22 September devotion - Get Real, John!

1 Peter 5:10    And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. (ESV)

            There are some days when I feel sorry for myself and end up brooding over something someone has said to me or something that happened which embarrassed or offended me. I feel hurt and unappreciated which causes me to become gloomy and upset. I think that I should be shown more respect and credited for my years of wisdom, skills, and knowledge. I get frustrated and end up in a foggy mire of my own making. It’s as if I’ve decided to ‘doldrumize’ my life and be as stubborn or ornery as I want to be.

            I think my suffering is unfair and unmerited. I go about with a grey cloud over me and make others around me feel uncomfortable, unsure, or uneasy. Because I’m so focused on my issues, I don’t see what’s going on around me – how I’m embarrassing myself or how folks are beginning to avoid me. In other words, my suffering becomes self-inflicted and my sorrow is self-sustained.

            And then I see scenes on television or the internet which display real suffering and destitution. I look at the thousands of homes that have been destroyed by hurricanes and floods. I watch hundreds of people try to rescue children underneath collapsed buildings. I see parents weeping in anguish, old folks looking confused, and children who are shell-shocked because of the disaster, tragedy, and horrific loss of life, liberty, and security that they are all sadly experiencing. Their pain quickly puts my pettiness into perspective. Their tragic losses burst my injured pride and self-centered ways wide open.

            During those times of real awareness, I reject my manufactured, artificial, and sorrowful feelings. I am ashamed of my self-pity and the trivial burdens I conceitedly carry. I need to get real and truly understand that the world does not revolve around me, my feelings, or my upsets. There are billions of people on Earth who suffer much more than I have or ever will. Instead of wasting my compassion on me, I should make it available for them. Rather than be gloomy and petulant, I should be grateful and penitent.

Prayer: O Lord, forgive me! Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can view the church website at www.erinpresbyterian.org. If you would like to worship with us, join us on Sundays at 11:00 AM.

June 17 devotional - Hope for the Weary

Isaiah 50:4a    The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary.

            We all get weary at times and wonder what life is really about. Some of us are over-worked and under pressure much of the time. Others are over-worried and fighting depression. Some folks are lonely and barely manage to get through each day. Still, others find life hard to endure especially when family, friends, or loved ones are struggling, too.

            Being human means that we will experience good days and bad days, broken dreams and unfulfilled promises, hardships and perhaps even hostility. However, it’s good to know that we are pilgrims passing through this planet, heading towards something else, something bigger, and something better.

            Being human also means that we can appreciate beauty, kindness, love, and peace. We can be inspired by others, encouraged through their words, and comforted with their presence. In the midst of our worries and weariness, good friends and faithful people can make all the difference. The Irish often say that all people need is ‘a kind word and a smile’ – which are great gifts to receive and are wonderful blessings to share.

            When we take the time to read the scriptures, we often find verses and passages that reflect our current experiences. This reminds us that God’s Word is alive and relevant, with the potential to sustain us in times of trouble and encourage us in days of joy.

Questions for personal reflection

How am I feeling today? Am I willing to ask God to guide and sustain me with His Word?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, thank You for allowing Your Spirit to be present with us each day. You know everything that we are experiencing; You understand all that we are currently going through. Encourage and sustain us; embrace and remain with us. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to send him a message, please send an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is an old drawing of John’s called “A New Earth.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: New.

JQA - Psalm 45:1

Psalm 45:1 My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer. (NIV)

            I’m currently reading a biography of John Quincy Adams – my favorite US President. The book is called ‘Memoir of the Life of John Quincy Adams,’ which was written by one of his relatives, Josiah Quincy. The book contains many sections of the speeches and writings of JQA, especially the ones he wrote and gave after he left the Presidency. In my opinion, he was the most intelligent President we have ever had and much of his writing reflects the breadth of his international experiences, as well as his love of classical books.

            JQA was a fierce opponent of slavery and a strong advocate for the liberty of all people, especially where their rights to petition or protest had been suppressed or ignored. When he gave a speech in Congress, his words were often jeered by his opponents, but JQA’s perseverance and great command of language enabled him to strongly express what needed to be changed about how the American people were governed. He fought continuously against the notorious Gag Rule of 1835 which unjustly, as well as unconstitutionally, tabled and silenced any petitions against slavery in the House of Representatives. This disreputable procedure was introduced by James Polk from Tennessee and practiced for nine inglorious years during which JQA constantly railed against it in Congress, at public gatherings, and in the newspapers. Eventually, both his tongue and pen overcame the fierce opposition, leading the way toward ending slavery in the US.

            In this post-modern age of superficial sound bites, snap chat, and jingoism, we need solid speeches, effective writing, and committed leaders to keep us on a path which will advance life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for everyone. JQA fully understood why universal equality was so important because he saw it as an inalienable right given to us by God. As he once wrote, ‘Quench not the spirit of freedom. Let it go forth, not in the panoply of fleshly wisdom, but with the promise of peace, and the voice of persuasion, clad in the whole armor of truth, conquering and to conquer.’

            As people of faith, we have an opportunity to make our congregations, communities, and countries much better places by promoting Christ’s teaching and truth, rejecting what is false and unjust, and writing about or expressing our beliefs in ways that are kind, loving, and full of hope. If we are willing to do these things, then our tongues and pens will no longer be weapons of division and disunity, but will effectively become channels of God’s mercy and instruments of peace.

Point to ponder

What things can I write, say, or do which will promote peace and advance God’s love among my family and friends?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help us to cherish Your ways and communicate Your love to everyone we encounter today. Keep us from causing division and enable us to promote Your peace. In your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Come and join us for worship on Sundays at 11:00 AM. You will be made very welcome 😊

Today’s image is one of John’s Psalm drawings based on today’s Bible verse. If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Psalm 45.

Bible devotion: Captives for Christ - 2 Corinthians 2:14

2 Corinthians 2:14     But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.

            In ancient Rome, when a military commander or great general came back to the Eternal City after a victorious campaign, a triumphal procession was given to honor both the leader, as well as the mightiness of Rome itself. Behind the victorious leader in his chariot, a procession of captives, made up of kings, chieftains, princes and other tribal leaders from the defeated region, would slowly march in chains after the glorified general. This was to publicly display how great a victory had been accomplished, as well as to humiliate the once-proud and defiant enemies of Rome.

            The apostle Paul used this public spectacle as a means of describing the followers of Christ. Jesus had triumphed over sin and death; His disciples and servants had been conquered by His Spirit, and so they became captives of Christ. Paul was declaring that Christians became prisoners of Christ, whose only purpose was to glorify how great a victory Christ had accomplished.

            In today’s post-modern individual idealist world, this is a very hard concept to accept. We are so used to being free spirits and independent that we find it difficult to embrace the idea that we are captives and prisoners of Christ. We tend to want God to do things for us; we feel that Jesus should support our ideas and opinions, beliefs and needs. Being servants of Jesus is a lot harder to accept that being served by God; becoming captives of Christ and His ways impinges on our personal freedom and individual choices. We want Jesus to accept us as we are and what we want to be; we flinch and push back against the chains of conformity, as well as the fetters of our faith. Pride prevents us from surrendering to Christ’s will, which is not only a sin, but is an act of defiance.

            As we set aside the great celebrations of Easter, let’s use this precious time to recalibrate our commitment to Christ.

Questions for personal reflection

Are we willing to become Christ’s captives in order to glorify His victory, or are we still hesitant to let go of what we want, in order to embrace His will?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, we want to follow and serve You, but sometimes we are afraid to make a compelling and total commitment to You. Forgive us for being hesitant and help us to stop resisting Your ways. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask questions about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is John’s latest Easter drawing called “Sacred Son Rise.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: Son Rise.

Short devotion: Real Acceptance - John 13:20

John 13:20    “Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts Me; and whoever accepts Me accepts the One who sent Me.”

            Acceptance plays a major part in who we are as 21^st century people. We all want to be accepted on our own terms as individuals. We all need to feel part of a society that accepts us totally. We all want to belong to a world where every single person’s life matters and every single choice is respected. This is a very high ideal and one that is impossible to fulfill. People on this planet have different ideas, philosophies, and versions about life. We live in different places; we have different histories; we belong to different cultures; we eat different food, wear different clothing, and speak in different languages. The chances of us completely accepting one another are very remote and, sadly, highly unlikely. We therefore look to a Higher Power and Wiser Being to show us what is acceptable and what is not.

            Today’s verse from the Gospel of John belongs to a passage where Christ is actually commissioning His faithful disciples for the work that is yet to come. Unknown to them, they are about to experience and endure the three most intense and grueling days of Christ’s three year ministry. Their cozy world is about to be turned upside down and inside out. Their lives will never be the same, and their mission will be enormous: they will be charged with broadcasting to the entire world Christ’s message of resurrection and salvation.

In this instance from the Gospel, the acceptance that is crucially important to Christ is the acceptance of His messengers of the new Faith. To accept His apostles is to accept Him; to accept Him is to accept God. This is foundational for the life-changing work of preaching and teaching the Gospel, which will continue to the end of the world. Rather than us being accepted by Him, which is what most of us want Jesus to do, we must accept His terms, His conditions, and even His messengers.

In the end, the work of the Gospel, the spreading of faith, and the expansion of Christianity will be the most important mission undertaken in all of the history of humanity. We may reach dizzying heights of technological wonders; we may discover amazing new facts and sciences in the future; we may even travel to other planets and journey across the stars in centuries to come – these are all glorious and magnificent goals for humanity to reach – but in the end, God knows all of these things that we may discover, for His wisdom is infinite, so the most important thing to God is our individual discovery of accepting His Holy and Only Son as our Lord, Savior, and King. The importance of acceptance, then, is not the acceptance by God of who we are on our terms, but our personal acceptance of Christ on God’s terms.

Question for personal reflection

Have I accepted Christ as my Savior, Lord, and King?

Prayer:          Lord Jesus, You came down to Earth to offer us the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of accepting You as God’s Chosen One. Keep us from continually making excuses or avoiding this crucial choice. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is currently the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to ask questions or make comments about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Short devotion: The Royal Law - James 2:8

James 2:8       If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right.

       

Yesterday, in the Sunday School class that I teach, we were discussing the parable of the Good Samaritan. It’s probably the best known story that Jesus ever told so, throughout the class, the participants offered their personal ideas and opinions about the parable. It was a good way to share our faith beliefs together, and even though it was a fictional story, Jesus told it in such a way that even thousands of years later the heart of its message is still as relevant today as it was in His lifetime.

I also like how James described the teaching ‘loving your neighbor as yourself.’ He called it ‘the royal law.’ This doesn’t mean that it was only meant for kings and queens, princes or princesses; James meant that this came as a command straight for the heart of Christ our King. In other words, it’s meant to be taken and practiced seriously by those who consider themselves to be disciples, followers, and servants of Jesus.

Throughout this week, we will all have many opportunities to ‘love our neighbors as ourselves.’ The real test will come in whether or not we respond to the needs our neighbors have, or whether we will be too busy, causing us to walk by on the other side and discard the royal law. The great Chinese scholar Confucius once wrote, almost five hundred years before Christ, “To see what is right and not to do it, shows a want of courage.” For the Christian, to see what is right and not to do it, shows a want of faith.

Questions for personal reflection

What hinders me from helping others in need when I see it? How do I justify my inaction?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, truly teach us Your ways so that we may practice our faith in loving and compassionate deeds. Keep us from being fainthearted, and encourage us to witness to You through our acts of kindness and care. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, TN. If you would like to comment or ask a question about today’s message, please send John an email to traqair@aol.com.

 Today’s image is one of John’s latest stained glass Pentecost designs called ‘Sacred Spirit.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2922/14024051194_10b3cce1ec_b.jpg

Daily devotion: Unholy Vows - Acts 23:14

Acts 23:14      They went to the chief priests and elders and said, "We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. 

Men do stupid things, especially when religious fanaticism is involved. A lot of the unrest that we know in the world today is caused by males who swear oaths and wreak havoc all over the planet. Wicked and evil acts are justified because they are undertaken in God’s Name. Inhumanity and fanaticism are called holiness and faithfulness, whereas in reality they are religious excuses for creating horror and fear. Those who teach young people to grow up hating and call it ‘being faithful’ are the biggest blasphemers in the world today. Jesus would not participate in anything remotely connected to spiteful religion. He called upon and challenged His followers to do the exact opposite. “Love your enemies,” is what He specifically taught.

I wonder what happened to those forty men, mentioned in Acts 23, who religiously vowed not to eat until they had killed Paul. When he escaped their plot, did they all die of hunger two months later? Did their anger and bitterness against Paul continue to relentlessly feed their fanaticism? Somehow I suspect that most of them slunk away in humiliation and cried into their first bowl of soup. There’s a good old-fashioned Scottish word for people like that: eejits.

            We all have one life to live on a small solitary life-filled planet. Self-righteous religion is something that the world needs to address and be rid of by the end of this century. As Christians, if we listen more to Christ and apply His ways, we might yet convince the world that His peaceable Kingdom can actually be fulfilled on Earth. Perhaps if we stopped fighting one another, we might even begin to see this in the Church first, and then in the rest of the world.

Questions for personal reflection

Where is religious fanaticism destroying people’s lives in the world today? How can we oppose this effectively and peacefully?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, we have all failed to live by Your teachings. We are sorry for our part in making the world a bitter place. Help us to look deep inside of ourselves and see where we are feeding hostility, resentment, and discord in our lives. Teach us to be truly faithful instead of being religiously right. In Your Holy Name, we humbly 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 traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s drawings called ‘Face to Face.’ It’s made up of the skin colors of people all over the world and the faces merge into one another signifying dialogue, intimacy, and peace. It was used earlier this year as a logo for a national conference in the Philippines dealing with tolerance. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2267/2503232332_7491c708d1_b.jpg

Kindle devotions: Five Minutes with God by John Stuart

My latest devotional e-book is published today. It's called "Five Minutes with God" and contains 52 short devotions. The devotions can be used as personal daily meditations or opening devotions at church meetings. They can also be used as discussion starters for small study groups.

Each devotion is inspired by a Bible verse and includes a personal reflection, story, or description of the context of the verse. Questions for reflection/discussion are also part of the devotion, which finished with a community prayer.

Throughout the book, examples of my artwork can be found, all of which relate to the chosen devotion. I enjoyed writing this book and believe its my best work to date. Click on the boxed link below to check it out on amazon.com. At only $1.99, it's a great spiritual investment, especially for busy Christians!

The book is published for Kindle and Kindle fire, but I-Pad, PC users, and tablets owners can download the free Kindle app to read it on their own mobile devices too!

Half Time devotion: With Us - Exodus 13:22

Exodus 13:22             Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.

It must have been an amazing thing to see: the presence of God signified by a pillar of smoke during the day and by fire at night. For most of the Israelites, it must have been a comforting sight. For some of them, however, it must have caused some anxiety. The proximity of God would have affected all of their lives in ways that either inspired the people, or filled them with awe.

How close is God in our lives? Are we aware of His presence through Christ’s Spirit each and every day? Do we take that presence for granted, or do we wish that God was a wee bit further away? As Christians, we believe that God is always with us, but is that fundamental belief evident in what we say and do?

I wonder what would happen in each of our lives if we could see a similar pillar of cloud and fire before us every day. How would our choices be changed? How would our decisions be re-directed? Part of the problem about our faith today is this: as Christians, we say that God is with us, but people don’t see us acting or behaving as if we actually believe it.

Perhaps today, we can take time to think about God’s real presence in our lives and how we can help other people to see Him through what we say and do. It won’t be easy, but if God is with us, it won’t be difficult either.

Questions for personal reflection

When do I actually feel God’s presence in my daily life? How can I show that His sacred presence is real to other people?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You came among us to show us that God’s presence is real in the world. We have given our hearts to You, but sometimes we hold back from our lives. Help us to be more aware that Your godly presence is with us at all times, so that we may positively witness to Your reality to all whom we meet, encounter, and interact with today. 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 today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest digital glass drawings for Pentecost. It’s called “Spirit Window” and features the Holy Spirit descending to earth as a dove. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8472/8362180359_aa1d71b4fd_b.jpg

Thanksgiving Devotion: A Tale of Two Gifts

Zechariah 12:10         “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.”

John 1:14       The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 

The older I get, the more I need God’s grace in my life. Decades ago, I thought it would be the reverse. I believed then that I would by now have worked out all of my flaws, failings, and mistakes because I would be older, wiser, and more mature. The reality is a whole lot different: I get set in my ways, whine for the good old days, and feel out of place. Ecclesiastical curmudgeonary and dinosaurial drudgery can best describe me at times. I was born in the 1950’s, raised in the sixties, and formed in the seventies. I’m a 20^th century man living in a 21^st century world. I know how I would like things to be but there’s no going back; in order to accommodate a new bold world, I constantly need an old beautiful gift: grace.

The two Bible verses for today were written hundreds of years apart, but they express God’s remedy for a broken world in almost the same terms: ‘grace and supplication’ and ‘grace and truth.’ In the Old Testament, God’s patience and mercy were appealed to through the means of sacrifice and supplication. In the New Testament, the Supreme Sacrifice had already been made, so the opportunity of God’s patience and mercy were given through this truth: Jesus is the Savior of our sins. In the past, grace was a means of being granted the permission to approach God; now grace through Christ means that we can not only approach God, but we may also abide with Him forever.

Grace: an ancient, blessed, and beautiful gift from God granted to us today (and for all time) through Jesus Christ our Lord and King.

Question for personal reflection

How many times have I needed God’s grace this week?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You were given to us to become the ultimate sacrifice and universal Savior of the world. By Your obedience and death, we have been given God’s grace and life. We will always be truly thankful for Your wonderful gift. In Your Holy Name, we humbly and gratefully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message or ask a question of him, please send an email to Traqair@aol.com. John is always delighted to read your comments and answer your questions.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Nativity drawing for 2012. It’s called “First Family” and is currently being used by churches in the United States, Switzerland, and England for their Christmas advertizing campaigns. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8193/8132931651_2e0cee43a8_b.jpg

John has signed 8x11 prints available. Contact him by email for details.

Christian Devotions: God Has other Plans - Genesis 39:20b-21

Genesis 39:20b-21      But while Joseph was there in the prison, the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. 

When Joseph was falsely accused of adultery and unjustly imprisoned (Genesis 39:11-23), he must have felt that his life was cursed and that God had abandoned him forever. Previously, his brothers had abused him and sold him into slavery. He was kidnapped and taken to a foreign land. He became an unpaid overworked servant in an Egyptian official’s household. Just when he thought that his life may have turned a positive corner, he suddenly found himself at the center of a woman’s scorn and his master’s wrath. He was thrown in prison to rot and die. Joseph’s life was a complete disaster and he was bereft of everything that was once good.

But God had other plans. He watched over Joseph and took care of his terrible circumstances. God did not abandon him like his family or wretchedly mistreat him like his false accusers. God sustained Joseph in the midst of his plight and elevated him into a position of trust and responsibility at the prison. He was not forsaken or forgotten by God. Joseph’s life was about to take on a whole new importance that would not only positively change his circumstances, it would actually change the history of faith in the world.

Perhaps you are in the midst of something that is either depressing you or just wearing you down. You may even feel isolated from God or even abandoned. Despair can imprison your spirit, but God wants you to be secure in His arms and feel enjoyment, meaning, and purpose once more. Put yourself into His hands and allow God to do what He does best: to make all things good again through Jesus Christ.

Questions for personal reflection

What problems or issues currently trouble me? Have I totally given them over to God in prayer?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, come into the midst of all that besets and plagues us at this present time. Grant us Your gracious guidance and assure us of Your loving presence. 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.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest art nouveau drawings called “Paper Roses.” It’s based upon the unique art style of Glasgow artist Charles Rennie Mackintosh. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7261/7834723686_d992ea78b1_b.jpg

Devotions: Great Expectations - Luke 9:46

Luke 9:46 An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.

Pastors are funny people. Whenever they get together, they tend to be a little territorial, so that when a colleague asks - “How is the church doing?”  - the answer is normally given in numbers attending worship, expanding the worship building, and church finances. I guess that a better question to ask would be: “What is your church doing?” To answer that question, numbers and stats are not the key element – it would have to be answered in terms of ministries and missions, programs and events.

Also, in times of economic difficulty pastors, including me, are quick to blame outside influences for their inside troubles. Conservatives blame the progressives for diminishing membership numbers; progressives blame conservatives for ineffective community participation. Differences occur and arguments take place. Whatever the issue, it usually has its roots in one side wanting to be more dominant, powerful, and relevant than the other. It’s really just the same argument that the disciples had walking behind Jesus: who or what is the greatest.

Psalm 48 v 1 reminds us that “Great is the Lord and He is greatly to be praised.” Ministry and mission, church and service are not about how great we are or about the success of our accomplishments. Christ’s greatness is what we are meant to proclaim, whether by preachers in the pulpit or through members doing mission in the community. Our differences are just varieties of the same ministry, given to us by the same Savior, and expected of us by the same Lord.

 It’s not about us; it’s all about Jesus.

Question for personal reflection

What does my church do for Christ in my community?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You are meant to be at the center of everything we do at, for, and by the church. Our deeds are supposed to glorify You. Our tasks are meant to honor You. Help us to displace our egos and replace them with You. In Your Holy Name, we humbly 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.

Today’s image is one of John’s Easter drawings called “Redeemer Rabbi.” If you would like to view a larger version of the drawing, please click on the following link: http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5262/5813805303_784c8ccd1d_b.jpg

Christian Devotions - Sticks and Stones - Luke 7:32

Luke 7:32       Jesus said: “They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other: 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not cry.'”

The street I lived on as a child was the greatest playground I have ever known. My brothers and I played with the other kids at football, hide and seek, rounders, dodgie ball, best man fall, kick the can, red rover, hopscotch (known as ‘peever’ in Glasgow) and were even known to play skipping ropes with the girls or challenge them to a hula hoop contest (which the girls always won). The street was always full of excitement and laughter, cheers and songs.

Sometimes we all fell out with each other and formed cliques. We would then yell at each other across the street and call one another names. At some point, both groups would end up singing “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” We would sing it as loudly as we could until one of the homeowners on the street would come outside to tell us kids that we were making too much noise. This was immediately met with peals of laughter, at which point, we forgot our dispute and gathered together again to play a new game.

In Christ’s time, the children also played on the street and sang derisive songs to one another. Today’s verse includes one of them which must have been well known to Jesus, as well as His listeners. He used the song as an example of people always finding fault with others, whose narrow-minded ways or bitterness precluded them from enjoying the wonders of God’s Kingdom and Christ’s ministry. Usually, His veiled comments were meant for the religious authorities who were displeased with, and displaced by, His ministry. Their callous hearts could not comprehend the compassion of His work. Their self-righteousness severed them from God’s love.

As Christians, we can be smug at times and spiritually aloof. Our pride can damage our effective witness and our religious arrogance can undermine Christ’s great work. It’s never easy to be a Christian, but sometimes we are our own worst enemies. Perhaps, instead of scornfully singing dirges of derision at the world, we should cheerfully give voice to the songs of salvation for the healing of God’s Creation.

Question for personal reflection

What kind of song of faith do I sing to the world with my life and Christian beliefs?

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, there are times when we read the Gospels that

we find it easy to delude ourselves into thinking that we would never have complained against You or derided Your ministry. However, when we honestly reflect upon those divisive events in Your past, we know that we are guilty of the same excesses of religious self-righteousness and damaging witness of our faith. Forgive us and help us to change our lives according to Your ways. In Your Holy Name, we humbly 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.

Today’s image is the book cover of my latest e-book of devotions called “Challenges to Change Us.” You can view a larger version of the cover at the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7279/7607634816_62514d3bd0_b.jpg

You can also view samples of the book online at the following Amazon link: amzn.to/MOztlR

Daily devotion: The Art of Listening - Genesis 24:50

Genesis 24:50             Laban and Bethuel answered, “This is from the LORD; we can say nothing to you one way or the other.”

Sometimes I wish that I could clearly hear God’s voice in the midst of all the cacophony of voices that creates confusion in the church and across the world. I might not like what He has to say to me, however, so perhaps I surround myself with theological noise and church distractions in order to drown out the still, small voice of God.

We live in an age when people want to be heard, but hardly anyone wants to listen. Shrill voices and angry tears, strident statements and intolerant expressions seem to be part of all our lives. Whether it comes from Church or State, religion or politics, sports or fashions, the modern trend is to make sure that you get the opportunity to express what you want to say before anyone else does. The ancient art of listening appears to be dying out.

Listening to the Lord requires quiet and no distractions. Every day, Jesus did this early in the morning before the local community could get to Him with their demands. Laban and Bethuel from today’s Old Testament passage (Genesis 24:42-51) also hear God’s Word in what Abraham’s servant tells them. They know it to be truly God’s will and so they will not speak a word against what God has obviously decided.

It’s that kind of humble acceptance that we are missing in today’s society. We’ve all become so suspicious of other people’s agendas that when God speaks to us quietly, plainly, and firmly, we still question Him. And if we do that to God long and often enough, then we become selfishly stubborn, destructively defiant, and eventually totally disobedient.

We have to find quiet places in the midst of all our busy ways in order to be still, listen, and hear what God wants. We have to quieten our own minds and silence our own voices. Eastern mystics call that process ‘meditation’; Christ would simply call it ‘service.’

Question for personal reflection

Where and when can I be alone with God?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, teach us to listen to God. 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 today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is John’s latest 4^th July drawing called “Liberty Lights.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8164/7503142478_e8e6283de3_b.jpg

Pentecost devotions: Journey of Joy

Today's Bible reading: Genesis 11:27-32

Genesis 11:31 Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there.

Last Sunday morning, after the worship service, we held a special ceremony to re-dedicate the church bell. It was a beautiful day and a wonderful event. We took time to remember one of our dearest elders and friends, as well as delighting in the official opening of the new site for our church bell.

The church bell goes back to the founding of our congregation and is the oldest artifact that we possess. For almost seven generations, it has been used to call the faithful to worship on Sunday mornings. It has been heard by Scots-Irish immigrants of the late nineteenth century. It proclaimed the ending of both the First and Second World Wars. It remained with us throughout the turbulent sixties and seventies, and now it has been restored in the 21^st century to a beautiful location next to the front entrance. All being well, it will outlive the present congregation and, who knows, it may one day herald the Second Coming of Christ to the Earth.

The story of the first Erin congregation is similar to the biblical account of Abram and Sarai. The Erin people also left the land of their birth and journeyed thousands of miles to settle in a place of promises. With hard work and determination, true grit and a focused faith, they carved out a living and eventually settled here in Knoxville, Tennessee. They called their new church ‘Erin,’ which is the ancient Gaelic word for Ireland. They planted a congregation and sewed seeds of faith which are still bearing fruit today. Just like the patriarchs of old, their work has been rewarded and their faithfulness has been blessed. The journey of joy continues; the mission of Christ goes on.

Questions for personal reflection

How has the faith of past generations influenced and affected me? What am I doing with that faith today in order to ensure that it will be passed on to future generations?

Prayer:            Lord God, you are the Maker of Time and the Shaper of History. You have raised up generations of faithful men and women to serve the continuing ministry and constant mission of Your Son Jesus Christ. Thank You for allowing us to be a part of Christ’s work on Earth. In Your Holy Name, we thankfully 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.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Pentecost drawings called “Spirit-2012.” Its creation involves paper sculpting, wax crayons, and a scanner. If you would like to view a larger version, please click here: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8026/7217562558_43d588ee31_b.jpg

(It’s also available as a t-shirt at John’s CafePress website at http://www.cafepress.com/stushietees )

Daily devotions: Two by Two? - Genesis 7: 2-3

Genesis 7:2-3              Take with you seven of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and two of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate, and also seven of every kind of bird, male and female, to keep their various kinds alive throughout the earth.

‘The animals went into the ark, two by two; the elephant, giraffe, and kangaroo’ was part of a children’s song that I used to sing in Sunday school. I loved to do the actions and sounds of all the animals and could even picture them in my mind walking onto the ark in perfect pairs. Two of every kind of animal that ever existed – except that it wasn’t two at all – for some ‘clean’ animals it was fourteen in all, especially sheep and cattle. Fourteen birds of every kind were also included. ‘Two by two’ might sound great as a rhyme to the word kangaroo, but ‘seven by two’ doesn’t really fit in the song or as a picture in my mind’s eye.

This is a good example of a popular misconception of the Bible. We’ve become so used to singing ‘two by two’ and seeing pictures, drawings, cartoons, as well as movies depicting this image that we take it for granted and believe it to be correct. If we don’t read the Bible accurately, then we accept the popular misconception. If we don’t take time to study God’s Book, then we will take short cuts and believe what is currently acceptable.

This is why Gospel preachers are presently struggling with society. There are a lot of popular misconceptions and even some serious deceptions going on in Church World. If people take the Bible for granted, they’ll end up believing in anything and make up their own ideas about Jesus and God. Usually those ideas will be shaped around their own lifestyle choices. It’s far easier to live with a popular misconception than it is to live according to an unpopular biblical truth. It’s far simpler to make up ideas about God and think everything will be okay rather than actually reading His Word and accepting the robust challenges of the Gospel. ‘Two by two’ and ‘kangaroo’ are far easier to rhyme for children than ‘seven by two’ or fourteen, but when we become adults can we honestly continue to accept popular misconceptions about our faith?

Questions for personal reflection

What is the actual source of my Christian beliefs? Have I succumbed to popular misconceptions or surrendered to God’s True Word?

Prayer:             Lord Jesus, Your words are Gospel and God’s Word is Truth. Somehow we’ve managed to stop regularly reading the Bible and, in doing so, have diluted and even ‘dumbed down’ the standards of our Faith. Forgive us for such arrogance, ignorance, and foolishness. Help us to humbly turn to You as the source of all that is true as revealed through the Holy Words of the Gospel. In Your Sacred Name, we 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.

Today’s image is John’s latest lectionary drawing called “True Vine.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7136/7140981637_f1a12a5d31_b.jpg

Daily devotions: The Hard Way - Mark 9:14-23

Mark 9:19       "O unbelieving generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me." 

As a teenager, I insisted on learning things the hard way, which often exasperated my parents. If they said something about this, I would petulantly sulk or aggressively attack them. Instead of listening to them and following their wisdom, I would go my own way and do my own thing. The results were dysfunctional, wayward, and self-destructive. The fact that I am still alive today says more about God’s grace than it does about my ability to survive. Looking back, I must also have exasperated Him too.

In the Gospels, we sometimes see Jesus being exasperated with His own disciples and people. The story of the sickness of the teenage boy and his unbelieving father in Mark 9, along with the argument that takes place between the religious teachers and Christ’s followers, appears to have caught Jesus at the end of His tether. “O unbelieving generation,” He exclaims, “how long shall I stay and put up with you?” I don’t know if He was tired and weary, or just vexed and fed up. Whatever Jesus was feeling, He wasn’t happy at all about the situation.

This makes me wonder how He would react to our present generation of Christians. Are we heading in the right direction? Are we following His teaching or our own agendas? Are we a believing or unbelieving generation? These are tough questions to ask but they should be asked by every generation, in every nation, and every congregation.

Years later, when both my parents had passed from this life to the next, I realized how much they loved me through those turbulent teenage times. I regret disregarding their life-wisdom and learning things the hard way. I didn’t believe them because I was so caught up in my own self and I arrogantly cast aside their advice. The question that we in the Church need to ask ourselves today is this: are we doing the same to Jesus?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, forgive our unbelief and help us to accept Your ways. Teach us the value of Your timeless teachings and the importance of Your wise words. Keep us from exasperating You when we embrace worldly ways as opposed to Your godly guidance. In Your Holy Name, we humbly 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.

Today’s image is one of my latest chess drawings called “Chess Nouveau.” It features chess pieces in the style of Scottish art nouveau genius Charles Rennie Mackintosh, who heavily influenced the works of Frank Lloyd Wright. If you would like to view a larger version, please click the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7069/7123158751_5be5d70f4a_b.jpg