Erin devotions: Joyful Dreams

Psalm 126 is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. It resonates with what I’ve experienced in my life. When I was a teenager and had no control over the sadness in my home life, I hated myself and my circumstances. This self-hatred took me away from my family and friends because I supplanted them with a love of alcohol. I put myself into danger and exiled my emotions, using beer, whisky, and wine to escape from my frustrations and fears.

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Bible Verse of the Day

Psalm 126:2 Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.Then it was said among the nations,” The LORD has done great things for them."

And then I found the Lord and rediscovered my joy of Jesus that I had in my heart when I was in elementary school. I still struggled with alcohol for a while, but eventually I was able to let it go because I became addicted to God, Jesus and the Gospel. It was like coming out of a self-imposed nightmare and going into a God given dream.

Throughout my life I’ve seen people struggle with the same demons of drink and emotional attacks. I’ve tried to help them overcome their addiction and show them the joy of the Lord. I’d love to say that I’ve been successful every time, but sadly some people are more self-destructive than others and eventually they ruin their relationships, empty their emotions, and destroy their bodies. When that occurs, I feel heart broken because I know that things could have been so much different if they truly let Christ into their lives.

If you’re struggling with an addiction or an obsession, or you know someone close beside you who is, get help. Don’t leave it until it’s too late or ignore it, hoping that it will all go away. There are lots of good counselors and godly pastors, specialists and experts who could empower and enable you to overcome. With their help and Christ in your heart, you can turn those horrible nightmares into hopeful dreams. Seize the day and let that transforming moment begin in your life now.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You know everything about us, so we can never hide or conceal anything from You. You are completely aware of our weakness and addictions, secrets and obsessions. Help us to find help and seek assistance in overcoming those demons of deception that want to destroy our hearts and happiness, our spirits and souls. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Daily Devotions: Equal to God

King Herod met an ignoble end for claiming to be equal to God. Are our presidential candidates in danger of going down the same path?

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Acts 12:23 Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.

It’s a gory end to a cruel king. The executioner of John the Baptist and the mocker of Christ finally gets his just deserts. He’s reigned over his people with the same acts of cruelty and control that his father displayed before him. Herod bites the dust in a horrific way and nobody feels pity for the tyrant.

Why does God punish him like this? What finally pushes God over the edge to intervene and cause Herod to die in agony? From Luke’s account, it appears to be pride that has caused Herod’s fatal downfall. He is enjoying the applause of his people for persecuting the Christians. He rides that wave of popularity and makes a wonderful speech. His sycophantic audience proclaims that they have just heard a god speak, but instead of disclaiming this, Herod allows his narcissism to embrace the compliments. And that’s when God acts: Herod is struck down because he is claiming to be divine, something that he would not acknowledge about Jesus, he now claims as his own. It’s the age old temptation that goes back to the Garden of Eden – sinfully claiming to be equal to God.

As I watched the victorious candidates relish their moment of glory for winning the Iowa caucuses, I was struck by their oratorical skills. Each of them had something powerful to say and they expressed it eloquently. However, what I can’t remember hearing was any of them giving thanks to God for what they had achieved. That makes me both worry and wonder about the candidates. Are they getting so powerful that they forget the source of their power?

It will be interesting to see how the rest of this presidential campaign develops. I hope that one of them acknowledges the hand of God in their road to the Whitehouse. Leaders who lead without being led by God can end up ignoring both the wishes of the people and the will of God. Let’s hope and pray that some sort of humility before God will be sincerely evident amongst these politicians in the days to come.

Prayer: Lord God, these are exciting times for our nation, as well as being serious. We pray that a leader will truly rise up who acknowledges Your hand over their lives. Bless us as a nation with strong candidates and great leaders, but remind us that our hopes lie within You, and not with ourselves or our leaders. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Stushie's Stuff - 4-minute podcast devotions for busy Christians

Too busy to read your Bible each day? Need a daily shot of spiritual caffeine to get you through the week? Then the "Stushie's Stuff" weekday podcast may be just what you're looking for.

Scottish pastor, John Stuart of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, TN writes the daily blog called "Heaven's Highway." He's now producing it as a podcast. If you like listening to a genuine Scottish accent and are seeking a faith-journey cappuccino, download his 4-minute thought for the day onto your PC or Ipod. It includes a Bible verse, short commentary, and special prayer.

The RSS feed for the podcast can be found at www.stushie.libsyn.com/rss

BTW, "Stushie" is an old Scottish word which means "to cause a riot or an uproar."

Erin Church devotional : Speak the Faith

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2 Corinthians 4:13 It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak. (NIV)

It was Billy Hunter who believed in Christ and spoke words of faith to me. I know that God speaks to our hearts in order to receive Christ, but He also uses people as vessels to convey that faith as something that is alive, relevant, and real. Billy Hunter was the first Sunday School teacher that I can remember, and his faith connected with my heart.

At the time, our family lived in Saracen, Glasgow, Scotland. We didn’t know it then, but it was a deprived area where families from the slum housing in the city were supposed to make a new start. The city fathers thought that by putting people in newer tenements/ apartments, Glasgow would flourish and everyone would take advantage of the new opportunities.

But the traps of poverty – alcohol and drug abuse, domestic violence and gang warfare, loan sharks and protection rackets followed the people. We came out of the frying pan and into the fire. Deprivation and disillusionment set in. Within a couple of years, depression – both economic and psychological – overshadowed the new community. Hopes and dreams were shattered, and Glasgow floundered instead of flourishing.

And yet there were still people like Billy Hunter who chose to teach Christianity and speak words of faith to the children in the community. He had the heart of an evangelist, but was as gentle as a shepherd. He made Christ real to me and taught me that there was something more to life. He showed me the light of Christ in the midst of the darkness and squalor of poverty. He put hope in my soul and faith in my heart. I owe all that I know and have today to Jesus, but Billy Hunter was the faithful servant Christ used to get me here.

Christianity is not a personal lifestyle choice or a private religion. It has to be spoken in order to be shared; it has to be heard in order to be received. Every one of us will be given opportunities this day to believe in Christ’s work and to speak faith to others. Let’s prepare our hearts and minds even now as we read and hear this message, to be ready to share Christ’s Gospel today.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we believe in You – Your words, Your ways, Your works. Help us this day to make the most of the opportunities that You give us, to share our beliefs and speak faith to those who need to hear about Your life and love. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Offering Gifts

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Matthew 5:23, 24 "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. (NIV)

Years ago, our church put on a production of the musical “Godspell.” It’s an exciting Broadway show and it tells the story of Jesus through some wonderful songs and very clever skits. It’s largely based upon passages from the Gospel of Matthew and to this day, when I read some of Matthew’s verses, it takes me back to that production.

In my mind’s eye, I can see how we performed today’s verses in the show. We used comical gestures and facial expressions to convey our disapproval of the actor who was trying to present an altar gift, after having an altercation with one of the cast members. It was choreographed and the timing had to be exact in order to get the message across. It worked perfectly each night and we all enjoyed the funny side of the story.

But the real Gospel message isn’t funny. Jesus is being serious here. He wants people to understand that God cares for everyone and that when we have a conflict, disagreement or dispute with family, friends, or other church members, He wants us to sort those things out before we come to church with our gifts, our prayers, and our praises.

It’s a hard thing to do and something that we often set aside. When we go to church, we want God to be on our side, instead of us being on His side. We want Him to address our complaints, instead of having God question our motives. In other words, we don’t want to believe that God won’t accept prayers that are tainted with bitterness or praises that are insincere. However, if we say that we accept the Gospel of Jesus, then we have to live according to His standards and not our own.

So, I guess the challenge for myself and for all of us who are reading or hearing this devotional is this: is there a conflict going on in my life that I need to resolve? Is there something happening now that is causing a division in my home, my heart, my work, my school, or my church that needs to be healed? If there is, then I need to sort it before I come to God.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, following You is never easy and accepting Your Gospel is always going to interfere with our lives. You challenge us to reconsider our ways and to review our deeds. You call upon us to heal our divisions and to restore our broken relationships. Grant us the courage to do something about this today. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Knowledge

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2 Peter 1:5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge. (NIV)

When I first became a Christian over 30 years ago, all I thought that I had to do was believe in Jesus for the rest of my life. I was quite content to be saved and, for the first time in years, I felt a peace inside of me. I didn’t know then that I needed to grow in goodness and knowledge. I thought that once I became a member of the church, my life would settle down and everything would work out.

But as I traveled the spiritual path of being a pilgrim, I soon realized that there is more to the Christian life than faith. Belief in Jesus made me want to share the good news with other people, but in order to do that, I soon discovered that I had to know my Bible. If I just went out into the streets to share my own experience, then I would be preaching the Gospel according to John Stuart. I needed to know more about God. I had to understand more about who Jesus was, and what He was still doing in the world.

So I started to really read the Bible, but I ended up with more questions than answers. I liked some of the Old Testament stories because they reminded me of Sunday School, but there were some cruel passages that I couldn’t understand. The Gospels were really easy to take in, but when it came to Paul’s letters, I found him too severe and narrow-minded. And then, when I started to read the Book of Revelation, it really spooked me. Images of wicked dragons and monstrous beasts, powerful archangels and cataclysmic disasters kept me awake at night. I couldn’t understand and it frightened me. I felt no better than I did before I gave my heart to Jesus.

And then I started to go to a Bible Study on Sunday nights. Donnie the pastor used his knowledge to explain some of the passages I couldn’t fathom. Slowly and surely, I began to see God’s plan for salvation spreading out across the entire Bible. It was a wonderful time of discovery and realization; it restored my faith and brought back my peace in Christ.

Ever since then, I’ve tried to grow in knowledge about the Bible and I love to share what I’ve learned with other people. I would recommend to everybody, who reads or listens to these messages, to become part of a Sunday School class or a Bible study group. It’s a beautiful way to learn more about God; it’s a wonderful opportunity to grow in faith, goodness, and knowledge.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, believing in You is the best decision we can ever make in our lives. But as well as giving us the gift of belief, You want us to learn more about who You are, what Your mission is, and what purpose You have in store for our lives. Help us to find and join a study group or class that will increase our knowledge about God’s mighty acts and Your work of the Gospel. In Your Holy name, we pray. Amen.

Saving

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Titus 3:4, 5a But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.

The most enduring moment in the movie, “Saving Private Ryan” comes at the very end. Ryan, now an old man, is visiting the graves of American troops in France. As he stands before the crosses of his rescuers, he bursts into tears and asks his family, “Have I been a good man?” He wants to know if he has lived a life worthy of being rescued; he needs to know that those who died to save him did not die in vain.

I guess the same question could be asked of ourselves, for we also have been rescued and we owe our faithful lives to the death of one man. Jesus died for our sins and we know that none of us are worthy of this grace. We may accomplish great things in our lives, we may do good things and fulfill lofty ambitions, but none of it counts against Christ’s sacrifice. We cannot do anything to make things even with Jesus. We cannot work our way out of needing His salvation. In the end, we will always owe more to Christ than we can ever possibly give. At the final moment of our lives, it will not be our goodness that will rescue us from oblivion; it will be Christ’s mercy and grace that will pull us through death to eternal life.

This is what being saved means. This is why we hope. This is why we have faith in Jesus.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, our lives are made eternal in the precious moment that we give them to You. Our souls are saved forever when we acknowledge You as the Savior of the World and the Lord of our lives. Help us to share this Good News, so that others may not worry about death, but instead they may also glorify Your goodness and experience Your mercy. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Evan's Highway

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Luke 1:76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, (NIV)

Our church began a movie study yesterday, based upon “Evan Almighty.” If you haven’t seen the movie, you should. It’s very funny and there’s a wholesome family message in the story. It kind of reminded me of two James Stewart movies, “Harvey” and “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

The premise of the movie is all about a newly-elected New York politician being called by God to build an ark in his subdivision. It sounds crazy, but then I guess when God called Noah to build his ark thousands of years ago, it seemed crazy at that time, too.

So, why are we studying this movie? Well, there’s a new church site called “ArkAlmighty.com” which ties in to the movie. Congregations can register to be a part of a good neighbors project where church members can use their gifts and skills to help others in their congregations and communities. It’s a well organized program, developed by Willow Creek ministries. Our church has signed up for it and so we began a four-week curriculum based upon good deeds and godly faith interacting. Kindness to others and the Kingdom of God are brought together in a special way that honors Christ and evangelizes at the same time.

I hope that by doing this, our church will feel more confident about reaching out to others in our community and that the people around us will feel reconnected to God through His people. It will also help us work out what our true calling is at Erin and to go in whatever direction the Lord leads us. I don’t see us building an ark anytime soon, but I do believe that we are meant to build upon the Kingdom God has already established here though the ministry and mission of Christ.

Prayer: Lord God, we all want to do Your will and to follow Your Son Jesus into the world around us. Help us to be open to the bidding of Your Spirit and to see the needs of the people in our community. Wherever we can, enable us to fulfill those needs though deeds of kindness, love , and faith. In Christ’s Name, we pray. Amen.

Promises, promises

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2 Corinthians 1: 20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. NIV

My Grandmother, Rachel Stuart, whom we all called “Grandma,” was a great wee person. She looked like Dorothy’s mother, Sophia, from the TV show “The Golden Girls.” She raised a large family of seven and had umpteen grandchildren and great-grandchildren. My grandparents were married when they were sixteen and seventeen years old, and they enjoyed almost seventy years of marriage together.

Grandma Stuart had a number of sayings, but one of her best was: “He’s a great promiser, but a bad fulfiller.” She usually applied that to national politicians, but she also wanted her grandchildren to learn this important lesson – sometimes what people say they will do is vastly different from what they end up doing.

When Paul writes to the Corinthians about the promises of God, he writes from a background of belonging to a people who longed for God to fulfill His promises. They had waited hundreds of years for a Messiah to come into the world to save Israel, but time after time, they were disappointed. For some, it must have seemed as though God was a great promiser, but a bad fulfiller.

Paul firmly believed that Jesus was the Messiah and that God fulfilled all of His promises through Him. The Christ that the people had been looking for, was the person they crucified. The Messiah that they had all been hoping for, was the Resurrected Son of God, Jesus Christ.

After two thousand years, we still wonder if God will fulfill His promises and when Christ will return. The world needs Christ the Peacemaker, Judge, and Savior to come back into history and put an end to all wickedness, war, and waste. Faith is required for those who wait expectantly for Christ to return - a faith that believes God is not just a great promiser, but a true fulfiller of all that He has said. Or as Paul so effectively wrote it: ‘no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ.’

Prayer: Father God, Time to You is a mere twinkling of the eye, but to us who wait on earth, it can seem like ages. We know that You have Your own plans about when Christ will return to earth. Grant us patience and enable us to live each day as if it will be the moment of the final fulfillment of Your great and everlasting promises. In Christ’s Name, we expectantly pray. Amen.

Rejecting Rejection

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John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." (NIV)

Sometimes when I read verses like this it makes me cringe. There’s a part of me that wishes Jesus never said it, and I truly wonder why He had to express His message in such uncompromising absolutes.

In today’s world, people don’t like to hear this type of life or death message. They want everyone to get along, and belong to one harmonious family of humankind. There’s enough division in the world already without Christ and Christians adding to the turmoil.

But no matter what they or I think, Jesus said it, so it needs to be taken seriously.

So, according to this verse, whoever believes in Jesus has the gift of eternal life. Whoever rejects Him, in other words, whoever willfully casts Christ aside, has no joyful place in eternity. It’s blunt, inflexible, and absolutely unequivocal. Belief in Jesus gets us into heaven; rejection of Christ puts us on the outside.

So, how do we willfully reject Jesus? Well, we can do it in numerous ways. We can do it by refusing to worship or serve Him. We can fiercely argue against Him. We can change His message and turn His words into something more acceptable. We can call Him a great teacher, but not the Son of God. We can say His life was significant, but His death meant nothing. These things might satisfy our academic or lifestyle choices, but what we are doing is transforming Christ into something He wasn’t or molding Him into something that is convenient for us. And whether we like it or not, doing those things cause us to reject who He is and where we will end up in eternity.

So, let’s ask ourselves this blunt question today: do we believe in Him, or do we reject Him?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, to have faith in You is so inconvenient, unsettling, and troublesome to our lives. Your message messes up what we want to do, think and believe. You challenge our choices and interfere with our intelligence. You confront our conceptions and radically re-shape our ways. And You do this all because You love us. All because You want us to get into heaven, to be restored to God’s favor and to enjoy His kingdom forever.

Disturb our ideas about You today and keep us from rejecting You, Your message, and Your Gospel. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

A Good Book

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Joshua 1:8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. (NIV)

I don’t know where I would be without my Bible, or to be exact, Bibles. I’ve a whole collection of them in my study. Some I’ve had for years; others were given to me; and still others have been recently purchased. Without a Bible, I wouldn’t be me. Without God’s Word in my life, I wouldn’t be a Christian.

Now that’s not to say that I’m a sanctimonious, Bible thumping, self-righteous holy roller. I do have my moments, but the Bible is more of a spiritual guide book to me, rather than a sacred sword with which I smite my enemies. I believe in its contents. I believe it speaks more about truth than any other scripture in existence today. I know that it points out my character flaws, sinful ways, and bad decisions more than anything else in the world. It keeps my feet on solid ground, and not high up on some academic theological pedestal of my own making.

The Bible also comforts me, encourages me, and inspires me. There have been thousands of times in my life when a Bible verse, passage or story has deeply connected with my life. In times of sadness, the Bible has helped me weep. In moments of joy, the Bible has shown me how to rejoice.

When Joshua needed help to lead the Israelite people, God guided him to look to the Law of Moses. Times were changing and Joshua had to take over Moses’ leadership during a difficult period of transition. God counseled Joshua to look to the law. Why? Because in the midst of all the changes and commotion, Joshua and the people needed something that was timeless, changeless, and reassuring. The Law of Moses gave them a foundation of beliefs, ideas, and teachings to keep the people together. Without the Law, the people would have divided. Without the scriptures, the community would have diminished and scattered.

The Bible keeps me connected to God and His people through the best and worst of times. I write and send these daily devotions to build up the church and strengthen an internet faith community that exists across many states, a number of nations, and over several continents. Without the Bible, we could not do this. Without the scriptures, there would be nothing to keep us together.

Prayer: Lord God, in Your infinite wisdom, You bestowed upon us sacred writings that have become a solid base for our beliefs. Whilst we do not worship the Bible, we deeply respect its power to give us strength, encouragement, and counsel in times of need, crisis, and trouble. Let Your Holy Spirit enter into our minds today and touch our hearts with Your sacred words. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Three Witnesses

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Matthew 3:16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. (NIV)

I don’t remember my baptism, but I remember seeing old monochrome photographs of my parents and older sister after the event. The photos were taken with my Dad’s box camera and the prints were 2x2. In one of the photographs, my mom is holding me in her arms whilst my sister is pulling at her skirt and crying. I’m oblivious to all that was happening that day. I’ve got no idea what all the fuss is about.

As well as my family being there with the congregation and minister, there were also three very important witnesses to the whole ritual – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The old pastor who baptized me invoked their presence during the prayers, and even although I was completely unaware of what was occurring, the Holy Spirit must have touched me that Sunday morning.

Baptismal questions were asked and promises were given. And even although my parents were not church-goers, they did see to it that I went to Sunday School – well, at least my mom did anyway. They loosely attempted to keep their part of the covenant, but God made certain that His side of the sacred agreement was fulfilled.

These days, I get asked to baptize babies of folks who have loose connections with the congregation. I wish that some of them would make a greater effort in fulfilling their vows, but in the end I completely trust God to fulfill His part of the covenant. Some of the kids I’ll never see again, but I hope and pray that they will be touched by the Holy Spirit and ushered into God’s Kingdom at some point in their life. Our congregation tries to mentor and guide many of the kids who are part of our faith community, because it also makes a promise to do so. But sometimes getting the parents to come with the kids is an uphill battle, especially if they think, like my own parents did, that church is a leisure option instead of a lifetime commitment.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, many children will be baptized throughout the world this Sunday and sadly, some of them will never cross the threshold of a church door for years. Let Your Holiness prevail in the hearts and souls of these young ones. Let Your covenanted connection to them emerge throughout the passing years of their lives. May all the young ones, who are baptized this Sunday, become faithful servants for Your Kingdom, despite the weak church connections of their families. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Robe of Righteousness

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Isaiah 61:10 I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (NIV)

Many years ago, when I attended the 428 Gospel Club on Wednesday nights in Glasgow, Scotland, several regular participants used to sing their own personal testimony songs. Ian, who ended up being the best man at my wedding, would sing “Supper Time.” Gwen would sing “I know who holds Tomorrow.” Dawn beautifully sang “Burdens are Lifted at Calvary.” I usually sang “Try a Little Kindness.”

There was also a guy called Stewart who sang a song called “Robe of Righteousness,” which was based on today’s scripture. I can’t remember all of the words, but the last line of the refrain went something like:

“When God looks at me He sees not what I used to be, but He sees Jesus.”

The song was about Christ covering each of us with His robe of righteousness and sacrificial blood, so that we could stand in God’s holy presence. Instead of being cast away forever as recalcitrant sinners, we are accepted as redeemed servants through Jesus. Whatever sins we’ve committed in the past, stay there. Whatever regrets we have or mistakes we have made do not define us forever. Christ sanctifies us, or makes us holy again in God’s sight, through His own sacrifice. We are covered and cleansed by His blood. We are made brothers and sisters to Him by His blood. We are welcomed as heirs to God’s Kingdom with His blood over us and in us.

This is what it means to be a Christian. We are accepted by God when we admit our sins and seek Christ as our Savior. His robe of righteousness covers our past and completely shields us from God’s wrath so that, in the words of the song, “When God looks at me He sees not what I used to be, but He sees Jesus.”

Perhaps you are worried about a past mistake. Maybe you still feel shame over some personal sin. Or guilt and anxiety may still be wounding your soul. Christ can cancel those wounds and wrongs. He can make all things new and let you begin again. All you have to do is sincerely ask Him for help.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, sometimes the guilt of the past wearies our souls and overwhelms our spirits. Sometimes we feel that we have let You down considerably. Touch our hearts with Your mercy and grace. Redeem us from the past and relieve us from worries. Cover us with Your robe of righteousness and bring us before God as Your servants. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

No Mean City

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Psalm 13:4 “my enemy will say, "I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall.”

I was devastated to hear about the terrorist attack at Glasgow airport in Scotland at the weekend. Glasgow is my hometown, a city with a rich diverse culture. Glaswegians are known for their hospitality and friendship. They even have one of the largest Islamic communities in Europe residing there.

I was angry, too, for the bombers knew that lots of innocent families would have been queuing up at the airport. Hundreds of children were waiting in line with their parents to fly out on their annual summer vacations. If the burning jeep had managed to penetrate the main doors, I dread to think how many children’s corpses would have been pulled out later.

And then this morning, I was shocked to read that two of the perpetrators were doctors! I thought that they took an oath to do no harm. What kind of inhumane, insane fanatics are being raised? How long will it take before these people come to their senses?

These terrorists are not religious people. They honor no one, nor do they respect the Quran. They are simply enemies of humanity whose wickedness has reached satanic proportions that they are willing to murder innocent men, women, and children in order to express their vile message of violence and cruelty.

They seek to overcome our way of life through fear, intimidation, and violence. They are barbaric bullies, contemptuous cowards, and pathetic parasites who malign the teachings of Mohammed, the peace of Christ, and the benign rule of God. They have sold their souls to the brazen god of fear, fanaticism, and vengeance. They have no honor, no glory, and no shame.

Glasgow is a diverse city that was built upon hardship, gumption, and true grit. The Nazis tried to bomb it out of existence in World War 2 and they failed to subdue the heart of the city. These terrorists will soon discover that the city of Glasgow flourishes in the midst of adversity and that the people will band together to overcome this evil. Wickedness will not prevail. Good will triumph over evil.

Prayer: Lord God, there are wicked people in the world who use religion to disguise their disgust for humanity. We pray that their efforts to destroy our way of life, hope, and faith will not be accomplished. Help us to confront this evil and join together with the majority of humanity to defend ourselves and overcome this wickedness. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Do Not Lose Heart

Scottish audio version here

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rag and Bone Man

Scottish Audio version here

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

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

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

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

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

Presence is everything.

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

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

Castle

Scottish audio version here

Isaiah 32:14 The fortress will be abandoned, the noisy city deserted; citadel and watchtower will become a wasteland forever, the delight of donkeys, a pasture for flocks, (NIV)

I’ve a beautiful painting hanging over the fireplace in my home. It’s a picture of Dunure Castle, an old medieval fort that sits above a cliff on the west coast of Scotland. At one time, it was owned by the mighty Kennedys of Cassillis. They lorded over the region for several centuries and some of them were despicable despots. In the sixteenth century, Gilbert Kennedy roasted a local minister, Alan Stewart, on a spit in the castle dungeon. Gilbert did this to obtain the deeds of church lands to add to his possessions.

The painting was given to me by the people of Dunure when our family left Scotland to immigrate to America. Whenever I feel homesick, I look at the painting and remind myself of the great times and moments that I shared with the villagers over nine years.

During the summer, many of the village children and parents used to gather in the grounds of the castle on Sunday evenings to play rounders. It’s sort of like baseball only you use hula-hoops for bases and hit a tennis ball with a racket. We would play for hours on the green and it was a great way of blending the families in community activities.

Always in the background, the ruins of Dunure castle would watch over us and I sometimes wondered what the mighty Kennedys would have thought if they could have seen the local minister and villagers trespassing on their grounds. No doubt another Stuart would have been roasted!

The Kennedys built a fortress that they thought would endure forever, but as time went by, it fell apart and was ruined. Sometimes in our own lives we build emotional and spiritual fortresses around ourselves to keep us free from corruption and make us impervious to the world’s woes. Eventually time will have its way and even the strongest of us will grow weak and become frail. That’s when we need the mighty fortress of God to enable us to endure. That’s when we rely upon the Name of Jesus to keep us strong.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we depend upon You to get us through the good and bad times of life. You shield us from sin and help us to overcome our problems. We look to You for guidance and assurance, for safety and security. Be our mighty fortress and the guardian of our souls. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Sand Lines

Scottish accent audio version here

Romans 8:11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. (NIV)

The gloves are coming off. I’ve about had it with those who are leading the church astray. In recent weeks, a Presbyterian pastor in another part of Tennessee had declared on Easter to his congregation that Jesus’ body decayed just like everyone else who died in the past. Now he is promoting Pluralism Sunday this Sunday, which is the Day of Pentecost, proclaiming that the Holy Spirit’s gift of languages was to let people of other religions and cultures know that their ways, their faith, and their beliefs were alright with God.

We’ve a word for that kind of accommodating, universalist preacher in Scotland – a numpty. Pentecost was the day when the Holy Spirit inspired the apostles to declare the Gospel in different languages. The message was the same, only the languages were different. For too long, we allowed universalists to bend, twist, and malign the truth that Christ presented. If they want to preach and teach that God has changed His mind and no longer validates His Son’s ministry, mission, death and resurrection, then they can go and do it elsewhere. A line of faith has been drawn in the sand, so this pandering to the world’s insistence of what Christianity should be must come to a halt.

To me, when Jesus says “I am the Truth, the Way and the Life,” He really means it. There’s no room for negotiation, compromise or accommodation. If He had said, “I am a way, a truth, and a life,” things might have been different, but the scriptures included “the” – the definite article – to show us how definite He was. Those who cannot accept this, cannot accept Him. And those who cannot accept Him, cannot be accepted by Him.

So, I’m drawing a line in the sand and I’m not retreating any further. This is far enough, not fair enough. It’s time to fight the good fight and win people back to Christ. It’s time to boldly go and preach the Gospel. There is no other way, no other truth, and no other life. There is no ‘my way’ on the King’s Highway! It’s either His way or dismay.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, for too long we have been spiritually asleep and have let go of priceless articles of faith and precious words of salvation. Awaken us from our slumber and restore us to Your work. Combat our poor witness and overcome our stubborn pride. Teach us to be soldiers, as well as servants, for Your Church and Kingdom. In Your Holy Name, we earnestly pray. Amen.

Foreign Ways

Scottish accent Audio version here

I Kings 8:43 …then hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name. (NIV)

There’s talk of amnesty and deals for the 12 million illegal aliens in this nation. The President and Congress want to find a solution to a problem that is beginning to affect us all. There’s no easy answer to this, and it certainly won’t be resolved overnight. As a legal immigrant and naturalized citizen, I find myself struggling with this issue. Part of me wants to see as many people as possible receiving the blessings of this nation; the other half of me wants to make sure that they follow the rules to get in here.

It’s a highly controversial issue and one that inflames a lot of passion in ordinary people. Fears about the collapse of the economy, the health of the nation, and the education system are normal reactions to a major influx of immigrants to any nation. You only have to look at examples from history to know that the immigration anxieties we are experiencing have been going on since Biblical times. What we’re feeling has been expressed, experienced and endured by hundreds of nations across the centuries. It’s not something new to us, and as long as people live and move all over the globe, it will continue to happen.

The Jews of the Old Testament respected and tolerated foreigners in ways that we have perhaps forgotten. They even had special scriptural laws which pertained to the well-being of the foreigner in their midst. This was because of their experiences in Egypt – God had delivered the immigrant Hebrew people from oppression and slavery. Centuries later, they were called to treat foreigners respectfully in their own nation.

But it was also a two-way process. Immigrants were expected to uphold the customs and traditions of the sovereign people. When Solomon dedicates the Temple, he expresses this by asking God to favorably answer the prayers of worshipping foreigners – foreigners who believed in the One, True and Living God of the Hebrew people.

So, perhaps the solution to the problems of illegal immigration is two-fold. Firstly, we tolerate and treat one another respectfully, for we are all God’s children; and secondly, foreigners in our midst need to respect, uphold and practice those traditions that are dear to the American people. It seems to me that the Bible is giving us this as the way to resolve these issues.

Prayer: Lord God, we are all Your children. We need to remember that when You look at the world, there are no boundaries, walls or fences, no nations, nationalities or races. We all belong to You and the world is Your possession.

Grant us patience, faith and love to overcome prejudice, fear, and loathing. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Waves of Joy

Audio Version here

1 Chronicles 16:32 Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them! (NIV)

One of my fondest memories of Easter morning took place at the seashore. It happened when I was pastor to the Scottish fishing village of Dunure. At 8.00am each Easter, the villagers gathered outside the Kennedy Hall to praise God for the resurrection of Jesus and the promise of eternal life.

Families and friends sang Easter songs and as the scriptures were read, I can remember hearing and seeing the waves crash against the coastal rocks, as if they were resounding to the rhythm of the hymns that we sang. It was one of the most powerful Easter’s that I have ever experienced. Nature was exploding with praise. As John Calvin once expressed, the mighty attestations of God’s presence were being proclaimed all around us.

Easter is only two weeks away. For some reason, I think that this one will be outstanding. Let’s encourage our friends and families to seek a place of worship this Easter, so that they may also experience the jubilation of redeemed Creation and the joy of the Risen Christ.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, this is Your time of year, when Your power is mightily displayed around the earth. Billions of people from every nation will gather to praise Your glorious Name and to remember God’s mighty promises. Grant us the courage, determination, and desire to invite our families and friends, our colleagues and neighbors to come and experience Your Resurrection. In Your Holy Name, we hope and pray. Amen.