Boston One Fund Run - Knoxville, Tennessee

Tonight at the Fleet Feet in Turkey Creek over 500 people arrived outside the store to walk and support the Boston One Fund. It was a beautiful evening and a wonderful event. I was asked to give the prayer of invocation and lead the memorial silence. Here's the prayer that I wrote and led:

 

God of all the Earth, we come this evening to honor and support the good people of the City of Boston in the midst of their grief and pain, their loss and tragedy. As people of hope, peace, and love, we come from many places with different backgrounds to show our solidarity with those across our country and around the world whose loved ones have been injured, wounded, and killed in the recent bombing.

We give our support because we care about these people.
We walk and run together because we are united with them in their loss.
We come here freely to show that we are a people who love one another.

We honor also those first responders and law enforcement officers who bravely helped the wounded and placed their own lives on the line as they sought the perpetrators.

We pray for the families of loved ones who have been tragically lost, severely wounded, and deeply injured by this atrocity. In particular, we locally remember the families of Michael and Nicole Gross and Erica Brannock whose family belongs to Tellicoe Village. Be with Michael, Nicole, and Erica as they recover from this ordeal. Bless them with healing and strength; be near to their families in love.

We hold a moment’s sacred silence for everyone affected by this tragedy, for the people of Boston, and for those who will continue to hold on to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness throughout this great nation of ours and across the world.

Silence

TODAY, WE ARE ALL BOSTONIANS! AMEN.

John Stuart - Stushie - art: Boomsday, Knoxville

Labor day fireworks at the Boomsday celebrations in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Knoxville Art: Sunsphere Fireworks

Everybody loves the Sunsphere, especially on 4th of July!



(c) John Stuart 2009

Limited edition 8 x 10 prints, matted, signed & framed...if interested contact me at traqair@aol.com. Put Sunsphere art in topic line

Snow!!!!

4 Minute Devotions: Coyote Ugly

Encountering a coyote early one morning in Knoxville, TN, gave me a greater appreciation of the need for a sacred sanctuary. A short reflection on Psalm 96 v 6.

Psalm 96:6 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary.
I saw my first coyote, very early, the other morning. It was beside the place where I like to fish. I had just put my fishing tackle back into the car, when I saw this thin looking, ugly dog cross the path. It was carrying the remains of a dead fish in its mouth and headed over to some rocks to chew awhile.

At first I thought it was an abandoned puppy. It was gaunt and thin, but as I watched it, I realized it had the wizened look of a fox. There was no bushy tail, so I counted that out. It was the eyes that made me realize this wasn’t an abandoned pet. Dog’s eyes are usually big and round; this animal’s eyes were small and peering at me.

I tried to take a picture of the creature, but my camera was out of focus. When I got home, I looked up a few images of coyotes on the Internet. My suspicions were confirmed. It was a coyote – an ugly looking scavenger, if ever I saw one.

I guess my fishing hole must be part of the coyote’s territory. With all of the development that is going on, its refuge must be constantly diminishing. The woods next to my fishing hole must be its sanctuary. Perhaps I’ll get the chance to see it early one morning again. I hope so.

When we talk about sanctuaries in the church, we’re usually referring to our churches. They have become the centers of our spiritual habitats, where we can feel safe and experience the presence of God’s peace and love. As spiritual places and values begin to diminish around us, our havens of holiness become crucial to our relationship with Christ. In the midst of our troubles, worries, and anxieties, we need the church to be a solid foundation of hope, healing, and holiness for our lives.

So, today, let us give thanks to God for the churches where we engage in worship, experience fellowship, and enhance our discipleship. These sacred sanctuaries add so much to our hearts and spirits, helping us become better followers of Christ and servants of His Kingdom.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank You for the places where we gather for worship, prayer, and praise. We are grateful for these spiritual sanctuaries in our communities where we can feel and know the love of God. Help us to do what we can to support our churches, so that future generations of worshippers will gladly gather in these sacred places, too. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
John Stuart is the pastor at Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to send him some feedback on today’s message, send an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

4 Minute Devotions: Seeking God's Strength

The fatal shootings in a Knoxville Church have shocked our religious community, but we will not be defined by such a heinous act.

Podcast version here

Psalm 105:4 Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.

The religious community here in Knoxville is hurting. Last Sunday morning, a deranged man entered a local church with a shotgun and started blasting away at the congregation. Two people were killed and several others were seriously wounded. The shooter was tackled by three other men and over-powered before he could reload. The police arrived within four minutes and quickly arrested the guy. Our whole community is in shock and we are mourning for the victimized families.

The shooter had written a four page note blaming liberal churches for his anger. He has a long history of drunkenness and has violently threatened other people in the past. He bought the shotgun from a local pawn shop and planned the whole event a week ago. He didn’t think that he would have survived this wicked deed.

Instead of taking responsibility for his own disappointments, he blamed other people. Instead of looking for help from the very people who could have embraced him, he made a cowardly choice of shooting defenseless people. He allowed himself to be overcome by his own anger and wickedness, frustration and fear. Instead of seeking good, he got a gun. Instead of looking for heaven, he created hell.

The religious community in Knoxville is rallying around the targeted church. In the midst of all this pain, shock, and tragedy, good will prevail. We look to God for our well being and seek His strength in times like these. Next Sunday, the churches in Knoxville will be full of people, looking for comfort and guidance, forgiveness and hope. This tragedy has shocked us, but it will never define us. Our faith is in God and His Kingdom, not in the fear of bullets or deranged people. We look to the Lord and His strength; we will continue to seek His face always because that’s what we do, that’s who we are, and that’s how we express our faith here.

Prayer: Lord God, we do not understand why people seek to hurt other people. We do not know why this tragic event occurred in our beautiful town, but we do know that You are always with us, in the best and worst of times. Be near to us this day and comfort all those who are grieving. In Christ’s Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

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

4 Minute Devotions: One Church

I have ministered to churches in Scotland and the United States. What would happen if we all became one congregation?

2 Corinthians 7:4 I have great confidence in you; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.

I have been fortunate to serve three great congregations. I know of other pastors who have not enjoyed even serving one church successfully. I sometimes wish that I could merge all three – Maybole West, Fisherton, and Erin into one large congregation – a mixture of Scottish ingenuity and American innovation. It would be a wonderful witness to the world and a great encourager of faith to the Scots-American community.

Both time and tide separate all three of us from doing this, so the faithful individuals in each Presbyterian community – Maybole, Dunure, and Knoxville – have to carry on the work of the Lord alone. Then I start to read some of Paul’s letters to faraway churches that he had served, and I suddenly realize that the bridges of faith remain connected despite the distance and time difference.

Through these devotionals, I get the opportunity to minister with people of many congregations. I take great pride in the faithfulness of those who read these messages and pass them on to relatives, friends, and other church members. Our joy together, through the internet, knows no bounds or geographical limits. Even my youngest daughter in Tabora, Tanzania is part of our cyberspace fellowship!

I guess what I’m trying to say is this: we are all serving the Lord in His Church and that together we fulfill what’s called the communion of saints in the Apostles’ Creed. I have every confidence that the work we are doing for Him – in Scotland, USA, Canada, Brazil, Japan, Tanzania or wherever – both glorifies and pleases Christ. One day, we will all be together in heaven; at the moment, we are scattered because the Lord needs us to faithfully witness to our own communities. It’s His special way of getting His holy work done.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we live in different communities and yet we belong to One Church. We face different situations, but we share One Faith. Toda,y we pray for one another and ask that You will bless the congregations that we each serve. They are full of good and faithful people; they have the potential to fulfill wonderful and great things for You. Bless us all as one Family of Faith, serving One Lord forevermore. In Your Holy Name, we joyfully pray. Amen.

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

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...

4 Minute Devotions: Overcoming Addiction

One of the saddest things about addiction is that the consequences of feeding a habit can destroy our dreams and annihilate our ambitions. When I left High School, I could have gone to Stirling University to study history. I met with the leading professor of the History department, and he interviewed me, along with a few other candidates, early in the spring of 1975. I was guaranteed a place and looked forward to becoming a student in the heart of historical Scotland.

Podcast version here

But my addiction got the better of me and I gave up my dreams. When the acceptance form came in, I ripped it up and went out to look for a job. In my heart, I wanted to go to Stirling, but I didn’t want to give up my boozing friends or the pubs I frequented. Regrettably, I set aside something special, in order to feed and maintain my alcoholism.

Bible Verse of the Day
Job 6:13 Do I have any power to help myself, now that success has been driven from me?

I’ve known people to do the same and I’ve watched them destroy themselves, year after year. I want to reach out to them and tell them that God has the power to wrench them away from their addiction, to transform their lives. I want to protect them from giving up on their dreams, nursing their fears, and embracing their disease. I want to tell them that life with God is much, much, much better than life with a bottle, a drug, or porn.

I am truly thankful to God that despite my selfishness and stupidity, He took a hold of me and turned my life around. I may not be the historian that I once desired to be, but I am happy with where God has led me. It took a lot of hard work, prayer, self-examination, and revelation to get me to this place. Anyone who is addicted can also do that, but only if they first surrender themselves to God. What I discovered was this: if you want God to change your life, you can’t hold back anything from Him.

I know that there are some of you who are reading this who have similar problems. If I can help you find God, then please email me. There are also some of you who are carrying the burden of an addicted love one. My prayers are with you. Get help. Find a church that cares. Let God carry you for a while. There’s nothing that is too big for Him. There is no problem that He cannot help us overcome.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, today we need You to live up to that Divine Title of ‘Savior.’ We need You to save us from ourselves, our addictions, our fears, and our burdens. We are tired of trying to do it on our own. We are weary and exhausted, stressed out and alone. Come to us and save us. Free us from our fears and help us to hold on to You, so that our lives, dreams, and hopes can be renewed. In Your Holy Name, we earnestly pray. Amen.

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

Hoots Mon! World Tartan Day is here!

Today is World Tartan Day, so wherever you are in Knoxville, wear your plaids and tartans! Practically everyone in Appalachia has a Scots-Irish connection, so celebrate the day by wearing your most colorful plaids.

In Knoxville, Erin Presbyterian Church will be hosting a Kirking of the Tartans worship service. A piper, a drummer, and some kilted representatives of the Scottish Society of Knoxville will be present. They will be proudly bearing their Scottish clan banners and presenting them for a blessing by the minister.

The worship service and parade begin at 11.00AM. Everyone is welcome to come along, proudly wear their tartans, and enjoy the spectacle!

Erin Church is located on Lockett Road, which is just off Kingston Pike on Bearden Hill.

World Tartan Day in Knoxville!!

Sunday April 6th is World Tartan Day, so wherever you are in Knoxville, wear your plaids and tartans! Practically everyone in Appalachia has a Scots-Irish connection, so celebrate the day by wearing your most colorful plaids.

In Knoxville, Erin Presbyterian Church will be hosting a Kirking of the Tartans worship service. A piper, a drummer, and some kilted representatives of the Scottish Society of Knoxville will be present. They will be proudly bearing their Scottish clan banners and presenting them for a blessing by the minister.

Scottish pastor John Stuart, who is a regular Monday guest on The Voice (WQBB 1040AM 10-12noon weekdays), will be conducting the service. One of John’s ancestors, Captain John Stuart, was the first Superintendent of the Cherokee nation, and was stationed at Fort Loudon centuries ago.

During the service, Pastor Stuart will explain the story about the blessing of the Tartans, which informally began in the 17th century when the Scots were prohibited from wearing their plaids. Three centuries later, Scots preacher Peter Marshall, who was Chaplain to the Senate on Capitol Hill, revived the ceremony which is celebrated throughout the United States.

The worship service and parade begin at 11.00AM. Everyone is welcome to come along and enjoy the spectacle!

Erin Church is located on Lockett Road, which is just off Kingston Pike on Bearden Hill.

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.

Easter is Earlier, But Sunrise is Later

It’s a funny thing, but with Easter being so early this year and DST changing in March, sunrise is at 7.34am. Usually, an Easter sunrise takes place about an hour earlier, which makes getting out of bed that wee bit harder. This year, however, everyone can sleep in an extra hour and enjoy the sunrise without bleary eyes!

If you’re looking for a sunrise service, why not join Erin Presbyterian Church members, who gather over at the flagpole of Tate’s School of Discovery, at the top of Cedar Bluff, just before it meets Middlebrook Pike. They sing hymns, say prayers, and read Easter scriptures, whilst waiting for the sun to begin its dance across the sky! The school looks out across the Smokies and is a perfect skyline for sunrise.

The sunrise service is led by their Scottish pastor, John Stuart, and begins at 7.25am . It usually finishes around 7.45am. If you’ve never been to an Easter sunrise service, this may be the best year in a lifetime to attend one. And if you like to hear a Scottish accent, this is the place to be!

Everybody is welcome! And if you prefer to come to a later church service, join us at Erin Presbyterian at 11.00am!

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.

Foggy Morning View

Taken from the back of my home in Knoxville, TN