Winter Art - Snowy Falls in Appalachia

Winter is just around the corner...:)

Appalachian Art: Dora's Waterfalls

A crayon drawing based on a photograph that a friend sent me.

Stained Glass Screensaver: Decoration Day

It's Decoration Day here in Knoxville, Tennessee. A special service will be held down at the Old National Cemetery at 11.00AM. Lloyd Daugherty, host of The Voice, will be the featured speaker.



People will be wearing Civil War era uniforms and costumes, and there will be a 21 gun salute.

This is my design for a stained glass window based upon the Confederate Flag. Whilst I may not agree what the flag is used for by some people, artistically speaking it is a beautiful design.

Why I-40 should be permanently closed...

Especially with motorists like this driving through Knoxville...

Cas Walker Week on "The Voice"

It’s Cas Walker week on Knoxville’s best political talk radio show, “The Voice.”

Lloyd Daugherty, Kelvin Moxley, and Frank Cagle will nostalgically remember one of Knoxville’s greatest political icons. They’re inviting listeners to call in to their show, which is broadcast on WQBB 1040AM between 10.00am – 12 noon, with their own stories about Cas. Callers can get on the air with their opinions and remembrances about Cas by calling (865) - 656 - 1040 during the broadcast.

Daily Devotions: Helping Others

There’s a family in Knoxville that our church has been helping for years. They always seem to get hit with a crises, illness, or injury that makes it difficult for them to keep up with house payments, utility bills, and paying for groceries. Every time they move one step ahead, something happens to put them two steps back, which in turn makes them dependent upon charity.

Bible Verse of the Day

Galatians 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Podcast version here

I’ve tried to get them to understand how important it is to be a part of a church. They live on the other side of the city and need to get involved in the fellowship of a local church. Each time I try to convey this to them, they put up barriers of being too busy, or they can’t manage transport, or they don’t know where to go. I’ve visited them at their house several times, delivering special food baskets and other needed items. I pass several churches that are very close to their home. I just wish that they would see how much their lives could positively change if they had a real connection to a neighborhood church.

This week, the church paid $100 towards their utility bill, but it will probably be the last time that we do this. There are many other families in our own area of Knoxville who are in need, so we have to concentrate on them. I also think that through the gifts and hundreds of dollars that we have given to this one family, we have actually made them co-dependent. Instead of helping their situation, we’ve actually enabled them to depend upon our support. It’s sad to see this, and it’s hard to let go of people in such circumstances, but unless they seek their own local church fellowship, I cannot see how our church can sustain them much longer.

Doing good for others makes us all feel good, but knowing when to stop helping others is very hard to do. Paul encourages us to help others, especially those who belong to the family of believers. Sometimes, because we help those who are outside of the church and who live far away, we don’t see those in need from our own congregation and neighborhood. It’s far easier to give with no strings attached and walk away feeling good; it’s much harder to deal with those whom we know because we will have to get involved in their lives, and invest time, resources, and energy to help them.

I guess the challenge for us today is this: who is it in our families, among our friends, or at our church currently needs our help? And what is God calling us to do for them?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You never said that having faith and doing good works would ever be easy. In fact, You called it “carrying our crosses.” You know how much it will cost us to really help others in our midst, especially those at our church. Grant us patience and perseverance; give us a loving faith to truly convey Christian compassion and fellowship to those, whom we know, that have great needs at this time. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Sunrise in Sunsphere City

Sometimes the best scenery is right outside your back porch.



Taken earlier this week in Knoxville, Tennessee

How many Utility Workers to change a light bulb?

At last, living proof!




Taken in the morning at Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN

Knoxville Sunrise: Morning Glory

Taken from the back of the house...

Ineffective & Unproductive - Why we need to close small churches

Podcast version here

2 Peter 1:8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

There are two things that most pastors fear for the churches that they serve: that the congregations become ineffective and unproductive. Over the last thirteen years, I’ve watched small unproductive and ineffective churches drain the pooled resources of our Presbytery and denomination year after year without any change to their status. And when Presbytery threatens to pull its resources from them, they become church tyrants monstrously opposed to any interference to their non-existent mission to their local communities.

Most of the time, these small churches are manipulated by one or two strong families who believe it is their divine right to keep the congregation the way it is. They firmly possess all the power, property, and prestige that the church has, sucking its life away by their refusal to let go.

Take, for example, a church in our town that has a beautiful sanctuary, which can seat at least three hundred people, but only has about twelve people worshipping each Sunday. An approach was made to the Session by the local Korean Presbyterian church to combine their congregations in order to redevelop the building and bring life back into the church. At first things seemed to be going well, and then when an agreement was almost made, the twelve member church refused to finalize the process. Rather than bring in hundreds of new Korean church members with their families, they backed out and decided to remain small. Eventually, the church will fall into major disrepair, become dilapidated and die. The congregation is both ineffective and unproductive. God will surely not bless such an out-of-touch-with-reality community.

It’s about time we held our smaller congregations accountable for their lack of mission and purpose, ministry and vision. There’s no good reason to sustain them if they are not willing to make the necessary changes. Let’s not let nostalgia and rooting for the under dog get in the way of Christian practicality and Presbyterian polity. If they will not grow, they need to go.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You hold us all to be accountable for what we say and do on behalf of Your Kingdom. You call upon us to go out into the world, making disciples of all the nations and baptizing people in Your Name. Bless our churches with a great desire to increase Your Kingdom in the communities where we reside. Close those churches who impair Your work by just wanting to coast along and do nothing effective or productive. In Your Holy Name, we sadly pray. Amen.

Thanksgiving Challenge

How driving through the Western Heights Projects yesterday has challenged my celebration of Thanksgiving today.

2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

Evelyn and I went to Waffle House for breakfast this morning. It’s about the only place that’s open on Thanksgiving. As usual, the cooks and waitresses were bright and cheerful and we were served without any delay. It was a good way to start the holiday.

I sometimes wonder what it’s like for someone who has to serve others on a family holiday. There have been holidays in the past when I have been called out on an emergency, so I guess I know part of it. But what’s it like to have to work on holidays, in order to make payments on the rent or put food on the table?

Yesterday, I delivered a Thanksgiving basket to a family that our wee church supports. Instead of coming back the usual route via the interstate, I traveled through the Western Heights area. It was another world. It felt like a shadow of hopelessness, poverty, and fear had covered the whole area. I wanted to do something more to help, but I didn’t know what to do. I grew up in a deprived area of Glasgow, Scotland, so I know something of the poverty and despair, but this felt different. People looked as though they were trapped by some kind of evil force that just wouldn’t let them escape or go somewhere better.

This has made me more aware of the blessings that my family and I share, but it also challenges me to somehow bring the Gospel into these broken lives. I don’t know what I can possibly do, but there are a few churches in the area that probably need support and help. I need to think and pray about this. I need to ask Christ what does He want done?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we are truly thankful for who we are and what we have. Help us not take life’s blessings for granted. Challenge us to change our ways so that we may help others escape the fear, poverty, and despair that they experience each day, and especially on this day of Thanksgiving. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

Erin Church devotional - New Prospect

Audio version here

Psalm 122:1 I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”

Yesterday afternoon, I attended a re-dedication of an old church in South Knoxville. The church, New Prospect, had been destroyed by a fire a couple of years ago. On Sunday afternoon, it was re-opened and rededicated to the work of the Lord. I was asked to preach at the service, along with two other pastors. It was a wonderful occasion and a great blessing for the community.

New Prospect Presbyterian Church was originally built in 1834. It was established in the midst of a tragedy. At one time Presbyterians in South Knoxville had to cross the river by boat to worship in their local church. One Sunday, a boat tragically capsized and several members with their children drowned. New Prospect was built so that Presbyterians would no longer have to cross the river and risk their lives to go to worship. It was given its name to herald a new beginning for the Presbyterian community that had been struck hard by the tragedy.

The new church is beautiful and I am envious of what the congregation has accomplished. I think I’ll have our elders and Impact team visit the church to see what a small congregation has managed to do in the midst of unfortunate circumstances. The Lord has wrought a miracle in that part of South Knoxville and I hope that it will become a stronghold of faith for the entire Presbytery.

Going to the House of the Lord should be a time for rejoicing for all of us. And when we focus upon what He wants, that’s when miracles can be experienced, churches can be enhanced, and our mission in the community can make a great impact for Jesus.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your goodness to our churches and for the many miraculous ways that You are making a difference in our lives and communities. In the midst of difficult times, guide us by Your Light and enable us to have complete confidence in Your words and ways. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.