as Christians, some of which are caused by our own pride and self-indulgent choices. Hopefully, some of the topics discussed will help us to look at who we are in the world, confronting our prejudices, hypocrisy and injustices. It won’t be a cozy conversation about how great, perfect and right we are; rather, it will be a vehicle to make us face up to some of the conflict that faith and religion has brought into the world.

We all want to be joyful rather than judgmental; we all look to be more prayerful rather than petulant; we all aspire to be more grateful than greedy. The world has more than enough of folk like that; it’s about time that we as Christians ‘fessed up to our mistakes and started to make godly choices in our lives. There’s a world out there to win, but it can only be won if we win within.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, teach us the art of joy, prayer, and gratitude. Help us to overcome being judgmental, petulant and greedy. Guide our thoughts and shape our decisions, so that w e may live according to Your ways and not our own. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

P.S You can listen to the radio show each Friday on 1180AM Knoxville, 1120 AM Maryville at 4pm EDT. You can also tune in live on the internet at Southernrootsradio.com

Revival 2006

Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

One of the most remarkable occurrences at last week’s Presbyterian Global Fellowship conference in Atlanta was the sense of peace and unity that everyone experienced. The acrimony and agitation that attended this year’s General Assembly was not evident. Instead, each person who was there felt God’s presence and Christ’s calling. For once, the Church was being the Church. Politics were replaced with purpose. Humility and healing were experienced. Hope and faith were rekindled.

I came back from the conference with a lot of excitement and enthusiasm for the future of our church. The past couple of years, I have personally wondered where the PC(USA) is headed and I’ve dreaded splits and schisms causing us to become ineffective, irrelevant, and insignificant in the world. Last week, along with a thousand other pastors and church members, I rediscovered where God was at work in the church: mission.

Perhaps you’ve also felt this discontent and malaise affect your own soul, your own commitment and loyalty to the denomination. Perhaps you’ve been frustrated by the radical reports and divisive decisions that have come from our recent General Assemblies and policy-making councils. I’ve felt the same way, but now I’ve seen what lies ahead with a large group who are dedicated to upholding traditional values, proclaiming the Gospel in our communities, and supporting mission. Some people call this renewal, but it is really revival. I’m looking forward to what’s ahead of us and thankful to God for giving our church this opportunity.

Prayer: Lord God, thank You for the gathering of a thousand people last week and for giving us Your Spirit at the conference. Thank You for bringing together so many church members who are dedicated to spreading Your word and focusing on mission, both at home and abroad. May health and healing be restored to our church through this revival. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Fallow Ground

Leviticus 25: 20 You may ask, "What will we eat in the seventh year if we do not plant or harvest our crops?"

It’s called ‘crop rotation’ or fallow ground’ back in Scotland. That’s when a farmer allows the land to rest for a year and refresh all the nutrients in the soil. In times of hardship and economic crisis, it’s a hard thing to maintain because the temptation is to put in an extra crop that will produce ready cash. But the land needs to rest; it requires a fallow year, otherwise the soil exhausts itself and practically produces nothing of substance.

For the Israelites, leaving the land fallow was more of a test of faith than good crop management. It was not only a year to rest, but it was also a time to truly depend upon God and believe His word. For six years, the people relied upon God’s mercy and bounty, as well as their own hard work and farming skills; but in the seventh year, they totally depended upon the providence of God. It was a great reminder to the whole community that they were ultimately sustained by God, and not their own resources, strength and talents.

I guess there are two lessons for us today: firstly, instead of going helter-skelter all of the time, we need to stop, rest, and relax for a while. It won’t be easy and our spirits will get restless, but if we take sabbaticals from the stress we experience, we will produce better results in our work, faith and relationships in the long term. Secondly, we all need to remind ourselves that everything we have, every resource we possess, every talent that we display comes from God. There is no such thing as a self-made person in the Christian world. Whatever we do, whatever we achieve, whatever ambitions we fulfill and accomplishments that we experience all come from God. If we forget to offer Him the glory and praise for all of these benefits, then we need to ask ourselves if we really have faith in God. He is the provider of all our blessings; He is the sustainer of all that we need.

Prayer: Lord God, we place You at the center of all our blessings, gifts and resources. We acknowledge You as the One who brings these blessings to us. Remind us each day that You are the One who provides our daily bread and sustains our everyday needs. Keep us grateful for Your blessings and help us to remain dependent upon You. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Archery

Genesis 49:24 But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel.

I’ve only tried archery once in my life, which was during a summer Scout camp in the Western Highlands of Scotland. I signed up for the archery course in order to get a new merit badge for my troop. From what I remember, it wasn’t as easy at it looked. Drawing back the bow took a lot of strength and hitting the target was almost impossible. In fact, if the Scouts had produced a badge for ‘missing targets’, I would have been awarded it many times.

As I kept missing the target, my instructor told me I was aiming too low. My arrow was lined up for the center of the bullseye, but each time I let go the arrow, gravity pulled it down, so I missed the mark. As soon as I started to do what the instructor told me, I hit the target.

The blessing that Jacob gives to Joseph is one of strength, focus and determination. Joseph has triumphed over adversity and evil. Jacob wants him to continue to be a leader amongst his brothers, so he blesses him with the strength of an archer, a hunter, and a warrior. Jacob’s God has preserved his son; now the old man wants Joseph to bestow the gifts of perseverance, grit and determination to the rest of the family.

In our own lives, we often miss the marks of faith that God gives us, simply because we aim too low. We worry about budgets and buildings, programs and projects, ministries and missions, which cause us to look down from where God is, and focus on where we are. Only when we begin to look up, to see what God is doing, and start to aim high, will we be able to reach the marks and achievements, the mountaintops and accomplishments that God wants us to fulfill.

Prayer: Lord God, turn our eyes upward, so that we may begin to see what You are doing in our church, community, and country. Keep us from becoming too preoccupied with ourselves. Help us to raise our focus and meets the marks that You would have us achieve for Your Kingdom. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

A Missional Church

Micah 6: 8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Last week, I attended a special mission conference at Peachtree Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, Georgia. It was the inaugural meeting of the Presbyterian Global Fellowship, whose primary focus is to support missions and missionaries both at home and abroad.

The conference was amazing and the worship was wonderful. I came away feeling inspired and refreshed, invigorated and excited about mission work in our churches. The PC(USA) is currently going through some tough times and radical changes. New organizations like the PGF are going to become the anchors and source of strength that we will need in years to come.

The official theme of the conference was “Glorify Your Name”, emphasizing that all the work that we do ultimately is accomplished to glorify God and expand His Kingdom. This was a consistent message that the keynote speakers and missionaries expressed during each plenary session and workshops. It was humbling to listen to those who have spent most of their lives giving of themselves to help others in places like China, India, and Africa. It was also immensely challenging to hear how Christians in those places where persecution, disease, and corruption are so prevalent still manage to confront evil and boldly witness to Christ’s power in their lives.

We are all missionaries in the church. God gives each of us a mission field to walk in every day. There are people in our workplaces, schools and homes who desperately need to hear the good news about Christ’s forgiveness and love. We don’t need to preach to them directly – we just have to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly before God. Those qualities preach more effectively than thousands of sermons. Those attributes move more hearts nearer to God than pushing and pulling people to Him.

Prayer: Loving God, we want to be missionaries of Your Word and servants of Your Kingdom. We want to draw more people to You and show them the way to salvation. Help us to be humble, just and loving to those around us. Let the mercy, grace and peace of Christ be made known through our words and deeds. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Laid to Rest

Psalm 116:7, 8 Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you. For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.

I think I may have officiated at almost a thousand funerals in my lifetime, most of them in Scotland because the pastor is the parish minister for a large geographical area, which contains thousands of people. I can remember some of them took place in the height of summer, with the purple hills, the emerald carpet of grass and the birds singing all around us as we laid the deceased to rest.

I can also recall some of the worst days in winter when a cold, biting wind and the relentless rain drenched all the mourners. It was almost as if the earth and sea were violently grieving the deceased.

No matter what kind of day or who was being laid to rest, I always used these verses from Psalm 116. They comforted the chief mourners and reassured everyone that God’s goodness, even in death, was always around us. Life is a beautiful gift, but even though it ends here on earth, it continues in God’s Kingdom. Christ has conquered that which we fear most and, if we are willing to place our souls into His Hands, we will experience that everlasting joy on our final day.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You have won the battle that we call death and cast it aside. You have given us the opportunity to share in your victory and to live in Your heavenly Kingdom forever. Help us to tell and express this to others, especially those who mourn their loved ones this week. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Let the Children Sleep

Psalm 91:5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day.

Children in Northern Israel and Southern Lebanon may get some sleep tonight. When war, retribution and terrorism strike communities, it’s the children who suffer most. They can’t understand why the adults are killing one another. All that they hear is the bombing and blasting of missiles. Houses around them are blown apart and the world is a very scary place.

So, perhaps tonight they may get some sleep, but will they dream or just have nightmares? Will they wake up one morning and woefully discover that the adults couldn’t play peace together? Will they retreat inside themselves and become victims of real war crimes – the destruction of their childish dreams, the trading of their health for hellfire, the annihilation of their innocence and the extermination of a real and lasting peace being given to this new generation of Israeli, Lebanese and Palestinian children?

It’s about time the politicians and leaders, UN delegates and ambassadors grew up and practiced the art of peace, not war; otherwise these children will never grow beyond their fears, their suspicions and, sadly, their hatred for one another. As the Good Shepherd Himself said long ago, “Let them alone and let the children come to Me.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus, let those who seek to terrify and make war cease their madness and turn towards peace. Let the children of the Holy Land sleep tonight and let them be able to freely play tomorrow. Let Your Spirit conquer the hearts of the adults, so that they will be ashamed of what they have done. In Your Holy Name, we pray for the children and a lasting peace. Amen.

Adding Life

Matthew 6:27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

One of the saddest experiences that I ever had took place in a psychiatric ward in Scotland. I was stationed there for six months as part of my seminary training. The ward was locked because it was full of deeply disturbed patients, who were a danger to themselves and the nurses who cared for them.

There was one old lady who had to be constantly attended to. She was always shouting and it usually took two nurses to calm her down. She had been a very wealthy and extremely beautiful woman when she was young. For most of her life, she had been well known in the upper circles of society and had enjoyed a rich and lavish lifestyle. Those self-indulgent years had taken a toll on her and one day, as she looked in the mirror, she realized that she had aged considerably. Her beauty was gone and her wealth was diminished. She suffered some sort of mental breakdown, which resulted in her being institutionalized.

All day long in the psychiatric ward, she would look at the mirror and bewail the fact that she was aging. “Can’t you see?” she cried out, “Can’t you see that I’m dying? Are you stupid, don’t you see what’s happening to me? I’m dying!”

I felt sorry for that lady. Her vanity led her to value her life by her outward appearances and financial resources. Instead of developing a beauty within and fostering a Christian faith in the eternal things to come, she based her life on the here and now. When old age came to her, she wasn’t prepared to accept the inevitable, and no matter how much she fretted, worried or protested, she could not add a single hour to her allotted span.

Life is beautiful, but faith is eternal. Beauty is skin deep, but hope is soul deep. Riches and wealth are temporary, but the crowns of glory last for ever. We cannot add a single hour to our earthly life, but Christ can add eternity to our spirits, if we let go of all our worldly anxieties and cares by placing our hearts and lives into His hands.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You know our deepest fears and personal worries. You offer to take our burdens by letting us cast our cares upon You. Help us this day to put all that concerns us into Your caring hands. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Cuban Crisis

Proverbs 28:3 A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.

Currently, there’s a lot of speculation about Fidel Castro. We don't know whether he is alive or dead, but it does appear to be that he is critically and perhaps mortally ill. Some political pundits are trying to foresee what will happen to Cuba once he is gone. One thing is certain: after Castro dies, Cuba will change.

It reminds me of the time when General Franco was dying in Spain. It may not have made big news over here, but in Europe there was a lot of speculation about Spain becoming a more open society. Franco had prepared in advance for the time of transition by publicly appearing with the future King of Spain. He wanted the Spanish people to undergo a healthy transition. Franco’s wisdom paid off for instead of a fascist and military bloodbath, Spain experienced a peaceful return to becoming a democratic monarchy.

I hope that the Cubans undergo a similar transition, but I fear the worst. Castro has oppressed the people for decades, so there may be a lot of tension, distrust and hostility when he dies. Several years ago, just after the Pope visited Cuba, there was a political backlash against the Roman Catholic Church. The authorities couldn't cope with the popularity of a religious leader, so they tried to oppress the priests and diminish the ministry of the churches. It didn't work and the situation was very similar to what happened in Poland decades ago.

With all of our attention being drawn to the Middle East, we should take time out to pray for the Cuban people. We should ask God to restore justice and liberty to that island, as well as praying for a peaceful transition to take place. It’s a beautiful island, full of wonderful people, with a tremendous history. It would be a shame to see it turn into something like Yugoslavia, which ferociously fell apart and underwent a bloody civil war in which thousands of innocent men, women and children were slaughtered, after Tito died.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the Savior of the world and the Healer of the nations. Today we pray for the people of Cuba. These are troubling and uncertain times for them. Let Your church over there support the people in their quest for freedom and liberty. Let Your peace shelter them from the storms of civil unrest and bloody dictatorship. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Empty Nesting

Ephesians 5:15, 16 Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

My daughters are now at college and the house is very quiet. There’s an emptiness in my home, but also in my heart. I'm finding it very hard being an empty-nester, even although it’s been less than a week since they both moved out.

I feel as though I have more to tell them about the world, but I haven't gotten around to doing it. I keep thinking there’s something else that I should have expressed, but I just couldn't find the time or the words. I'd wager that’s how every parent feels when their children go out into the world. Not enough time, not enough information.

I can remember reading Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” at High School. For some reason, I was given the part of Lysander and had to listen to my dad Polonius give his famous speech about what his son should do and what to avoid in the real world. I laughed at old Polonius’ exaggerated concerns, but now I'm not so sure.

When I read Paul’s words to the church at Ephesus, I recognize some of his feelings, too. He’s proud of the church that he helped to establish. He’s watched it grow and now that he’s on his way out through impending martyrdom, he wants to give the church some lasting advice that will help it grow. It just strikes me that Paul’s letters aren't so much pastoral. They're really parental.

Perhaps you're facing something similar with your own children or grandchildren. Perhaps you're wondering what to say or do that will make an impact in their lives. Just love them and hold them in your hearts. Just pray for them and offer your best. In the end, it’s all we can do. It’s all that we can ever hope.

Prayer: Father God, throughout the ages You have given guidance to all Your people. Sometimes Your advice has been gladly received and dutifully applied, but at other times, Your counsel has been ignored or rejected. Grant us open hearts and minds so that we may be strengthened by Your words and encouraged by Your care. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.

Party Politics

Galatians 5:15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

Our primaries for various elected positions finished last week, allowing most of the electors time to breathe before the real canvassing gets underway. Because of my involvement in the Radio show “The Voice,” I’ve been in personal contact with some of the front runners for most of the county, district and state seats. Most of the time, I’ve been impressed by the commitment all of the candidates give to their campaigns. Sadly, though, I’ve also grown tired and weary of watching and hearing them tearing their opponents to shreds. It’s seems that to get elected anywhere these days, you’ve got to jump all over your opposition and spend more time maligning them rather than presenting positive ideas and sticking to the issues.

Party politics is a contact sport and it’s getting bloodier as each election comes and goes. I’ve seen the best of Christians become the worst of political devotees. I’ve read blogs from church people who spew absolute hatred in their comments about other parties. We are so used to separating our religion from our politics that we feel justified in using unchristian language, behavior and actions in order to undermine the other side. We let the ends justify the means, which, by the way, is not Biblical.

Christians are not just Sunday Christians; they try to be Christian all week long. Perhaps if we adopted Christian values throughout the election cycle, instead of declaring “open season” on our opponents, other people might become less cynical about the tawdry world of politics and begin to elect worthy representatives, no matter which party they came from. Perhaps then we could begin to take back our communities and heal them of all the biting and devouring that, in the end, only destroys ourselves.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, in the run up to the important elections that are taking place, help us to remain Christian. Keep us from straying on to the paths of zeal, fanaticism, and hatred which only lead to discontent, disunity and division. Grant us discernment and patience, wisdom and understanding that to be political does not give us the freedom to be sinful, and that to be religious does not always make us right. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Digital Glass II

Here's another one of my digital glass projects. it's called "Picasso Nativity."

If you want to enjoy creating your own digital glass productions, try the following:

1. Take a blank sheet of paper.
2. Grab a black crayon.
3. Tile, diamond or put square blocks on the paper.
4. Now meander with the black crayon.
5. Put paper in scanner.
6. Scan to Paint program.
7. Fill in the colors using digital paint-brush
8. Invert the colors.
9. Look at the picture. See the picture. feel the picture.
10. Give it a name.
11. Upload to your flickr page
12. Join Digital Glass group http://www.flickr.com/groups/stainers/
13. Send it to digital glass.
14. Enjoy!

Stop the Rot!

1 Corinthians 8: 3 But the man who loves God is known by God.

Our denomination has taken a severe battering over the last year. In 2005, our denominational membership declined by over 48,000 people. Sadly, it is a record amount for any one year in recent times and doesn't bode well for the future. Since 1995, the denomination has lost 13% of its membership. At Erin, we have grown by 14%, which means that we are 27% ahead of national trends.

Now I know that you can make statistics mean anything, but when the difference is over 25%, it must mean that we are doing something different, more positive and more relevant than the national church. Personally, I think it's because we truly love God here at Erin, which means that we are known by Him and blessed by Him. I'm not so sure about the denomination.

I'm going to a conference next week in Atlanta where pastors from growing churches in the denomination are going to brainstorm ideas and develop strategies that may enable us to turn things around. I don't want to see the denomination decline. Presbyterians traditionally produce great thinkers and spiritual leaders who enhance, edify and empower their communities to spread the gospel, support missions, and serve Christ. If our church can be part of a new movement that will stop our national membership declining, then I want Erin to be actively doing its share.

If God is blessing us with growth, then we must be doing something right that declining Presbyterian churches around us can benefit from. Preaching the Gospel, praising God's Name, and professing Christ as Savior are at the heart of everything we do. If we can encourage other
Presbyterians to do the same, perhaps this national decline will reverse and God will multiply all our churches.

Prayer: Father God, forgive us for failing to grow and for fighting amongst ourselves. Pardon us for forgetting who we are and to Whom we belong. Help us to cast aside needless divisions and heedless rivalries. Create within us a clean heart, so that we may serve You faithfully and love You sincerely. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

Word of God

1 Thessalonians 2: 13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.

When I was at college training to be a minister, I had a hard time dealing with some of the professors' interpretations of scripture. They had studied Hebrew and Greek for decades, along with Form and Literary criticism, which made them question, consider and categorize some parts of scripture as being human, faulty and full of flaws. They found it hard to accept a literal
interpretation of the Bible, so they set about tearing scripture to pieces, only keeping those passages intact that appealed to their own personal lifestyles, philosophies or theologies.

I came from a background of a conversion experience, so my loyalty and gratitude to God would not allow me to accept my professors' interpretation of scripture. This got me into trouble at times, especially during exams, when I was supposed to regurgitate everything that I had been taught from my professors and lecturers. I struggled with it year after year, and when I finally finished six years later, I threw all of my class notes into the garbage. I didn't want to depend upon the clever concoctions and academic assumptions of my teachers. I just wanted to preach and pastor from the heart, letting the word of God work within me because I believed, as I still do today, that it was God's Word.

We all struggle with God's Word because it continually challenges our ideas, opinions and cherished beliefs. It is wonderful to study, to learn the backgrounds of ancient peoples, to travel back in time to discover what they thought about God, but in the end only one thing will be important: whether we believe it comes from men or from God.

Prayer: Lord God, You chose to reveal Yourself to us through mighty acts and glorious deeds that have been recorded in writing and set down in scripture. Your Purpose is to enable us to know Who You are, so that we may be drawn to You and to Christ our Savior. When we have doubts about Your Sacred Word, disperse them with Your Living Word. When we struggle at times trying to follow Your Gospel, grant us open minds and hearts to the bidding of Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus' Name, we pray.
Amen.

Digital Glass

Digital Glass

I’ve join Flickr, http://www.flickr.com/ the great photo/art image community on the web. It’s fascinating to see pictures from around the world. It’s like subscribing to National Geographic without having to find somewhere to store the magazines.

As well as adding photos, you can also upload art work. I’ve started an interest in creating stained glass windows, with abstract images, based on Biblical or Christian connections. It’s great therapy and already others are beginning to join in.

The above image is called "Crossing Over" which is one of my latest creations. You can see most of them at http://www.flickr.com/photos/traqair57/ along with some of my goofy photos.

If you want to create some of your own digital glass, visit my other website at http://www.flickr.com/groups/stainers/ where you can find easy instructions to make your own.

Bounty

Jeremiah 31:14 I will satisfy the priests with abundance, and my people will be filled with my
bounty," declares the LORD.

One of my all-time favorite movies is "Mutiny on the Bounty", starring Marlon Brando and Trevor Howard. My Dad took me to it when it was first released in Britain. I was six years old at the time and although I didn't really understand it, I loved the Polynesian scenery, the old British naval costumes and, of course, the galleon itself. Years later, when I grew interested in building plastic airplanes, cars and ships, my Uncle Ian gave me model of the Bounty, which he patiently made and painted as a teenager.

"Bounty" is a word that we normally associate with rewards for capturing wanted outlaws, but in this context the old Hebrew word "tuwh" means something beautiful, something that gladdens the heart, and something that benefits the beholder. So when God declares that He will fill His people with His bounty, He is promising to do something beautiful that will gladden the people and strengthen them.

Today, we can experience the same through the gift of the Holy Spirit in our churches, homes and hearts. Christ's bounty is gladly given to Christian believers, so that we can share these
cherished blessings to our broken community. And in the midst of a sad and dangerous world, the bounty of God's blessings is much needed amongst us.

Prayer: Bountiful God, we thank You for the beautiful blessings that bring gladness and strength into our lives. Help us to share these gifts with those who need to know of Your love and who seek Your loving grace. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

Wisdom and War

Ecclesiastes 9:18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

The Israeli-Hezbollah conflict shows no sign of diminishing, and now Iran is rattling sabers, too.
People back in Scotland are outraged at the war, but not because of the combatants and their causes. They are incensed because two U.S. military planes carrying uranium bunker bombs were flown in to Prestwick Airport in the West of Scotland, on their way to supplying the Israelis with other weapons.

Prestwick is a beautiful seaside town, where many Scots go on vacation at this time of year. It was the favorite place for summer holidays for my family and, several years ago, my siblings and I scattered our parents' ashes along Prestwick's shore. If one of those planes had crashed near the airport, there would have been a lot of damage and devastation, which would have made the Lockerbie disaster look miniscule. Scots people understand the sovereign right of countries to defend themselves and sometimes it means going to war, but what they hate is being taken for granted and used as pawns. It has soured their relationship with our nation. Someone, somewhere in the Pentagon, made a rash decision and we have caused a staunch ally to rethink its military partnership with us.

"Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good." Those words were written almost three thousand years ago, but they still apply as much today as they did in Solomon's time. You would think that with all of our progress, technology and sophistication we would learn from our mistakes, but sadly it seems we're doomed to repeat them again and again.

Some people say "pray for peace", but perhaps it would be more biblical to "pray for wisdom." After all, peace will come when we start thinking about God's guidance over the hearts and minds of the sides involved, and not on our own missile guidance systems.

Prayer: Lord God, help us to find Your wisdom and seek the art of peace. Grant us the courage to go beyond outcries and outrage, wrath and rebellion, waste and war. Let Your Son's precious guidance rule over our nations; let His eternal sovereignty be proclaimed, experienced and fulfilled. In Christ's Name, we pray. Amen.

Roman Soldier

(You can listen to the audio commentary by double clicking here http://hometown.aol.com/traqair/Todaysdev.mp3 - if you get a page of symbols, don't worry, just double click the link again)

Acts 10:4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked.
The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God."

Cornelius is a good, biblical example of a man who sincerely believes in God and does good things, yet he is not entirely aware of who he worships and serves. He's an outsider, whose prayers and offerings are recognized and remembered by God in such a way that the soldier is given a special mission to go and find Peter, to bring the Gospel over from Asia into Europe.

As usual, God is working in advance and well ahead of His people. He is preparing the way and
plowing new ground in the heart of an influential man, who will not only receive and welcome Peter, but also protect and shield him. God thinks of everything that is absolutely necessary to make this mission into a new continent completely successful. He leaves nothing to chance and everything is pre-destined and well-prepared.

I feel as though God is calling me to do the same. I'm trying to put together a weekly radio show called "Seven Days", which will highlight all the latest religious events and Christian news from across the nation and around the world. It's a new venture and I'm a wee bit scared. I need to find five business or personal sponsors who will contribute $25 for thirty second ads each week. I've already been given a commitment from two businesses. I just pray that the others will come forth soon.

Perhaps you are also looking to begin a new venture or adventure in your own life. Maybe you're a wee bit worried about the timing, responsibility or success about what you do. We can all learn from this passage, from this soldier called Cornelius. His sincerity and devotion to God is well rewarded. His faith, hope and life are all amazingly transformed.

If God can do this for a Roman soldier, He can do anything for and with us, too.

Prayer: Lord God, we all have plans and projects, dreams and goals, visions and missions about our own lives. Help us to place them in Your Hands, to seek Your blessing and guidance, Your strength and support. As we commit to You all that we hope to do, may You make all our plans succeed. In Christ's Name, we pray. Amen.

Night Work

John 9:4 As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no
one can work.

When I first went to work in Maybole, Scotland, I used to enjoy visiting the local farmers. They
loved the land because their families had been working on it for many generations. From first light
to twilight, they would constantly labor in the fields, checking on the crops. In late fall, they
would bring in the harvest, working from dawn till dusk, usually with their whole family, neighbors
and seasonal farmhands. All day long, they would labor together and as soon as darkness descended,
they all headed back to the main farmhouse for a well deserved dinner.

Then one year things changed. Some agricultural inventor found a way to put a bright spotlight on
the front of tractors and combine-harvesters. To save money, the farmers worked well into the night,
which meant they could hire fewer workers and bring in the harvest quicker. I used to pity them
working so hard in the fields, when I headed home from church meetings late at night. Instead of
using the natural cycle of work, from dawn to dusk, the farmers stressed themselves out trying to
get everything done in a short space of time. It ruined their health, upset their families, and
disjointed the community. Instead of bringing themselves blessings of later leisure, they were
burdened by overworking and totally exhausted at the end of harvest. Farming was always a hard life,
but this made it even more so, and once a farmer decided to use spotlights for harvesting, there
was no turning back.

In John’s Gospel, Christ speaks to us across the centuries about working in His Light. For His
disciples, there was a special urgency because He was speaking about His personal ministry in
Palestine. Jesus knew that He only had three years to get His message across and that one day His
disciples would be without His physical presence. Without Him, it would seems as though they were
in darkness.

For us, two thousand years later, His message doesn’t have that same personal urgency. He is the
Light of the world that can never be extinguished, so the Church can constantly work in the fields
of humanity, across the entire globe. Death is the only darkness that may stop us momentarily in
our personal lives, but the work of the Church goes on.
Unlike the farmers in Scotland though, we don’t have to depend upon our own strength, resources and
energy. Christ has given us the Holy Spirit to continue His great work amongst us. So long as there
is Time in the world, there are more souls that can be won, gathered, and harvested for God each
day. Our mission is to do what we can, when we can.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, keep us working for You in the world. Energize our spirits and move our hearts;
fill our souls and bless our churches, so that we may continue to add to the millions of those
who are saved for Your Kingdom within our own lifetimes, from our birth to death, from life’s
dawning till its dusk. In Your Holy name, we pray. Amen.