Midweek Reflections

With thanks to the Rev David Anderson for providing these reflections. This is the last reflection for the time being.

Midweek Reflection: Till we meet again! Wednesday 6th November

We have been settling in gradually here in Varis Court, Forres, where Maureen receives good care, and where we are near the town centre and its facilities. I went to West Moray Church of Scotland on Sunday, and met three people I knew including Frances Buchanan who with her husband Ron used to live in Aberlour. There is a good programme of activities during the week. Since I am no longer physically part of the Aberlour C of S Family (though in my heart I still feel part of it), this is to be the last of these reflections, in the expectation that these will be replaced by something similar in the future. I have enjoyed sharing these with you, those in Aberlour Church and those beyond. I have enjoyed fellowship with you, and I thank you for that as well as for the comments several have sent. So this is my goodbye! Till we meet again!

But let my last word be God’s word. It is his purpose for us all to be reconciled to himself through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross; and then to grow in our new relationship with him as daughters and sons of our heavenly Father. Through the work of the Spirit to become more like Jesus, and together to reflect his character and his love.

There is a story of a certain tribe who often gathered beneath a rock on which there was a remarkable likeness of a man with outstanding features. It was believed that one day a great leader would rise up among them who looked just like the face on the rock. A young boy was fascinated by the appearance of the man, and as he grew up spent time gazing at the face he admired so much. Years later the tribe lost their leader, and they discussed who should replace him. Then one of the elders spoke up: “That young man looks exactly like the face on the rock!” They all looked, and were amazed at the likeness! So he was appointed leader of the tribe.

So God wants us to gaze at Jesus, to keep our eyes fixed on him. To grow more and more like him. To let his light shine through us despite our flaws. It is only by God’s grace that this is possible. May the grace of the Lord Jesus continue to be with you as you seek to build your life on him.

Reading: 2 Corinthians 3:18

“All of us, then, reflect the glory of the Lord with uncovered faces; and that same glory, coming from the Lord, who is the Spirit, transforms us into his likeness in an ever greater degree of glory.”

Colossians 2:6-7

“Since you have accepted Christ Jesus as Lord, live in union with him. Keep your roots deep in him, build your lives on him, and become stronger in your faith, as you were taught. And be filled with thanksgiving.”

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the life we have in union with Jesus Christ your Son. Let our lives be built on him, so that whatever happens to us, and wherever you lead us, we may more and more reflect his character and love. Amen.

Grow in the love and knowledge of God, and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: Each piece of the puzzle Wednesday 30th October

Have you ever done a large jigsaw puzzle, 1000 pieces, or even more! Finding and placing the corner or edge pieces is relatively easy. Perhaps there are some obvious bright pieces, a face, or part of a house, something distinctive. You can place them easily too. But……then there are the leaves of trees, or rocks, or, worst of all, the sky! What an achievement to finish the puzzle. And what a terrible disappointment if one or two pieces are missing. They may be insignificant on their own,  but they are very conspicuous by their absence when you look at the big picture. It isn’t complete without them.

I wonder if you ever feel that the Christian life is like a jigsaw? That you don’t understand how the various pieces or events of your life fit together or mean anything? That you are a small and insignificant piece?

This is where faith comes in. God sees the big picture.  He understands how all the pieces fit together. Each one is equally important in His eyes. He notices if any of us is missing from the place He has for us in His Kingdom.

Jesus spoke of a lost sheep. The shepherd notices that there are only 99 sheep in the fold. He searches for the lost sheep and is overjoyed when he finds it and he celebrates. Likewise the woman who loses one of her 10 coins. She devotes herself to searching till she finds it.

So with us. If we drift from God’s path for us, if we struggle with our faith or are confused about events in our lives, remember, God is the loving Father, watching, waiting, for his lost son or daughter to return, welcoming each one home to the place where they belong.

Reading

Luke ch 15 vv 4-10

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you are the key piece of the puzzle, and linked to you we have a special place. Help us when we struggle with our faith, and we ask why, to remember that only You see the big picture and our part in it. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

May the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be with you now and always. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: Power Cut! Wednesday 23rd October

On Sunday night some people in our neighbourhood including ourselves experienced a powercut. Fortunately it only lasted a few hours. The people of Craigellachie were not so fortunate – their power cut lasted significantly longer.

King David, the psalmist, also suffered a power cut.  What? you say. There was no electricity in his day. It was a different kind of power cut. A man of God, normally filled with God’s Spirit, was cut off from God and God’s power.

You surely know the story. He saw Bathsheba, whose husband, Uriah, was away fighting with David’s army, bathing on the roof of her house. David was attracted to her, called her over to him, and committed adultery with her and made her pregnant. To cover up the deed he arranged for Uriah to be placed in the front line of battle. As a result Uriah was killed. So David took Bathsheba to be his wife.

He thought he could now go on living as normal. Imagine that! A man after God’s own heart. A friend of God. What self-deceit! After committing adultery and murder, really, he continued as if nothing had happened.  

Until it all caught up with him when Nathan, the prophet, confronted him with what he had done. Facing up to the truth caused him great distress. He realised how sinful his actions had been, and how God’s Spirit had departed from him. The lights had gone out, and he was groping in the darkness.

Psalm 51 describes what then happened. He confesses his sin to God, and pleads for his mercy. He then asks God to create in him a pure heart, and “renew a right spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence, or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation.” End the power cut, Lord. Turn on the lights again!

We can be sure his prayer was answered, although there were consequences to face resulting from his actions. But fellowship with God was restored. God’s love for him never wavered.

There is much to learn from this story. Our incredible ability to deceive ourselves. The need when we do recognise wrong in our lives, however serious or not we think it, to be honest about it before God. The amazing depths of God’s mercy and love which we know through our Saviour, Jesus Christ. And the norm it is for Christians to be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit came at Pentecost and has never been taken away.

Reading: Psalm 51

Prayer

Father God, we need the constant filling of our hearts with your love, joy and peace. May we not grieve your Spirit, but show us if we have done this, and lead us to confession and restoration to fellowship with you. We need the power you give by your Spirit to live our lives as followers of Jesus our Lord. Thank you in his name. Amen.

Go in peace to serve your Lord, and may his blessing be with you. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: Where do we belong? Wednesday 16th October

We are living between two worlds just now. One is called Aberlour and the other Forres, where we are moving home to towards the end of this month. Our present home is strewn with boxes, and stuff waiting to be disposed of. And our minds are occupied with leaving a place we love, and looking forward to a new start elsewhere. We are in between two worlds. To which do we belong?

God calls us to live in two worlds at the same time, with our feet firmly on this ground but our heads in heaven. We are in both places at once! We bring the two realms together by seeking God’s kingdom on earth. Another way of saying that we follow Jesus and seek to spread his influence where we are.

Think of a car from the UK being driven to another country that requires a sticker indicating where you are from. The sticker says I am visiting here but really I belong elsewhere – to Scotland or the UK. It says I am enjoying being here, seeing the sights, enjoying the food, meeting the people, but I am not permanently here. I’m passing through. Then I’ll be back where I belong, in my true home country…

A better illustration might be of someone living temporarily in another country to do a job there. Christians are living on this earth to do our Father’s will. Like Jesus we have a job to do while we are here. Peter puts it very boldly, describing his readers as “aliens and strangers in the world.” But we are not here simply to wait for heaven (which we do), but to fulfil his purpose for us on this earth.

And we look forward to the two coming together, when God’s kingdom will come on earth. We pray for that whenever we say the Lord’s Prayer. The Old Testament presents the picture of all nature and its creatures living in harmony, and the New Testament describes the heavenly city descending to the earth. How all this will come about remains a mystery, but of one thing we can be sure – the kingdoms of this earth will be surpassed by the kingdom that will last for ever. Praise be to God!

Which kingdom do we belong to? Which kingdom do we serve? Which kingdom’s laws and values do we live by? Let’s get on with serving the one that is best!

Reading: Hebrews 12: 28-29

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, ‘for our God is a consuming fire.’”

Prayer

Lord our God and Father, we praise you that you call us to serve you in the world but that we don’t belong here – we are in the world but not of it. Keep us mindful of this as we serve you and share your most precious love. We ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Go in the strength of Jesus Christ, our Lord, and may his blessing go with you. Amen.

Wednesday 9th October: Sorry, there is no Midweek Reflection this week.

Midweek Reflection: Homewards Wednesday 2nd October

We are busy decluttering, as we are moving soon to sheltered housing with care in Forres (Maureen suffers from severe M.E.). We soon learned that we had much more than we need. One accumulates so much stuff over the years, not to mention decades. But one thing we can do is give some things away, send the better stuff to a charity shop, to a man from Dufftown who takes goods to Ukraine, or to Moray Waste Busters who repair, and sell what they can. So not all is wasted.

Sometimes our lives need decluttering. It’s great to have many interests and activities, but we need to remember that Jesus said his food was to do his Father’s will. Do we need to drop anything so that we too concentrate on seeking his kingdom first?

Moving can be a very stressful time, even although we have received many offers of help. But we are moving on. It is the beginning of a new chapter. And we have been overcome by the welcome we received at Varis, and the friendly atmosphere among staff and residents. We have mixed feelings, of course, about leaving friends in Aberlour and Craigellachie, but hopefully contact can be maintained.

Perhaps our new home will be our last. I expect it to be a happy one. But it will be nothing compared to the final home which Jesus has promised us. If by God’s grace we are given a place in his royal mansions, how wonderful that will be. “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21 v 5).

Going there is the pilgrim’s last journey, and he/she can look forward to a glorious welcome into Jesus’ eternal presence. We will then know the fullness of his joy and love.

Readings: Psalm 84: 3-4; John 14: 2

“Even the sparrow has found a home ………… a place near your altar, o Lord Almighty, my king and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are forever praising you.”

“In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.”

Prayer

Father God, we thank you for the homes we have to live in, for their shelter and their warmth, but much more for the rooms in your house which Jesus promised to us. We pray also for those who are homeless and all who seek to help them. We pray for young people finding it hard to get on the housing ladder. Hear these our prayers through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Go in peace, and the blessing of God go with you. Amen.

Sorry, there is no Midweek Reflection this week. Wednesday 25th September

Midweek Reflection: Godsends Wednesday 18th September

This past weekend I was struggling with my newly purchased laptop, which I had bought to replace my ten-year-old P.C., now well past its use by date. Operating the laptop was quite different from the P.C. – hence the struggle. I phoned the shop’s care service, but the representative wasn’t very helpful

Thankfully our son and family, who live a long way from us and so don’t often get to see us, came to visit us on Sunday afternoon. Immediately son and grandson were at it, got it operating, then very patiently guided me through the various things I needed to know. As many will have experienced, it was grandson in particular who worked things out!

For this reason, and for other badly needed help we required, I would say they were a godsend. As well as it being a great pleasure to see them of course!

When I arrived as minister of my first charge, people were needed for various tasks and children’s ministry. Some people prayed, and it was one of these times when prayers were clearly answered.  People responded to meet the needs – they were godsends!

Are you sceptical about this, or have you experienced a godsend event? On such occasions our awareness of a God who cares about us and intervenes in our lives is increased.

There are many examples in the scriptures. When Moses was overburdened with the task of leading God’s people during their journey through the wilderness, Jethro his father-in-law came to his aid. He advised Moses to delegate his responsibilities to others. So some trustworthy people were chosen for this purpose. From then on they dealt with the lesser cases of justice, and only the more difficult cases were referred to Moses. Jethro with his counsel was a godsend.

Remember Paul, then called Saul, was halted on the road to Damascus and was blinded by the light that shone upon him. When he got to Damascus, God appeared in a vision to a man called Ananias, whom he tasked with going to Saul’s house, restoring his sight and befriending the one who had been an enemy of the Christians. Many examples of godsends could be given.

Angels, of course, feature in the Bible. They are God’s messengers sent to people for a special purpose. But the greatest Godsend is Jesus himself, who came when the time was right to reveal God to us and bring us salvation. God sent him to find us when we were lost without him.

Reading: John 3: 17-18

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we praise you for any ‘godsends’ you have brought to us when we have needed them to provide for us or to guide and teach us. Above all we thank you for sending us your only Son to reveal your love, and your Holy Spirit to live within us. We ask you to show yourself to any who need your help or direction. Amen.

Go in the love and power of the Holy Spirit, and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Midweek reflection “Here is the news” Wednesday 11th September.

For many of us, it is difficult to watch or listen to the news. So much of it is bad news. War in Ukraine and the Middle East, the state of the economy or the NHS, natural disasters and famine – it can all seem too much to get one’s head (or heart) around. Only God can carry all this suffering and human madness in his heart.

To be fair, there is sometimes good news – a breakthrough in medicine, a new discovery, a heartwarming or humorous story at the end of the news. But most of it is hard to bear.

I think we should listen to the news and not be in denial of what is happening in the world, however bad. It can lead us to praying for those in the news (yes, even the politicians!) and taking some action when we can. But let’s go easy on it.

There is actually plenty of good news, not often reported. News of the good things people do every day to care for those in need, to serve their community and the wider world. If there is a scandal involving the church, it will probably make the news, but what about the good news of what people of faith are doing all the time – to build bridges between people, to build community, to serve the poor?

The first verse of Mark’s Gospel says: “The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” The word gospel in old English means good message i.e. good news. It is the equivalent of the Greek ‘evangelion’ from which is derived the English ‘Evangel’. So an evangelist spreads the good news.

I remember being encouraged to ask myself in preparing to preach, “Where is the good news in what I am saying?” The gospel is always good news!

It is good news, in a historical sense, about Jesus. How he came in love to this world, lived among us, suffered and died, then rose again and was exalted to the right hand of the Father. 

As well as being preached or ‘gossiped’, the gospel is received. And in being received it spells out forgiveness of sins and salvation through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. It means new life in union with him, both for this life and for eternity. What could be better news than that?

We can add to that. It is good news that God created the universe and this earth. That means it isn’t all a meaningless accident, but God’s amazing plan. Our lives are not an accident either, but are included in God’s great purposes. Most important of all, we are loved by God.

Despite the bad news we often hear, the good news of God is that He reigns over the nations, the world is in his hands, and his kingdom, known now in part, will come in its fullness. Let’s rejoice in the good news of the gospel.

Reading: Mark 1: 14-15

“….. Jesus went to Galilee and preached the Good News from God. ‘The right time has come,’ he said, ‘and the kingdom of God is near! Turn away from your sins and believe the Good News!’”

Prayer

We thank you, Lord our God, that you have given us such good news, to receive, to preach, and to gossip and share. We pray for those who preach it and those who share it. We pray for those who feel rejected, purposeless or depressed, that they may believe and receive it, and find life in its fullness. Amen.

Go in the joy of the Lord and find ways to share in word or deed the good news of God. In Jesus name. Amen. 

Midweek Reflection: A life transformed Wednesday 4th September

At Andrew’s informal service in Aberlour on Sunday, which included conversation round our coffee tables, the subject was how the life of Zacchaeus was transformed. His story is found in Luke ch 19. We were invited to “wonder” about what happened.

When Jesus told Zacchaeus to come down from the sycamore tree because he wanted to eat with him in his house, we wondered what Jesus said to him there that brought about his transformation. We thought Jesus possibly said very little at all. It was the fact that he had chosen Zacchaeus out of all the crowd, and came to his house, that made such an impression on Zacchaeus. Jesus hadn’t condemned him or lectured him because of his undesirable way of life, but called him and befriended him. Did Jesus’ very presence evoke Zacchaeus’s response? Did his very presence make him want to change? Did he sense Jesus’ deep love for him?

Another thing we wondered about was the significance of Zacchaeus’s small stature. It was because he was small that he couldn’t see Jesus over the heads of the crowd, and so he climbed a tree to see him. We thought that if he was smaller than his peers from a young age he might have been bullied. He might have felt inferior to others as a result. So as he grew older he compensated for his height by becoming rich. Being wealthy might make him feel more important. As a chief tax collector, he could make himself richer still by extorting more money than was due. But it is doubtful if this made him happy. He would be very unpopular for one thing. I wonder if he had read Psalm 62:10: “Do not trust in extortion or take pride in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.” 

Someone wondered if there was any significance in Zacchaeus’s decision, after his time with Jesus, to pay back anyone he owed money four times over. Back home I was able to reference it and found that according to Old Testament law, if someone stole a sheep the penalty for the thief was to pay back four times its price. So Zacchaeus was now fulfilling the law, as well as being generous as well. He also gave half of his possessions to the poor.

We can assume that Zacchaeus was a transformed man. Transformed by meeting Jesus. No longer setting his heart on riches, but discovering the love of Jesus and beginning to reflect that love in his generosity to others.

The account of Zacchaeus’s transformation is wonderful to share with people of all ages. Children like and respond to it as well as adults. It is so well known, but there are always new insights to gain from it. Let us thank God for Zacchaeus and for Jesus’ love for him. May it inspire us to set our hearts not on material riches, but on Jesus and his kingdom.

Reading: Luke 19: 8-9

“But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, ‘Look Lord! Here and now I give half my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house….’”

Prayer

Dear Father in heaven, we would set our hearts not on riches or on anything else that takes your place. In Jesus and his love our hearts are satisfied. Your love is even better than life and brings with it the honour of being called your sons and daughters, heirs of all your promises. We wonder at this and give you our thanks and praise. In Jesus’ wonderful name. Amen.

Go in the strength and love of Jesus Christ, and the blessing of God go with you. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: Our Compass Wednesday 28th August

When climbing a Scottish mountain with my wife, we reached the higher slopes then came across a young couple who told us they were lost. They asked us if we could help them find their way. This was surprising: they were well kitted out wearing proper mountain gear, one with a compass round his neck and holding an ordnance survey map in his hand. The trouble was that although they had the right equipment they didn’t know how to use it! We helped them set their map and establish the direction they wanted to go, and hopefully they found their way. Today people can locate their position through GPS, but still need to be able to use map and compass in certain circumstances.

For Christians our map is the Word of God in scripture. It tells us what we need to know about our faith journey, about God and his Son, and what the way is we are called to follow – to love God and our neighbour. 

But we also need our compass as well our map. The essential thing about a compass is that the arrow on it points to magnetic North. Whenever we lay it down flat, the hand swings in that direction. Then we can adjust our map so that the top is facing north too.

If the map represents the Bible, then the compass represents prayer. It is the way we turn our minds and hearts towards Jesus. So through morning prayer we can focus on the Lord, and find direction for the day ahead. At any time, we can turn ourselves to God in prayer. And in any place too. In the bathroom, as we walk along the road ….. and we don’t need fancy words!

I wonder if in all the important decisions we make we are quick to pray and consult our Lord? Of course we need to do other things as well – consider pros and cons, speak to others we trust, find out more information etc. But through our prayer, our compass, we are acknowledging God first of all and also throughout the whole process of coming to a decision.

One kind of prayer has been called the arrow prayer. That is for an unforeseen emergency. When something happens that tends to make one panic. I ask myself how quickly do I turn to God in my thoughts, as well as doing whatever else is required to rectify the situation. If the car I am driving goes into a dangerous skid for example. The arrow prayer quickly invites God to intervene in an emergency situation. You may not even call it a prayer. It is simply turning our thoughts to God there and then when we need him most.

Our prayers need often to be about others. And in praying for others we are remembering them before God, and in his presence. In this way we recognise that he knows and loves the person much more than we do, and we seek to see them in the light of his love. Then we are in a better position to show our love for them – God’s love through us.  

Reading: Matthew 6: 6-7(a)

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then the Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like the pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.”

Prayer

Father in heaven, help us to set aside times for prayer and also speak with you wherever we are and whatever we are doing. May the compass needle of our heart turn constantly to you, so that we walk together in the way of faith, hope and love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Go in peace and in the strength of the Lord, and the blessing of God go with you. Amen.

Wednesday 21st August – sorry there is no midweek reflection this week as the computer is away for repair. I plan to be back next week.

Midweek Reflection: “Running the race of faith” Wednesday 14th August

The last athlete to finish the Olympic Women’s Marathon, an hour and a half after the winner, did so to a standing ovation on the last day of the Paris Games. Kinzang Lhamo from Bhutan finished the hilly and hot course in three hours, 52 minutes and 59 seconds. She was encouraged over the last kilometres by spectators cycling and running alongside her. As she hit the home straight, fans in the stands got to their feet to cheer her on as she crossed the finish line, the 80th woman to complete the course.

This will probably be my last Olympics illustration, you’ll be relieved to hear! It brings to mind the passage in Hebrews chapter 12, which describes the Christian life as a race in a great amphitheatre. The athlete is surrounded by “a great cloud of witnesses”. This is often taken to mean we are being cheered on by the crowd of spectators made up of those who have run the race of faith. These heroes of the faith are listed in chapter 11 just before.

But really it is saying that these heroes of the faith, like Abraham and Noah, are witnesses rather than spectators. Witnesses to encourage us by their example. But it comes to much the same. Their race of faith, in the back of our minds, helps us on our way. And for most of us it is a long way, like a marathon. We need to be resolute, and not give up. Just like Lhamo, who was the slowest, but she kept going even through the hot and hilly part of the race, to reach her goal. 

It has been noticeable that in other sports there has been great cheering for those who don’t do so well. As in gymnastics, when a contestant falls off the bar, but gets up and tries again. The crowd want to encourage the one who keeps going despite such a mishap.

Probably you don’t count yourself as a hero of the faith. Perhaps you feel more like the athlete who is last in the race, or who has fallen but then gets up and keeps going. You count as much as the fastest athlete or the almost perfect gymnast. What we are asked to do is to keep going, keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the greatest example of all and one who suffered a terrible humiliation leading to death on a cross.

Some face very difficult circumstances and challenges, such that their faith is severely tested. They falter in their race. They cannot understand why God has allowed something dreadful to happen to them. But they hang on despite doubts and questions, even though they have to slow down. How much they need the grace and help of Jesus. It is said of him, “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out” (Isaiah 42: 3a). May they be encouraged by those in Hebrews chapter 11 who kept going despite facing very difficult obstacles, and by the support of their fellow runners. 

Let’s run the race, or even walk it, whatever speed we travel!

Reading: Hebrews 12: 1-2

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses ……. let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross ….. and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Prayer

Father God, help us to ‘hang on in there’ and keep following Jesus your Son. Thank you that when we falter, with you there is forgiveness and an endless stream of grace. Bless those who struggle because of their difficult circumstances. Help them to keep their eyes fixed on Jesus, and continue to the end. Amen.

Go on in the strength and love of God, and may his grace be with you always. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: “Encourage one another” Wednesday 7th August

One of Great Britain’s gold medal winners in the 2024 Olympics is Alex Yee who won the men’s triathlon event. In case you don’t know, the triathlon begins with a swim, followed by cycling, then by a run to the finish. The run in the Olympics is 10k in length. 

A fellow British athlete, Sam Dickinson, acted as Alex’s pacesetter. He set a fast pace in the cycling for Alex to keep up with, then the same at the beginning of the run until he tired and withdrew from the race. It was a great sacrifice to help and encourage Alex Yee who had a greater chance of winning a medal than he had. 

But Alex Yee received another encouragement at a critical moment. He was doing well, in second place, approaching the final lap, but the leader, New Zealand’s Hayden Wilde, was 14 seconds ahead of him. At that moment he heard a voice from among the spectators which he recognised. It shouted, “Anything can happen.” It was the voice of former triathlon gold medal winner, Alistair Brownlee, who was Alex’s hero and whom he admired so much.

This encouragement made all the difference. “It was a moment of belief”, Yee said later. He found new energy within him, and started a sprint finish, overtaking Wilde on the way! What a word of encouragement can do!

We may not be great athletes, or keep company with them, but we need to encourage one another on the path we follow. It may be encouraging another in the gifts we use in the service of God and our neighbours, or showing appreciation of someone who serves faithfully in the Church. It could be encouraging another person who struggles to overcome problems. Or someone whose creative gifts give pleasure to others. Encourage one another! 

We are surely all meant to be encouragers. But some have a special gift of encouragement. Remember Barnabas who befriended Paul when he turned from being an enemy of Christ to a follower. Others were cautious, but Barnabas got alongside him, showed he believed in him, and introduced him to the leaders of the Church. Do you know what the name Barnabas means – “Son of encouragement”!

It is easier to be a critic than an encourager. But criticism can be destructive. Lots has been said about building children up with encouragement rather than being over critical and demoralising them. We need to be looking for the good qualities in others, and the fine things they do, and encouraging them. Paul said repeatedly, “Encourage one another.”

Reading: Romans 12: 6-8a

“So we are to use our different gifts in accordance with the grace God has given us. If our gift is to speak God’s message, we should do it according to the faith we have; if it is to serve we should serve; if it is to teach we should teach; if it is to encourage others we should do so.”

Prayer

We give thanks to you, Lord, for those who have encouraged us in our journey of faith. We know that constructive criticism is something we need at times, given in the right spirit, but forgive us our negative criticisms of others that are so unhelpful. Help us to see the good in others and be quick to encourage. In the name of the One who builds us up in love, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Go in the faith that works through love, and the blessing of God be with you. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: How Great Thou Art Wednesday 31st July

I love hymns that give praise for God’s creation. The hymn “How Great Thou Art” is a worthy example. And here is something of its story.

It was written by Stuart Hine, a missionary who worked in Eastern Europe. In 1934 Stuart began a 300-mile cycle through the Carpathian Mountains, preaching and distributing Bibles as he went. He said later that the first three verses of the hymn were inspired by his unforgettable experiences in these mountains and by the Russian words of ‘Mighty God’ by Ivan Prokhanoff.

He was impacted by the evidences of God’s power (“I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder, thy power throughout the universe displayed”). More particularly: “When through the woods and forest glades I wander and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees; when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur….”. Just as we might be inspired when travelling through the Scottish Highlands, or looking up at or even climbing one of the Bens! Or listening to bird song!

The third verse does not appear to be about creation. It takes us to the Cross, and focuses on Jesus obtaining our salvation (“And when I think that God his Son not sparing, sent him to die – I scarce can take it in…”). I remember feeling the connection between creation and salvation when walking in the hills in Austria. At the top of many hills a cross has been erected, and one walk took us up a hill following the stations of the Cross. 

I love that. Please read now the reading below from Colossians. Does this not tell us that God’s plan is for our redemption, and that of the whole of creation? Let’s make sure we don’t make God or Christ too small!

What about the last verse of the great hymn? In 1948, the grief of refugees pouring out of Eastern Europe, looking for a home, prompted him to compose a fourth verse, full of hope for our true home with Christ (“When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation and take me home – what joy shall fill my heart….”). It is a verse about our final home with him in heaven.

The hymn became tremendously popular in the UK and beyond. Even Elvis recorded a version! The royalties from the song came streaming in. But Stuart Hine was first and foremost a missionary and was used to relying on God to meet his needs. So he and his daughter formed the Stuart Hine Trust which has now distributed over £6 million for gospel work. This is from the royalties from the hymn! God has been glorified not only through the singing of the hymn, but also through Stuart’s decision and the work that has been done though the trust – such as the work of Wycliffe Bible Translators throughout the world.

Bible Reading: Colossians 1: 16a & 20

“Through him (Christ) God created everything in heaven and on earth…. Through the Son, then, God decided to bring the whole universe back to himself. God made peace through his Son’s sacrificial death on the cross and so brought back to himself all things, both on earth and in heaven.”

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, we praise you that all things were created through you, and that you came to bring back everything in heaven and on earth to God, your Father. Father, we thank you for this hymn which encourages us to praise. Bless all who, as Stuart Hine did, work for the spread of the gospel. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The blessing of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit go with you. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: He ran for God Wednesday 24th July

This year marks the centenary of Eric Liddell winning the gold medal for the 400 metres race at the 1924 Olympic Games. This year he received a posthumous honorary doctorate from Edinburgh University where he studied for a science degree and trained as an athlete. It is fitting that he won his gold medal at the Paris Olympics, and this year the games are in Paris again.

Eric came from a Scottish family who were Christian missionaries in China. He was in fact born there. It was his ambition that on finishing his studies he would return to China as a missionary. He did not see a conflict in his missionary commitment and his joy in running. He ran for God!

But a conflict did arise at the 1924 Olympics. The film, “Chariots of Fire”, tells this story. His main distance was the 100 metres. But it turned out the heats for this race were to take place on a Sunday. His conscience and Christian principles would not permit him to race on this day even although the 100m was his best distance. Great pressure was exerted on him to change his mind for the sake of his king and country. But his love of king and country came second to his loyalty to God. He wanted to honour God first and foremost, and to refuse to run on a Sunday was his way of doing this at great personal cost. 

But then he was offered the chance to change his distance and run the 400m race instead. He agreed to do this. It is said that on the morning of this race he found a note in his bag quoting 1 Samuel 2:30: “Those who honour me I will honour.” 

To make matters more difficult for him, as well as not running his favourite distance he was allotted the outside lane. So at first he could not see his competitors. But he ran as if it was a sprint and kept running that way. Opening his mouth and thrusting his head backwards – his unusual and not very elegant style of running – he kept going to win the race. The gold medal was his!

Eric Liddell was more than an athlete. He travelled back to China where he served as a missionary. He worked among rich and poor, and made a deep impression. “The nearest I have come to meeting a saint”, was one response to him and his work. He was known for his love, kindness and dedication. He knew how to be “abased and abound” as Paul did. For he stayed on in China after the Japanese invasion, and was kept in a prison camp. Even there he led a Bible Study! But he had a brain tumour which along with other factors brought about an untimely death. 

We may be no Eric Liddells, but whatever our abilities and our circumstances how can we too put God first in our lives? How can we show our love for him?

Reading: 2 Timothy 4: 7-8a

“I have fought the good fight, I have run the race. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

Prayer

Lord God, we thank you for the example of Eric Liddell, for his enjoyment of running, for the way he chose to honour you, and for his love, kindness and dedication in his missionary work in China. With the Paris Olympics about to begin, we give thanks for the training and dedication of the athletes who compete. We pray for the safety of all who participate and those who attend. In Jesus name. Amen.

Go, run the race and win the prize. God be with you and bless you. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: Can you empathise? Wednesday 17th July

On Sunday night I was supporting England in the UEFA Euro final. Despite all their efforts they failed to win the prized trophy. It was devastating for the manager and players. Not to mention the vast numbers of supporters. All these shattered hopes, and the overwhelming disappointment. Even if you are not an ardent English supporter (or didn’t even want England to win!), you can hardly fail to feel some empathy with those who are.

Usually we use the word empathy, which means identifying with another person’s feelings, in relation to people undergoing some unpleasant or difficult experience or circumstance. But one could have positive empathy too. For example with Spanish sports fans, who celebrate not only their victory over England at football but also the victory of Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon Men’s Singles Final on the same day! We can stand in Spanish shoes and sense their happiness. Very difficult for English supporters, but a kind of empathy! 

And it is good to celebrate with those who celebrate – whether it is a marriage or anniversary, the achievement of an ambition, the passing of an important exam or reaching some other milestone in their lives. One can share in another’s joys as well as their sorrows. It’s a case of entering the experience of someone else. “Be happy with those who are happy, weep with those who weep. Have the same concern for everyone.” (Romans 12:15).

To “weep with those who weep” instructs us how to relate to those whose circumstances are unhappy. One might want to be cheery and to cheer such a person up. But that can be so inappropriate. It is so much more helpful to show empathy. To listen and try to understand why they are unhappy, and how they feel. The person most likely needs that more than anything. Not advice. Not cheering up. But the love that understands and accepts the person as they really are. Then once we have really entered into what they are experiencing, it might be appropriate to remind him or her of God’s love, and the promise of his presence with us. We can help them glimpse some light in their darkness. We can also say that we will pray for them. That can mean such a lot to a person. But we must mean it!

Key to Christian empathy is the incarnation. In this the Son of God became one of us, entered our human experience, lived as one of us. He truly stepped into our shoes – and walked in them all the way. Now that he is exalted at the Father’s side he is our High Priest, representing us and interceding for us. As the Son of Man, he understands what it is like to be you or me. He has empathy. And he is able to advocate for us in heaven. 

He is our inspiration to have such empathy with others. We can practise empathy, using our imagination to step into someone else’s shoes. An important aspect of love.

Reading: Hebrews 4:15-16

“Our high Priest is not one who cannot feel sympathy for our weaknesses. On the contrary, we have a High Priest who was tempted in every way that we are, but did not sin. Let us have confidence then, and approach God’s throne, where there is grace. There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us just when we need it.”

Prayer

Most loving God, we praise you for all you have done for us through Christ Jesus your Son. We thank you that he shared our humanity, and knows what it is like to rejoice and celebrate, to be tested, to suffer and to die. He entered into all our experiences except that he did not sin. We praise you for the mercy and grace to help us that we find in him. Help us to love one another, showing empathy, sharing their happiness and their troubles. In Jesus name. Amen.

Go in his strength to love one another as he has loved us. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: A Choice of Wills Wednesday 10th July

It was not the best start to our day. I was preoccupied with how we could improve our garden, while my wife was naturally concerned about health problems she was experiencing. The result was that we did not really meet each other in our conversation. Until we realised what was happening and began to listen to each other!

Often we bring to God the concerns we are preoccupied with. This is fine, but we need to listen to him, and realise his main concerns may be different from our own. I believe prayer can change things, and through it miracles take place. But the biggest change prayer can make is in the person who prays. In praying, which includes listening, we recognise what God is saying to us. We recognise that our will is not the same as his will, and we learn to choose his.

Jesus gave us the Lord’s Prayer. It was probably not intended to be repeated word for word as we do on Sundays. Jesus introduced it by saying this is HOW you should pray. It is really a model for prayer. In this prayer, we pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. 

Jesus said his food was to do the will of him who sent him. How far short of that I often fall, letting my own will dominate and so stop me from hearing what his will is. It is meant to be the food of Christians too, to do the Father’s will. What a satisfying thing that is. How meaningful it makes our lives. What higher purpose can there be for us than to do his will? What better result of prayer can there be than for our will to be aligned to his. So much better and more satisfying than to seek to fulfil our own selfish desires.

I recall hearing of a child who was afraid to pray for God’s will to be done. She felt that would mean God taking away from her something she liked. Like losing a friend. Or giving up something she liked doing. But that is surely wrong. God is good and loves us more than anyone does. He always wants the best for us. Until the ordeal of his Passion Jesus himself enjoyed a wedding feast, having the company of his friends, partying with friends and ‘sinners’. And after the cross, there was the glory into which he entered.

Sometimes, though, it does mean giving up something that is not good for us, or something that we idolise. But God will replace that with something better. 

And we dare not say that suffering and illness are the will of God. They are part of a fallen world in which there are flaws and defects just as there are flaws in imperfect human beings.

So let us say wholeheartedly, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. Beginning with me and you!

Reading: John 4: 31-34

“Meanwhile his disciples urged him, ‘Rabbi, eat something’. But he said to them, ‘I have food to eat that you know nothing about.’ Then the disciples said to each other, ‘Could someone have brought him food?’ ‘My food’, said Jesus, ‘is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.’”

Prayer

Father, please give us a delight in doing your will. In doing the loving instead of the selfish thing. In obeying your commands. In serving your kingdom. Lord, may your will be done and your kingdom come in the world, in our nation, in the church and community, and in my life. Please begin with me. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Go to love and serve your neighbour and your Lord. And may he go with you and bless you. Amen.

Wednesday 3rd July Due to ill health there is no midweek reflection this week – plan to be back next week.

Midweek Reflection: Coping with change. Wednesday 26th June

Last weekend special services and events were held to mark the closure of Craigellachie Church building. This is part of the process of reorganisation that is taking place in the Church of Scotland because of financial pressures and lack of ordained ministers. Consolidation for future mission might be the best way to describe it. There were mixed thoughts and emotions during this weekend.

One was sadness. People had worshipped in this building and wouldn’t be able to anymore. Perhaps they had been baptised there, professed their faith there, been married there and regularly worshipped there. There they had enjoyed fellowship with others. There they had been encouraged and equipped to live as followers of Jesus, and to live out their lives in their community serving him. And the building had been treasured. It was always well looked after by property convenors and office bearers and kept spotlessly clean.

As was made clear over the weekend, the Church is not a building but a people. But this building has been a base for Christian worship and nurture for 154 years. It is hardly surprising that that there is much sadness and grieving currently. I am reminded of the people of Israel during their exile in Babylon, far away from the Temple which was central to their worship. They said that they could not sing the songs of Zion in a foreign land. (Psalm 137:4)

But despite this, the weekend was also a time of thankfulness and celebration. Andrew, our minister, went round the various items of furniture in the Church – the pulpit where the word had been preached, the lectern where the scriptures had been read, the organ which had led the praises of God’s people, the communion table where the bread and wine were shared, the pews where people had taken part in the service, even the door through which people had entered and then went out to live out their faith in their community. There was deep thankfulness in remembering those no longer with us who had worshipped here before. We celebrated their memory. As Psalm 116:15 puts it: “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints”, meaning they are carefully watched over.

There were also four previous ministers present, as well as our present minister, Andrew. Their ministries were remembered. And they shared some of their memories 

It was also a time of looking forward. “One more step along the world we go” we sang at the end of the Songs of Praise Service. It is the end of a chapter and the beginning of a new one. A service of communion was held in the sunshine on the beach at the River Spey, near the Telford Bridge. Just as the risen Jesus shared breakfast with his disciples on the shore of Lake Tiberias. This spoke of leaving the building behind and looking forward to the future together. We are not confined to a building, and there by the riverside other people joined us. The river flowed beside us. Life was all around us. Let us always be ready to reach outwards and forwards as the Lord leads us.

Reading: Philippians 3: 13b-15a

“… one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things.”

Prayer

Lord our God, we thank you for those people in Craigellachie who have good reason to be sad but are ready to press on towards a new future. We confess that we sometimes get stuck in our journey of faith. Forgive us, and help us to move forwards as you lead us. We ask this in the precious name of Jesus who pressed on to the very end to do his Father’s will. Amen.

Go forwards in faith and love, and the blessing of God go with you. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: Your Choice! Wednesday 19th June

First choice: are you going to vote on July 4^th? If so, who will you vote for? None of my business, of course. It is good that we choose to vote, as our democracy depends on that. But we then have to choose between the party we most agree with, or one which is more likely to win. Between the party whose policies reflect our values, or the candidate who appears trustworthy and would serve their constituents well. Between what would be to our personal financial advantage, or what would make for a more just society. That’s a challenge!

I intend to vote and hope you do too. But the difference it will make who wins is limited. We are living in a broken society, or a breaking one at least. The problems needing solving are enormous. We could start with the NHS and social care. And there are global concerns which are mainly out of our government’s control.

What we need most is a much more fundamental choice. One that effects a deeper change than any change of government. It is a choice that can change human nature, and so change the greed, the hate and the lust for power that cause all the wars, suffering and injustice in the world. Also the divisions we see in our own nation.

The power we know that can change people is the power of Christ’s love. When he enters a person’s life changes come about. We hear of it in Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus for example, and in the experiences of countless people ever since. A greedy, insecure, probably dishonest Zacchaeus became secure in God’s love and forgiveness, unselfish, honest and generous (Luke 19:1-10). 

The change in most of us is probably not as dramatic, but equally real and lasting if we have chosen Jesus. That is the radical choice I am speaking about. As we choose Jesus and his way, his kingdom, we can be partners with him in the changes that make for a better world. 

The choice we make for Jesus is one we need to renew each day. When some of Jesus’ followers found his teaching too hard, they left him. Jesus then asked his twelve disciples whether they wanted to leave him too. Peter replied: “Lord, to whom we shall go. You have the words of eternal life…”(John 6:68). Sometimes following Jesus is not easy. It is a hard choice. But think about it. Once we have known him who else would we choose to go to? 

But notice in the Zacchaeus encounter it was Jesus who first called him to come down from the tree. Zacchaeus’s choice for Jesus was the result of Jesus’ choice of him. It takes a lot of pressure off us to realise this about ourselves. He has chosen us, before we have chosen him.

Reading: John 15: 4, 16

“Remain united to me, and I will remain united to you. A branch cannot bear fruit by itself; it can only do so if it remains in the vine…… You did not choose me; I chose you and appointed you to go and bear much fruit, the kind of fruit that endures.”

Prayer

Lord Jesus, help us to see that all you did you did for us, and that you chose us in love before we chose you. Help us to make it our choice each day to look to you and follow you, especially when we find that hard. And we pray for those who suffer for their faith that they may be given the courage and strength they need. Amen.

Go in peace, and may the blessing of God be upon you, and remain with you. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: Sowing the Seed Wednesday 12th June

We’ve just had grass seeds sown on an area of new soil. But the trouble is that some sparrows are now pecking at the seed. They are making a meal of it. I now have a net to cover the patch, and so save the seed. Mind you I think the sparrows are very ungrateful! We feed the birds regularly with sunflower seeds and other delicacies. In fact we spend so much on bird food, that they will soon be eating us out of house and home. Yet they still try to gobble up our grass seed! O well, perhaps sparrows can’t think like us, or show gratitude.

There’s a lot about seed in the scriptures, and birds too for that matter. Think of Jesus relating the Parable of the Sower. He speaks of the farmer sowing the seed, some of it lands not on good soil but on the path, and then the birds come along and gobble it up. In his interpretation Jesus speaks of the seed being God’s message, and the path representing those that hear the word and don’t immediately understand it. They forget about it and so it doesn’t take root in their minds and hearts. Jesus speaks of the birds representing the evil one who snatches away the seed of his message. 

Hearing this we naturally think of people hearing the gospel message for the first time, and not letting it take root. But it can apply to Christians as well. We hear God’s word preached to us, and soon forget it, rather than reminding ourselves of it and letting it take root and bearing fruit in our lives. It’s the same with reading the Bible ourselves. We can easily forget what it is saying to us. That is why it is good to meditate on a verse or passage through which God clearly speaks to us whether to encourage us, to reassure us of his forgiveness and love, or to check and redirect us. It is a good habit to commit such a verse to memory, and repeat it often to ourselves. 

In this way we can become more and more like the good soil mentioned by Jesus at the end of the parable. Just like the soil where the grass seed has been planted. This good soil stands for those who hear God’s message, and produce a crop, thus living lives that are fruitful for Christ.

We need to ask The Holy Spirit to work in us when we hear God’s word. The Spirit and the word work together. It is of the Spirit and through the word that we are born again. And it is through the Spirit and the word together that the soil is prepared to make our lives more fruitful for Jesus.

One final thought. When we chat after a Church service, how often does our conversation touch on the word preached to us? Don’t we mostly talk about almost anything else? In Aberlour, at our first Sunday in the month services, we sit round tables and reflect in groups on the Bible passage that has been read. Sharing what it means to us helps us to remember it and apply it in our lives.

Reading: 1Peter 1: 23-25

“For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, ‘All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands for ever.’ And this is the word that was preached to you” (1Peter 1:23-25). 

Prayer

Lord, we confess that we have not always been like good soil, receptive to the seed of your word. Help us to receive it, and retain it, and let it work in us to make us more effective disciples of Jesus. We pray also for those who preach or communicate your message in any way that they would be upheld, inspired and led by your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: Disagree? Wednesday 5th June

I was having a conversation with someone about a topical issue which is very controversial, namely the Middle East crisis centred on Gaza. It was turning into a rather heated argument. I saw we were getting nowhere, so I suggested that we “agree to disagree”. A phrase used by Dale Carnegie among others. It has also been said that we can “agree to disagree agreeably”. We think our politicians could do better at that; perhaps we all could. 

As Christians we are to seek agreement with one another. In Christ we are agreed on the most important issues of all. In him we are one and seek to express that as we do at Communion. Just as the Triune God is one – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – in loving communion with one another, so we through faith are brought into that loving relationship with God and with each other. However we tend not to agree about everything. When this happens we can surely agree to disagree agreeably.

When we read of the Early Church in the Acts of the Apostles we find much agreement, but some disagreements. One major disagreement was between Paul the apostle and his companion Barnabas, who had been on a missionary journey to Cyprus together with John Mark, Barnabas’s cousin. When they reached Pamphylia, John Mark deserted the others. It seems that the pace got too hot for him. So when Paul and Barnabas were about to set out on a further journey, Paul didn’t want to take John Mark with them because he might not be up to it. But Barnabas disagreed, he wanted to stick with John Mark and give him a second chance. The outcome was that they went on different journeys – Paul with Silas, and Barnabas with John Mark. Actually, by dividing up in this way, more ground was covered. The building up of Churches and the spread of the gospel was extended. We could say that God used it all for good.

Paul didn’t finally give up on Mark. Later on, we find John Mark being a helper to Paul in his ministry (2 Timothy 4:11) and Paul urging the Colossian Church to make John Mark welcome (Colossians 4:10b). Clearly they have been reconciled.

A major source of conflict in the Early Church was whether Gentiles could be part of the Church without being circumcised and being under the Jewish law. But through sharing how Gentiles had come to faith, and listening to each other, they eventually reached agreement. 

We are to seek agreement with one another and be united in our faith. But we cannot agree with what is evil and clearly contrary to God’s will and Jesus’ teaching.

Reading: Philippians 4:2-3

“I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with one another in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, loyal yoke-fellow, help those women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.”

Prayer

Lord our God, you are the God of order and of peace, and your will is that we be in agreement with one another and not divided. When we do face disagreements, help us to deal with our differences respectfully and in love. And when we face wrong or injustice enable us in the strength of your Spirit to disagree strongly and stand up against it. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: Forgetting and Remembering Wednesday 29th May

How is your memory? Do you find it increasingly difficult to remember names? Or do you go to another room of your house, then forget what you have come for? For those who are older forgetting things can become a real problem, so if you are young or do not have that problem be sure to cherish the gift of a good memory! Serious memory loss marks the onset of dementia. ‘Brain fog’ accompanies certain health conditions, both physical and mental. But declining memory can simply be the result of aging. Someone said it is because the brain is so full of information that there is not much room for more – how scientific that is I do not know. 

In another sense God forgets too! In speaking of the promise of a new covenant, when each one will know the Lord, the prophet Jeremiah records the Lord as saying: “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more” (Jeremiah 31:34b). He forgives and forgets. Like me, do you find yourself raking up past sins and mistakes which you have confessed before? Then remind yourself that he remembers them no more. Micah says of God that he will “hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19b). So no more dredging! What a wonderful God, who has done away with our sins offering us complete forgiveness. The cross is the pledge of this. We should not doubt it.

Are we to ‘forgive and forget’ too? It depends on what we mean by that. Yes, we are called as Christians to forgive those who have wronged us. That means treating them as if they have never done such a thing. We are not to keep bringing up the wrong in our minds. We are to forget in that sense.

God is never forgetful of us. He doesn’t forget us. “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast …… Though she may forget, I will not forget you” (Isaiah 49:15). This is our faith, that however near or far God may seem today he is remembering you. He watches over you all the time, and never forgets you. Let’s try to take that in! As I write I am trying not to say it glibly, but truly absorb it. It really is awesome.

But if you are anything like me, you will often forget God. That is why we are to practise the presence of God. Think of him during each day and night. Remember his love and his blessings. And in times of testing or of temptation to panic, turn to him. We are to remember Jesus’ teaching too, for example in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), and put it into practice in our daily lives and in our relationships with others, with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Reading: Psalm 103: 2-5

“Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits – who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

Prayer

Thank you, dear Lord, for all your blessings. What you have done for us through your Son. For giving us your Spirit. For answers to prayer. For thinking of us constantly. For never forgetting us. Thank you that you remember our sins no more. Keep us mindful of you and your love. May we practise your presence day by day. May we remember your commands to do them. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Go in peace, remembering his love and remembering to love others as ourselves. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: That’s the Spirit! Wednesday 22nd May

Last Sunday was Pentecost when we celebrate the coming of the Spirit which marks the birthday of the Church. A day for praising, dancing, shouting, banners flying. A day to celebrate.

Or should we celebrate the Holy Spirit’s coming more quietly? After all the Spirit works in a variety of ways. Sometimes dramatically and powerfully, sometimes very gently. Both equally valid.

Imagine a skilled musician playing an instrument. It can be played at full volume, but also quietly. Or take a car starting off on its journey, revving up as it moves through the gears, then later purring gently as it moves along at an even speed. The working of the Spirit is rather like that.

The day of Pentecost was a very dramatic occasion. There was the sound as of a mighty wind, there were tongues of fire resting on the heads of the disciples. There was the speaking forth the word of God in such a way that people from different nations could hear them in their own languages. And we hear in the Acts of the Apostles how those who believed spoke in other tongues, and how for example a man who had been crippled from birth was healed in the name of Jesus by Peter and John. The man was so filled with joy, that he went into the Temple walking, leaping and praising God. Powerful and dramatic indeed. And when God’s Spirit is present he can still do these things today. With him nothing is impossible. Our prayers sometimes may not have been answered in the way we wanted, but we must not limit the possibilities. Miracles happen.

If we turn to John’s Gospel, we have a rather different version of the Holy Spirit coming to the apostles. It is after Jesus has risen from the dead. He appeared in risen form to the eleven. He said to them, “Peace be with you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” It was quiet and peaceful. 

I regard John’s account of Jesus breathing the Spirit on his disciples as a foretaste for them of what was to happen on the day of Pentecost. John’s account reminds us that the Spirit can work very quietly among us, both as a group or as individuals. When we sense God’s presence with us this is the quiet working of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit also works steadily in our lives to produce the fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23).

As a student I was convicted about my smoking habit. If God was Almighty, I realised I should not be under the control of nicotine sticks! I asked a friend to pray with me about this. I experienced something like being lifted up to heaven, and then there followed a deep sense of peace. It was dramatic and peaceful. The Holy Spirit made God very real to me at this time of preparing for the ministry. Dramatic and peaceful!

Reading: John 20: 19b-22

“Then Jesus came and stood among them. ‘Peace be with you,’ he said……… Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I send you.’ Then he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’”

Prayer

Father, we praise you that you work in many ways. Forgive us when we try to limit or control how your Spirit works in our lives. Send your Spirit to us afresh that we may be equipped to serve you and share your love. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Go in Peace, and the blessing of the Lord be with you. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: Common Dandelions? Wednesday 15th May

Driving to Elgin yesterday in the sunshine we were struck by the amount of yellow by the roadside. Whin bushes lined the road with their yellow profusion. Also hosts of yellow dandelions! These are yellow days.

Dandelions are a pest to many a gardener. They want to get them out before they turn to seed balls and spread further. But they are deep rooted and not so easy to remove. Yet consider them more kindly. The bees and butterflies feed on them. See them not so much as weeds but as wildflowers. And beautiful in their own right. Yes, like daisies and clover they are very common, but imagine if they were the only flowers we had. Wouldn’t we then admire and treasure them?

A gardener who won many prizes for his cultivated flowers said to me that the dandelion was perfectly designed, more so than his own cultivated prize dahlias. The dandelion caused him to give praise to our Creator God.

Some of us may think of ourselves as very ordinary people, much like dandelions or daisies. But who is ordinary? The psalmist proclaims: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” (Psalm 139:14). Christians also know how precious they are because we they have been redeemed through the blood of Jesus. Each one of us is a treasure! Each of us is unique, and God has plans for us. We are not to compare ourselves with others as each of us is so precious to God. Each of us has a special part to fulfil as we glorify and serve our God, our Maker and Redeemer. 

If we think we are very ordinary, listen to Paul’s words: “Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were influential; not many were of noble birth” (1 Corinthians 1:26). But we are created, redeemed and called by him, and have a particular part in growing his kingdom. Therefore we are special.

Another lesson from the dandelion. A minister spoke recently about the trouble it is removing dandelions. The reason is that they have such strong roots. They are hard to get out. We can learn from them by putting our roots deeper in Christ through worship, prayer, reading the scriptures and obeying his call. Then we will be firm in our faith and not let problems, difficulties or opposition overcome us.

Reading: Colossians 2:6-7

“So then, just as you received Jesus Christ as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

Prayer

Lord God, we thank you for the lessons we can learn from your creation. Help us never to put ourselves down, but rather see ourselves as you see us, precious and beloved, and with a part to play in your kingdom. You love us so much. Help us by your Spirit working in us to share your love with others by what we do and say. We ask these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Go in peace, and the blessing of God be with you. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: Bring on the Clowns Wednesday 8th May

The famous circus group, Cirque du Soleil, will this month be demonstrating their skills at Macallan Distillery. Many of the artists have been living in caravans at the Speyside Gardens Caravan Park which is next to our home. There are storytellers, acrobats and clowns. They are of various nationalities. Before you ask about tickets, they are very expensive! 

I don’t know how much clowning there will be during this presentation, but clowns are very important in a circus and sometimes, through the funny stuff, have something serious to stay.

And this takes me back in my memories to the musical “Godspell”. If you have not seen it, it is very likely that you have heard a song or two from it. It is all about Jesus, and while I have criticisms of it, part of its freshness and its novelty is that Jesus and his followers are portrayed as clown-like characters. In case you think this is irreverent, let me explain.

Jesus did not take the values of the world in which he lived at all seriously. While the rich were thought to be blessed, and the poor under a curse, he turned this around and said the poor were blessed because the kingdom of God belonged to them. He taught that while it used to be said “Love your neighbour and hate your enemy”, he now said “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” He taught that those who served were greater than those who lorded it over others. Can you think of any other reversals of the world’s values are in his teaching?

I am thinking of the way he poked fun at the values of society. Worldly wealth is not to be coveted. Being rich in the treasures of the Kingdom of God is what matters. Remember, too, the story he told of the Pharisee and the publican praying. He certainly poked fun at the Pharisee’s self-righteous prayer!

A clown plays the fool. Paul describes himself as “a fool for Christ.” He was saying some people might think this as he had given up so much in terms of worldly ambition and suffered much to serve his Lord. And he describes the message of the Cross as a “stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.” A God who becomes a human being and dies a wretched death on the Cross is indeed folly to the unbelieving world. Yet this greatest sacrifice is the greatest achievement ever gained. He made a fool of what the world valued.

As John Newton’s hymn puts it, “Fading is the worldling’s pleasure, all his boasted pomp and show; solid joys and lasting treasure none but Zion’s children know.”

Reading: 1 Corinthians 1: from 20-25

“Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe….. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.”

Prayer

Lord we thank you for the freshness and joy of the gospel, and the way it takes what the world values so lightly. We rejoice in the far richer values of your kingdom. Help us to cherish its “solid joys and lasting treasures” which you have given your children to know. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Go rejoicing in the love of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Midweek Reflection: Washing feet 2, Wednesday 1st May

How do you welcome a visitor to your home? Offer a drink, make them a cup of tea? I’m sure that in some way you want to serve them and make them feel at home.

This is a P.S. to last week’s reflection on the story from John 13 about Jesus washing his disciples’ feet. He surprised them, astonished them, by taking off his outer clothing, wrapping a towel round his waist, going round them and one by one washing their feet and drying them with the towel afterwards. No wonder they were surprised. It was the custom that a servant should perform this task for those who had been walking the dusty roads of Palestine. Perhaps, in the absence of a servant, one of them should have been doing this for their Lord, but such humility was not their greatest virtue. Did they each wait for someone else in their number to volunteer for the humble task? But it was the Lord who did this for them.

There is a very practical lesson to be learned from this incident. Jesus, our Lord, was turning the tables by exemplifying and so honouring humble service. The humble act of service in the background matters just as much as the action upfront that receives recognition. We are to serve one another in love. This is to follow Jesus’ example. He said: “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.”  

I recall working at the Netherbow, a Church of Scotland Arts Centre and Restaurant in Edinburgh. The then Leader of the Iona Community visited the Centre and spoke with the Director. But at lunchtime this man who held such an important position in the Iona Community was in the restaurant, clearing dirty dishes from the tables and generally mucking in. This impressed me greatly. He was following Jesus’ example. No airs and graces about him! It was a reprimand to us if we were ever complaining about menial duties!

Jesus’ action was one of pure love, practically expressed but also hinting at what he was to do for us on the Cross. A much deeper cleansing, and the proof of indomitable love.

Let me finish by asking you to imagine being there with Jesus’ disciples when he washed their feet. Take time to visualise the scene and feel your way into the company of the disciples. Now it is your turn. Just think of it! The Lord Jesus is about to wash your feet, if you let him. Now ask yourself what you feel. What you would say to Jesus. What you would do. And if you did let him wash your feet, how would it affect you afterwards? And how would it affect the rest of your life?

Reading: John 13: from 12-17

“When (Jesus) had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. ‘Do you understand what I have done for you?’ he asked them. …. ‘Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you ….. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.’”

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you make things so simple. Help us to follow your example in the Spirit of your love. And may others see your love working in and among us. But we praise you that you did something far greater for us than washing our feet – you stretched out your hands upon the Cross and embraced each one of us in your love. To your name be the glory for ever. Amen.

Go in gratitude and in peace. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: Do you need a Foot Wash? Wednesday 24th April

Today I’ve been cleaning our bird table and feeders. The reason for doing it now is that I spotted a very fat chaffinch nearby. That means it has Fat Finch Disease. This causes it to fatten and become unable to eat. Eventually it dies. So there is the need to clean the table and feeders, and spray with sanitiser, to get rid of any infection and halt the spread of the disease. I hope my efforts will be successful.

On our spiritual journey, although we are seeking to live as friends and disciples of Jesus, we are liable to pick up the infection of the largely godless world we inhabit. God made and loves the world. There is much good in it. We cannot and should not try to isolate ourselves from this world which we are called to serve. But we need a regular good clean to remove what sticks to us from what is often a materialistic, self-seeking, unbelieving environment. 

In Biblical days when people wore sandals, their feet got dirty picking up the dust from the roads. Remember the occasion when Jesus washed his disciples’ feet? This was a humble duty that Jesus performed as an example of loving, sacrificial service. I don’t want to spiritualise it too much – it has this straightforward message for us. To humbly serve one another in love. But it does speak a spiritual truth as well. We all need our feet cleaned as we walk in a sin affected modern world and culture. Some of the things we hear spoken, some of the spiteful actions that we see done, some of what we read or see on TV, can influence us negatively and we don’t want them to stick. So we need a good foot wash!

When Jesus washed his disciples’ feet Simon Peter protested. But Jesus replied that unless he washed his feet he wouldn’t be his disciple. Peter then changed his tune and said that if this was the case he wanted his hands and head washed too! This time Jesus answered that anyone who has had a bath is clean all over, and simply needs his feet cleaned. I take this to mean that if we repent of our sins and put our trust in Jesus Christ we have been bathed all over. We don’t need repeated baths after this, but we constantly need our feet washed as we follow Jesus in our journey in the world. 

Of course as well as outward washing we need our hearts cleansed within us too. We still sin, and need to receive grace and forgiveness. There is lots of that available too! John Newton said of the water of life that it stands “for the communication of every grace from Jesus Christ….. Water is used for cleansing, refreshing….. Water is open to all. If people beg wine they take a small vessel, but if they ask for water they go with a pail. So you need not straiten yourself, but open your mouth wide.” Yes, we were cleansed inwardly when we believed, but we still need regularly to confess our sins and receive God’s forgiveness.

Reading: John 13:8—10

Peter declared, ‘Never at any time will you wash my feet!’ ‘If I do not wash your feet,’ Jesus answered, ‘you will no longer be my disciple.’ Simon Peter answered, ‘Lord, do not wash only my feet then! Wash my hands and head too!’ Jesus said, ‘Those who have had a bath are completely clean and do not have to wash themselves, except for their feet.’

Prayer

God, our loving heavenly Father, we acknowledge that as we walk with Jesus we continually need our feet washed because of the wrong things we pick up from the world around us. We also need to continually be cleansed of the wrong things within us. Thank you for the ‘pails’ of grace and forgiveness we receive from you. Amen.

Walk on in the grace and love of God, and with your hand in the hand of Jesus. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: Do you believe? Wednesday 17th April

I’m sure you believe…. that night follows day….. that tomorrow is going to come. That someone you trust isn’t going to poison you – at least not deliberately! Things you can’t absolutely prove. Think how amazing it is that the earth and solar system are finely tuned so that life is possible on earth. That we are only a tiny part of one galaxy, and I don’t know how many of these there are in the universe. That the universe is still expanding. It is all so finely tuned that it is amazing that life on earth continues despite all that humans have done to destroy it. Therefore many of us believe there is a Creator who is behind it all, and keeps it in being. How could it be otherwise? But I cannot prove it!

I remember being in London decades ago, and visiting Holy Trinity Brompton on a Sunday morning. Because of London traffic we arrived late, but the presiding vicar ushered us to the front as the Church was so full, smiling at us and making us feel very welcome. We met him after the service, and discovered he was Sandy Millar who has a house in Orton Estate owned by his family.

That was amazing enough, but what is more amazing is that I still remember what he preached on those many years ago. Most people don’t remember sermons for as long as that. Sometimes we can even find it difficult to remember last week’s one!

His theme was based on the question Jesus’ hearers ask: “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent” (John 6:28-29.) The response God looks for is first and foremost to believe in Jesus. He uses the Greek word for believe 99 times! There are many things we can believe about Jesus. That He is the Son of God. That he is Saviour. That he is the expected Messiah. That he is Lord. But Jesus summed it up by saying we are to believe in him. 

It is ingrained in us to think that by our deeds we can earn God’s love. But it was Jesus, through his work of the cross and resurrection, who enabled us to receive that love. And the first work we have to do is to believe in him. Then, of course, he has plenty for us to do. To share his love and use our gifts in his service.

The Greek word for believe, pisteuo, means more than to give our mind’s assent. It also implies to trust. And this is the first work we are required to do, to believe in and trust in Jesus God’s Son. Let that be the centre of our lives. Our service and obedience follow.

Even if you are going through a dark period in your life, when you struggle with doubts and questions, don’t you, deep down, believe in Jesus? To whom else would you go, but him? In the words of the hymn, “Only believe, and thou shalt see that Christ is All-in-all to thee.

Reading: John 3:16

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.”

Prayer

Lord Jesus, this Easter season we continue to praise you for the work you did for us through your coming into this world to find us, through your cross and resurrection. We renew our trust in you today. We also pray for those who struggle to believe, that you would make known to them your presence and your peace. Amen.

Go in the love of God the Father, in faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the new life of the Spirit. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: Total Eclipse Wednesday 10th April

It was stunning to see photographs from America of the total eclipse. As the moon covered the sun, the earth stood in its shadow. The only light being emitted was from the sun’s corona round the edges of the moon. There were shouts of “awesome” and “amazing” from those gathered to watch. We heard of ‘eclipse parties’ celebrating the event!

It wasn’t a joyous occasion when “the whole country was covered with darkness, which lasted for three hours” (Mark 15:33) after Jesus was crucified. It couldn’t have been an eclipse as it lasted for three hours. Whatever it was, it marked the event of humankind’s deepest darkness when we (all of us, not particularly the Jews, or the people of that time) did this to God’s beloved Son. That we could have done this to the best man who ever lived is a terrible judgement upon us. All our rebellion against God contributed to this deed.

But even then, the corona of God’s grace and love shone around the darkness. Jesus asked God to forgive those who crucified him (including us). He cried out “It is finished” (John 19:30) to declare he had done everything freely for our forgiveness and our salvation. He even showed personal care for his mother Mary from the Cross, telling John to take her to his home. His love shown round the edges of the darkness.

There is so much to receive for ourselves, and to learn from, in Jesus’ suffering. We know he suffered for our sin and for our salvation. We know his fellow feeling with us in our suffering – he understands our pain and feels it with us. We know the fellowship of his suffering, as through our pain we enter mysteriously into his. And we know the ‘royalty of his suffering’ when we perceive his dignity, wearing ironically that crown of thorns, as he prays for others, thinks of their needs and obediently carries out his God-given task until ‘it is finished’. The corona of God’s glory around the dark edges.

It is still the season of Easter when we remember both the Cross and the Resurrection of Jesus. In the Roman Catholic Church, the crucifix is strongly featured – the cross with Jesus still hanging there. In the Protestant Churches, we focus on the empty Cross with Jesus no longer on it. The empty Cross, like the empty tomb, speaks of the victory Jesus has won over sin and death. We need both, to remember Jesus’ suffering and death, and to proclaim he is alive today.

Many are particularly drawn to the Celtic Cross. It is an empty cross with a circle round the join of its vertical and horizontal arms. The circle is often understood to represent the whole world for which Christ died; but it can also to be seen as a ring of glory. Like the corona of the sun, the Cross for all its darkness and horror radiates the glory of God’s victory and love. 

Reading: John 13:31-32

“…. Jesus said, ‘Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.’”

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, we praise you for your glory that streams both from the darkness of the Cross and the joy of the Resurrection. We thank you for your suffering for our sake, and that death could not hold you. Teach us how we may glorify you in our lives as we seek to follow your example and, and to radiate your love to others. Amen.

Go in peace, and the blessing of the Lord be upon you and remain with you. Amen

Midweek Reflection: Easter encounters Wednesday 3 April

We tend to respond to personal stories. For example people are often moved to give to a charity when they hear a personal account of someone whose life has been changed through the charity’s work. This can be more powerful than hearing of the work in general terms.

At Easter we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord. The fact of his Resurrection in itself is awesome. But I also feel greatly moved by the accounts of his personal Easter encounters, and their significance for the individuals he met with.

On Easter Sunday we normally hear of Jesus’ encounter with Mary Magdalene. She is at the tomb where Jesus was buried and discovers that the tomb is now empty. She assumes his dead body has been moved elsewhere. She speaks to a man who appears beside her, who she mistakes for the gardener. She asks where the body has been taken, and the man she thought was the gardener says “Mary!”. She recognises it is the voice of Jesus. Then he tells her to go to the disciples and tell them the news. Now women were not regarded as credible witnesses, yet it is to Mary that Jesus first appears, not to one of the disciples. She is entrusted with the position and privilege of being the first witness to his Resurrection.

Mary had been weeping at Jesus tomb. She was deeply distressed. Jesus had done so much for her and she felt the loss so deeply. Jesus’ first Easter encounter was with her, replacing her sadness with sheer joy.

On the evening of the first Easter Sunday, Jesus meets with the disciples. They all are there, except Thomas. When the other disciples recount to Thomas what had happened he is sceptical to say the least. “Unless I see the scars of the nails in his hands and put my finger on these scars and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” We know what happens next. A week later when the disciples including Thomas are together again, Jesus invites Thomas to feel his scars and wound. But Thomas doesn’t need to. He exclaims, “My Lord and my God” It seems that Jesus has returned especially for Thomas. A very personal Easter encounter.

There is a very significant third personal encounter. It is with Simon Peter. Remember the last we have seen of Peter is when he denied three times that he knew Jesus. When the cock crowed he had wept bitterly, realising what he had done. Now in a later appearance of the risen Christ at the lakeside, Jesus takes Peter aside. To cover his three denials, Jesus asks him three times if he loves him. Three times Peter replies that he does. Then Jesus goes on to recommission Peter as his disciple. “Follow me,” Jesus says, echoing his first call of Peter to discipleship.

The Risen Jesus showed special care for Mary, Thomas and Peter, forgiving where necessary and touching their lives afresh. The same Lord, now ascended, cares for you and me. Let us be open to him touching our lives too, through the Holy Spirit.

Bible references are from John 20 & 21:1-19 

Prayer

Lord Jesus, we thank you for the way you appeared to Mary, Thomas and Peter, and filled their hearts with Easter hope and joy. You are the risen and ascended Lord. May we be open to receive your fresh touch on our lives. And we pray for those who doubt, are full of pain, and struggle to believe that you would come to them in your mercy, power and love. Amen.

Go in Easter joy and hope, and the blessing of the risen Lord be upon you and remain with you. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: “No, I am not” Wednesday 27th March

This is no ordinary week. It is Holy Week. The week when we follow the events from Palm Sunday leading to Easter Day, reflecting on Jesus’ suffering and crucifixion.

But let me think about Peter and his denying three times that he knew Jesus, during this week. Peter was often the spokesman for the disciples, and he had sworn that he would follow Jesus even if meant dying for him. But it was a different story when Jesus, after his betrayal by Judas Iscariot and his arrest, was led as a prisoner to the High Priest’s house. Peter, give him credit, had not run away, but had followed Jesus to the High Priest’s house and waited in the courtyard. A servant girl thought she recognised him. She asked if he was not a disciple of Jesus. “No, I am not,” was Peter’s answer. 

The guards and servants in the courtyard lit a fire it was so cold, and Peter joined them standing around the charcoal fire warming themselves. Again he was asked if he was not a disciple of Jesus. Once again he denied it. Then, a third time, a servant of the High Priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off with his sword as Jesus was arrested asked, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?”. Peter answered “No”. The cock crowed as Jesus had predicted.

If I am ever asked if I am a Christian, I hope I would never deny knowing him. But I am not in danger of being arrested for owning our Lord. I might undergo some teasing, even scorn, but probably that would be the worst outcome. Indeed the questioner might be respectful when I affirm my faith, and they might want to know more about what it means to me.

But Peter was outside the house of the High Priest who was bringing charges against Jesus, and among the High Priest’s servants and guards. It was a hostile environment. It was cold and dark. And Peter was alone. He was probably in fear for his life and liberty.

In parts of the world today it is dangerous to be open about one’s Christian faith. It could easily lead to being disowned by your family, ostracised, or even arrested and imprisoned. Holy Week is a good time to remember our fellow Christians as they share in Jesus’ suffering. 

Some of us may be unwilling to profess our Christian faith, to say we are Christians, because we don’t think we are the most inspiring examples of being Christians. It is not that we are ashamed of Jesus, but that we don’t feel good enough to say we belong to him. But that is surely false. 

None of us are “good enough”. That is why we need him first and foremost. The message is that we all need God’s grace and forgiveness, and through Jesus and what he did for us we know we are accepted, loved and valued despite our faults and flaws. We don’t need to be “good enough” to offer this good news to others. 

It is what we have received through Christ that we want to share. And in Holy Week we recall with thankful hearts what he went through for us and suffered for us to reconcile us to God and make us God’s children. Who can be ashamed of that? Or of him?

Reading: Mark 8: 38

“If a person is ashamed of me and my teaching in this godless and wicked day, then the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Prayer

Father, we thank you for your Son, Jesus Christ, and all that he endured for our sake and for our salvation. For the disgrace and shame he bore for us. We cannot really conceive the depths of his suffering and pain. Help us never to be ashamed to own him as our Saviour and Lord. Hear us as we pray for those who are persecuted for their faith. Give them courage and protect them as they share in Christ’s suffering. Amen.

May God bless you and keep you. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: Under New Management Wednesday 20th March

“Health & Social Care Moray has taken over the management and operation of Aberlour Medical Practice. A longer-term plan is needed to secure the future provision of robust and sustainable GP services to the community.” So we were notified this week.

As far as I understand it, a GP is being appointed for 6 months to determine what has been unsatisfactory in the practice and needs to be improved. Let’s hope the change in management will bring stability to the practice, and better service to the community than there has been – despite some very good doctors and other staff doing their best up till now.

When we confess ‘Jesus Christ is Lord’ (the earliest confession of faith in the Church), we are putting ourselves ‘under new management’. A new management that makes all the difference. That improves our lives. It even revolutionises them. Gives them a worthier purpose and motive for living. We are under the management of Jesus.

Christian conversion can be a sudden event, often called a ‘Damascus Road’ experience as happened for the apostle Paul. Or, especially for those brought up in the faith, a gradual realisation and acceptance for ourselves of who Jesus is and what he has done for us. In it we not only accept our salvation through Christ our Saviour, but we submit our lives to Jesus Christ our Lord. From then we are under new management.

But this, too, is a gradual, deepening process. Is it not your experience that we gain growing awareness of the claims of Jesus’ Lordship over us? When we open the front door of our lives to Jesus, we may at first confine him to only part of the house. Perhaps our Sunday life. Then we become aware that he is knocking at the doors of other rooms. Our family life. Then our work life. Our relationships. Then attitudes we need to question and change. He is always calling us, converting us, challenging us. He is challenging us to commit every aspect of our lives to him. I know I have become aware of areas of my life that need to be more fully surrendered to him, and I’ve been a Christian a very long time!

Deep down we know how good it is to be under this new management. He is trustworthy and means the best for us. And what greater privilege is there than to serve him. His is the best management to be under.

Jesus already is Lord, has been from eternity, and always will be. Let us confess that he is, and gladly say our Yes to him who loves us, always has and always will. Praise be to him!

Reading: Colossians 1: 6-7; Matthew 7: 21

“So then, just as you received Jesus Christ as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thanksgiving.”

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

Prayer

Most gracious Lord, we are so glad to belong to you and are privileged to serve you. Forgive us that we have failed to trust you in certain areas of our lives and have remained under our own management. How much better is yours! So we yield ourselves to you once more, and pray for the day when “all beings in heaven and earth and in the world below will fall on their knees and all will openly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Amen.

Go in peace, and the God of peace be with you. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: Is God Mother? Wednesday 13th March

Last Sunday was Mothering Sunday, and many mothers enjoyed breakfast in bed, flowers and cards, or such treats as lunch or afternoon tea out. If you are a mother, I hope you were pampered and felt appreciated! Our minister’s wife is looking forward to becoming a mother soon, and we all wish her and her baby well.

You may have heard God being referred to as ‘Mother’. This has been a subject of controversy in the Church. Some say God is male. That’s why Jesus called him ‘Father’.

The truth is that God is neither male nor female. We are told in Genesis 1:27 that “God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Read that again! Both male and female are created in God’s image. They both reflect something of God’s likeness and nature. The conclusion must be that God transcends human gender. He created the two different genders. He cannot be male, or for that matter female! The two together best reflect God’s nature.

And what a wonderful thing this is. It spells out to us the richness of God’s love for us. The strengthening, encouraging, formative love of God, and the comforting, nurturing, motherly aspects of that love. We need both. And in God we find them in their fulness.

For some who have a negative experience of being fathered, whose father was neglectful, absent or violent, they find it difficult to think favourably of God as their Father. Of course, when they discover the loving nature of God the Father, their deep feelings about fatherhood will be changed. God is the source of true fatherhood. But it can be of great value to them to find that there are in the scriptures references to the motherly qualities of God too. Isaiah says of God’s people: “You will be like a child that is nursed by its mother, carried in her arms and treated with love. I will comfort you in Jerusalem, as a mother comforts her child.” How glorious is that!

God’s Son visited our planet in a particular place and culture. It was a patriarchal culture where women had less status than men. He accommodated himself to that culture, for example by calling twelve male disciples. Yet he raised the status of women, ascribing to them a proper dignity. The first witness to the Resurrection was a woman, although it was thought at that time that women were not reliable enough to be witnesses.

Is it a good thing to actually call God ‘Mother’? I myself call God Father as Jesus did, and because I believe in his headship. But I well understand why some want to call God Mother. The important thing is that we realise that God is above human gender distinctions, and his love includes the fatherly and motherly aspects of it. At different times we may want to concentrate more on one than the other.

Reading: Isaiah 49:14-15

“But the people of Jerusalem said, ‘The Lord has abandoned us. He has forgotten us.’ So the Lord answers, ‘Can a woman forget her own baby and not love the child she bore? Even if a mother should forget her child, I will never forget you. Jerusalem, I can never forget you. I have written your name on the palms of my hands.’”

Prayer

Dear Lord our God, we praise you for the richness and the fulness of your love for us. We thank you for making us male and female and that we complement one another. We pray for those who find it difficult to call you Father because of negative experiences of their own fathers. Please transform their understanding and show them you are the true Father whose headship they can entirely trust. We ask these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

May the blessing of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit be upon you, and go with you. Amen.

Wednesday 28th February – Sorry, there will be no Midweek Reflections for the next two weeks. Back Wednesday 13 March dv.

Midweek Reflection: Towards Easter Wednesday 21st February

I remarked to a salesperson in a shop about there being Easter Eggs in stock very early. Her reply was, “We’ve had them in stock since Christmas!” However, the Church’s preparation for Easter, the season of Lent, began only last week with Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, which coincided with Valentine’s Day. Lent is a season of preparation for Easter when God’s love was demonstrated through Jesus’ suffering and dying for us.

Early in Lent, there is a focus on the temptations of Jesus through which he was being prepared for his public ministry to come (Matthew 4:1-11). We are told that the Spirit led him into the desert, and that there he was tempted by Satan. “If you are the Son of God,” Satan challenged Jesus. And Jesus battled with his antagonist over the kind of ministry Jesus would exercise. Jesus chose the way which led all the way to the Cross.

First, he was tempted to turn stones into bread. In this he was tempted to use his divine power for his own ends, as by now he was very hungry. But it can also mean that he was tempted to give exclusive priority in his ministry to helping people materially. He was to help people materially of course, for example by feeding a hungry crowd and healing those who were sick. But this was not to take the place of people’s spiritual need to repent of their sins and enter a new relationship with God. Jesus’ reply to the tempter was: “People shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that God speaks.”

Secondly, he was tempted by Satan to throw himself off a pinnacle of the Temple and trust that God would cause no harm to come to him. This temptation was to use his ministry to dazzle people with spectacular feats and through this to increase his popularity and his following. But Jesus answered the tempter with the scripture, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”

And thirdly, he was tempted to bow down to Satan and worship him. Then Satan would give him power over all the world. But this would be by compromising with evil, seeking worldly power and influence. But the power that Jesus was to employ was the power of God and of his love. So he replied, “Go away Satan! The scripture says, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and  serve only him.’”

Angels ministered to Jesus; Satan departed for the time being. Jesus was confirmed in his ministry not to serve himself but to serve others in love. To preach the kingdom of God first and foremost and draw people into a relationship with him. To use his power to work miracles in love and not to dazzle or impress. “If you are the Son of God,” Satan said to Jesus before the first two temptations. “If you are a Christian”, he might well say to us in connection with ours.

So what does Lent, this time leading up to Easter, mean for us? To focus on our calling as Christians, to get our priorities right as Jesus did. How do our priorities compare with his? And above all to watch with Jesus as his ministry led him towards the Cross.

Reading: Hebrews 4: 15b-16

“…we have a High Priest who was tempted in every way that we are, but did not sin. Let us have confidence, then, and approach God’s throne, where there is grace. There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us when we need it.”

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour, Lord and Brother, we thank you for the battle you waged and won on our behalf – in the desert, at Gethsemane, and at the Cross. You did this out of your great love for us and your solidarity with us. Help us to identify with you in your journey towards Easter. As you chose God’s way for our sake, help us choose your way to fulfil our calling as your disciples. Amen.

The peace of God be with you. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: A Question of Identity Wednesday 14th February

Apparently the highly successful film Barbie, about the famous doll and her would-be boyfriend Ken, engages with the crisis of identity they both face. ‘Who am I?’, Barbie asks. In case you are worried about me, I’m not a Barbie or Ken fan!

We talk about people, particularly adolescents, going through an identity crisis, as they develop from children into adults. But people of all ages can experience such a crisis. When, for example, they retire or are made redundant. We tend to identify ourselves by the job we do, paid or otherwise. For a woman who sees herself primarily as a homemaker and parent, family growing up and leaving home can cause her to question who she is. We might identify ourselves as someone’s partner, and then bereavement comes. By our ability to do certain things, then we lose that ability and feel purposeless. We could go on.

But the gospel sees our chief identity differently. It doesn’t depend on what we do, or what we once did. It tells us that we are not justified by what we do (jobs and good works included) or have done, but by his grace alone. As we acknowledge that we cannot justify ourselves before God, and we accept instead what Jesus has done for us, we gain a new identity as sons and daughters of God. What higher identity than that? God is our Father, Jesus our Brother, and we members of that Family. Yes the identity crises I have spoken of are real and difficult, but this new identity God gives us far surpasses any lesser identity, if only we believe it.

And that means we are loved by God. In Christ we are included in his fatherly love. “See how much the Father has loved us! His love is so great we are called God’s children – and so in fact we are.” (1 John 3:1a). The most important thing about us is that God loves us eternally, and there is no limit to this love however undeserving of it we are. Be ever so thankful that Jesus paid your debts that you may be his family member loved by God.

A worship song goes like this:

Tell My people I love them,

Tell My people I care;

When they feel far away from Me,

Tell my people I am there.

That is true of all God’s people, but try substituting your own name for ‘My people’, and tell it or sing it to yourself. 

In scripture God describes his people as the ‘apple of his eye’. Referring probably to the pupil of the eye. Think how we guard our eyes from harm, for example by the movement of our eyelids. The phrase ‘the apple of my eye’ refers in English to something or someone that one cherishes above all others. Contradictory though it may seem, God loves you and me that way. Jesus proved it! God’s love reaches out to everyone of course. But his people are those who have received that love through Christ. 

Reading: Psalm 17: 7-8

“Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.” 

Prayer

Father, you love us with your amazing love. We know it, but struggle to take it all in. We marvel at its breadth and length, its height and depth. Again we gladly receive it. Fill our hearts with your love that it would overflow from us to others. And bless those who go through times of darkness, who feel far away from you. Show them that you arexc there with them. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Go in the love and peace of God, and his blessing go with you. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: The Lord Is My Shepherd Wednesday 7th February

Cows and sheep ‘chew the cud’. They are called ‘ruminants’. They eat the grass and semi-digest it, then bring it up from a chamber of their stomach to chew it again. They are getting all the good out of the grass they feed on. For humans to chew the cud means to consider something deeply, to think it over at length. Or, to take another illustration, we could think of sucking a sweet, taking time to enjoy all the flavour in it.

Last week I wrote of Joshua taking over leadership from Moses before the entry of God’s people into the Promised Land. One of the things he was told to do was to meditate on God’s law day and night. He was to consider it deeply. He was to chew the cud.

This is one way we can read the scriptures. Normally we may read a sizable passage of God’s Word to follow the narrative and learn from it, but in this form of meditation we take a phrase that is affirmative and positive and taking one word at a time, dwell on it, suck it around our mouths, chew the cud.

Let me take as an example “The Lord Is My Shepherd” one of the best loved phrases in the Bible. I’ll share my thoughts on this phrase to give you an idea of what it might seem like if you have not done this before. I take one word at a time.

THE: Lord is my shepherd. Meaning he is the only one…. He is unique…. THE speaks of his overwhelming significance.

LORD: he alone is God…. he is over all…. the Lord of lords…. Lord of creation and redemption.… Lord of our lives…. to him I am devoted and to him I own my allegiance…..

IS: the now word…. speaks of the present…. He is not only the Lord of the past but of the present…. I can trust him now…. I slowly take this in….

MY: he is not only David’s Lord… he is not only an outstanding Christian’s Lord…. He wants to be MY Lord…. I am his and he is mine…. He wants me to be in a personal relationship with him…. a relationship of love

SHEPHERD: this is what he is… he is the one who cares for me as a shepherd does for his/her sheep… he protects his sheep… he feeds them… he leads them even through frightening places…. he leads them on the right paths…. he is the Good Shepherd, Jesus…He knows me by name… he is the shepherd who gave his life for the sheep…. Gave his life for me… he wants me to dwell in his house for evermore….

Try it yourself with this phrase or another from scripture. I’m sure you will have fresh thoughts of your own as you meditate. God bless you in doing this.

Reading: Psalm 1: 1a, 2-3a

“Blessed are those…. (whose) delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither”.

Prayer

Lord, our God, we thank you for scripture which teaches us, guides us, encourages us, and corrects us. As well as reading it, may we learn to meditate upon it and take it in more deeply, for our spiritual benefit and for the glory of your name. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Go in peace, and may the God of peace be with you. Amen.

Midweek Reflection “The hero inside yourself” Wednesday 31st January

Some time ago I went regularly to the gym to keep fit. I often used to hear through the speakers the song “Search for the hero inside yourself” recorded by M People. It inspired one to persevere and work hard on the treadmill or some other piece of equipment. The song was very catchy, and I’m sure inspirational to many. We all need to “search for the hero inside ourselves” whether we face challenges at home, in work, or in a Church project. Whether we face illness, bereavement, difficult family problems or are involved in a campaign for justice or Christian outreach.

In the book of Joshua, chapter one, we learn that after the death of Moses, who had led God’s people out of slavery in Egypt, God appointed Joshua as his successor. He had previously been Moses’ right-hand man. Joshua is now given the task of leading the people across the river Jordan to take possession of Canaan, the Promised Land. Here the Israelites were to settle and make it their home. This was an awesome task. Especially when succeeding such a great leader as Moses! But God gave Joshua the command and promise to make this possible.

First he told Joshua to “be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged.” He was, in other words, to search for the hero inside himself! He was to be strong in his inner self. God’s command is such that it strengthens us to obey it. 

Then the command is followed by a precious promise. It doesn’t depend on Joshua alone, or ourselves alone in the challenges we face. God promised, “for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Similar to his earlier promise to Moses when he wanted to know who God would send with him as he led the people towards their destination. God answered him, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” (Exodus 33:12-17). So we are to be strong and courageous, yes, as we face our challenges in seeking to follow Jesus, but we are not to be left alone. He promised, “I will be with you always.” Which is a matter of faith rather than feelings.

So we have heard God’s command and his promise. We also hear of God’s provision. For Joshua has access to the Book of the Law given to Moses on Mount Sinai. And he has to make use of this in guiding his people and teaching them. These laws are to be foundational in the formation of God’s people. For us it is the scriptures given for our instruction and to equip us for our Christian lives and calling. Joshua is told not to “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.” He is to speak about it, dwell upon it, and do it!

So what challenges do you face? What is God’s calling for you just now? As we identify that, we can find strength and courage within us, we can look to God’s promise and be assured of his presence with us, and we have God’s Word to direct and strengthen us. We also have the Holy Spirit to “strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being” (Ephesians 3: 16b).

There is a hero inside each one of us, active or waiting to emerge. And if that sounds too difficult, remember his strength is made perfect in our weakness.

Reading: Joshua 1: 6-7a; 9b

“Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left…. Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go”

Prayer

Lord, we want to find the strength and courage to confront the challenges of our calling as your disciples. As we go forward in faith, strengthen us inwardly by your Spirit and reassure us of your presence. We pray for any particular people we know who feel the challenges of life too great for them that you and we would reach out to them in your love. For Jesus’sake. Amen.

Go in his strength and love, and may his presence be with you always. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: “A Beautiful Thing for me” Wednesday 24th January.

We are facing storm Jocelyn today, so soon after Storm Isha. And it wasn’t long before that we had deep snow and ice. Normal life was affected, schools closed and events cancelled. But during that time, as in many difficult situations, people rose to the occasion and looked out for one another.

We ourselves witnessed acts of thoughtfulness for others, and indeed were recipients of much kindness. Along with our neighbours we were very grateful to our local farmer who went out of his way on several occasions to use his snow plough to clear the roads leading to our homes. He even cleared the way into our back garden without us having to ask. There was still a lot of snow to clear in our back garden before I could get our car out, and I have very limited energy for such a task. But when our Asda delivery man came (there are other supermarkets who do deliveries), and I was chatting to him, without my asking or even thinking of it, he picked up our orange snow shovel and cleared away most of the snow. There was just a little left to clear which I managed the next day. As a result I was able to get the car out when I needed to. 

And we have a good neighbour who looks out for us, has helped us in various ways, and become a good friend. We find this in the Church too, people who support one another, ourselves included, in various ways. That’s what the Church is like.

So where is God working in such situations as extreme weather conditions? Surely in moving people to show love and kindness to others, and helping others as they are able. 

Those who go out of their way to help others are not all Christians though many are. Kindness is not the monopoly of Christians. Our Christian faith, and Christian values passed down from generation to generation often inspire it. But out of our common humanity it can flow, from ‘people of all faiths and no faith’. We believe that all humanity was created in God’s image, so that all of us can reflect something of his nature which is love.

An outstanding act during Jesus’ ministry was that of a woman who broke open a jar of expensive perfume, and poured it over his head. Some complained that this was a waste. The perfume, they said, could have been sold and the money given to the poor. Jesus told them they would always have the poor to help, but “she has done a beautiful thing for me.” He saw the action as preparing his body for burial. He said what she had done would be remembered “wherever the gospel is preached” (Mark 14; 3-9). 

We don’t have Jesus with us in physical form to do a ‘beautiful thing’ for him as the woman did. But we can do for one another in the body of Christ many‘beautiful things’. We are not to stop there. We are to take every opportunity to do good, starting with those who belong to the family of faith, but not finishing there.

The late Malcolm Muggeridge wrote a book about the work of Mother Teresa of Calcutta whose order of nuns did outstanding work in caring for the needy and the dying in that city. He called the book “Something Beautiful for God”. In our own small way we can do beautiful things for him as well.

Reading: Galatians 6:9-10

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

Prayer

We give praise to you, o God, for your Son, Jesus Christ who went about doing good. We thank you for all those times when we have been recipients of good things done for us. Help us to take every opportunity to do good, and so share your love with others. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Let us go in the strength and love of Christ to follow his example. And the blessing of God be with you. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: Are you a Projection-ist? Wednesday 17th January

Have you caught yourself out projecting your own flaws onto another person? I recently found myself doing that. I felt critical of someone else when I might well have criticised myself. I was thinking badly of their motives, when these motives were actually mine. The other person probably did not share the same motives at all. It was an example of the pot calling the kettle black.

Psychologists call this ‘Projection’. To give myself some credit, I soon saw what I was doing, and I did not voice the felt criticism to the person concerned or to anyone else. But it was time for honesty with myself and with God. Through honesty, confession, and with the help of His Spirit working in us we can change.

Long before Freud and psychoanalysis, Jesus said, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way as you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s or sister’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your sister or brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye’, when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Projecting the flawed aspects of our nature on others isn’t just a personal matter. It can even have international implications. Political leaders who have ambitions to extend their countries’ frontiers, may suspect neighbouring countries and accuse them of doing the same when in fact they aren’t. Isn’t there an element of this happening in Russia trying to take over Ukraine? While we need to understand the deep sense of loss Russia has experienced since the former Soviet Union was dissolved, they perceive NATO to be a threat to them, when NATO’s interests appear at least to be defensive rather than expansionist. If Ukraine joined NATO, it wouldn’t then attack Russia! 

So it is important at all levels that this tendency to project our flaws on to others is nipped at the bud. Why not take some time to reflect on this, and be honest with yourself before God?If there is something to deal with, remember he is kind and merciful, and delights in our being open with him. We are after all his beloved children.

Reading: 1 John 1 :5-7

“This, in essence, is the message we heard from Christ…: God is light, pure light; there is not a trace of darkness in him. If we claim we experience a shared life with him and continue to stumble around in the dark, we’re obviously lying through our teeth – we’re not living what we claim. But if we walk in the light, God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another, as the sacrificial blood of Jesus, God’s Son, purges all our sin.” (The Message) 

Prayer

Lord, you call us to walk in the light as you are in the light. We want to do this, but we need your help. So help us not to project our faults on to others, or to judge others through prejudice, or to fail to see the good in others because we are prejudiced against them. May we be enabled to see the good in unexpected places. In Jesus holy name. Amen.

Go in the strength and love of Christ. And his blessing be with you. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: A New Creation Wednesday 10th January

I have not been able to trace the exact quotation, but the Russian writer and Christian Alexander Solzhenitsyn described every new morning as being like the beginning of Creation. That speaks to me. Each new dawn, each new day is a miracle. The sun rises again, light disperses the darkness, and we awaken to the gift of another day. Let’s not take any new day for granted. It is a gift of God. 

Of course the sun doesn’t really rise at all. Basic science tells us it is the earth rotating on its axis that makes it appear that way. It’s just a manner of speaking, a matter of how it looks to us. Science is amazing and explains so much more than most of us are able to understand, but it only sees part of reality, that which can be observed, researched and measured. Faith sees beyond the material to the divine reality. 

So we see every new day as a gift from God, and being like the beginning of Creation. Each day, sunny or rainy, is God’s gift. We need both. Even when we can’t see the sun we know it is there hidden by the clouds, but still giving light and warmth to the earth.

The sun scripturally can depict Jesus Christ. He is described as the ‘rising sun which will come to us from heaven and shine on those living in darkness…’ (Luke 1: 78-79). From him shines the light of God’s truth, as in his person, actions and teaching he revealed the truth of God to us. From him radiates the warmth of God’s love – he himself is the love of God incarnate. He is love’s fullest expression. His love and faithfulness are revealed afresh to us each day.

And each new day is a time to renew our trust in God and commitment to our Lord Jesus Christ who committed himself entirely to us. 

I’m not very good at New Year Resolutions. But a good one, which we made at last Sunday’s Covenant Service in Aberlour, is to trust in Jesus and follow him in the year ahead, in the light of the new covenant he has made with us. But we need to take it one day at a time and personally renew it daily in gratitude to him. That’s a resolution which by his grace we can keep. And, thankfully, when we fail his forgiveness is part of his new covenant with us. For the new covenant is sealed by Jesus’ blood. 

The New Testament is all about newness. “Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). We can remind ourselves of that every new day. We can follow Paul’s challenge to “put off the old self…. to be made new in the attitude of your minds….” And to “put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24). And all God’s people can look forward to the new heaven and earth which God promises, and to be with our Lord who proclaimed, “I am making all things new” (Revelation 21:5).

Reading: Lamentations: 3:21-24

“Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness. I said to myself, ‘the Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.’”

Prayer

Lord our God, we praise you that every new day reminds us of your faithfulness and your mercy towards us. Remind us to see each day also as an opportunity to renew our trust in you, to seek to do your will in the day ahead and be channels of your love. Amen.

Go in peace, and the blessing of God be with you. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: Backwards and Forwards Wednesday 3rd January

The Roman god “Janus” was portrayed in classical sculptures as having two heads.  He represented time because he could see into the past with one face and into the future with the other. He was the god of transitions, time, gateways, doors etc. I am not advocating that we worship him – there is one Lord God – but the thought of looking back and looking forward is very appropriate at this time of transition from one year to the next. 

The Israelites, God’s people, often looked back thankfully. They recalled the great events in their history such as their deliverance from slavery in Egypt, the crossing of the Sea of Reeds, and the journey to the promised land. Remembering what God had done for them in the past helped them to place their confidence in God as they looked towards the future. 

I find it a helpful exercise at New Year to think back to the year just past and give thanks for God’s blessings and provisions, and for any way he has used one in his service. You can extend it beyond your own experience, and include the Church, your community and wider still. But it is good to begin with the personal as this exercise helps strengthens our trust in a God whom we know personally. Having written down the things you are thankful for, follow this with a prayer of thanksgiving to God for all you have remembered.

But what if you have had an ‘annus horribilis’? That makes it much more difficult, but you can thank God that he has brought you through it all and when you think about it, has provided for you and helped you even in these hard times. Don’t deny the hard times, but think of the blessings even within them. 

The next part of the exercise is to look forward. Make a list of subjects you would like to seek God’s leading or provision for in the year ahead. For yourself and for others. Then form these things into a prayer. You might keep a record of these things and review the list in the future. Make these prayers special. 

Widening our horizons, we may turn our focus to the world. With so much evil and suffering going on, and for so long, it is difficult to pray with confidence that God will change these situations. Think how long fighting has been going on in Syria for example, not to mention Ukraine and Gaza which are much more in the headlines. 

But the prophets of the Old Testament knew that God’s justice and peace could take decades to come about. They knew that God is Sovereign over the nations. God is “working his purpose out as year succeeds to year” in the words of the hymn. As God revealed it to them they saw into the future and could see what God would do. So let us pray to the God of eternity that he would bring righteousness, justice and peace to our world in his time.

Reading: Habakkuk 2: 1-3

“Then the Lord replied (to the prophet Habakkuk): ‘Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger wait for it; it will certainly come and not delay.’”

Prayer

Lord of past, present and future, at this time of the year we look back in thankfulness for all you have done, for your past mercies and blessings, and for the ways you have used us to share your love. We look forward, trusting that you will lead us by your presence. As we commit the year ahead to you, help us to wait for your answers to our prayers and recognise them when they come, so that we may have more reason to look back thankfully a year from now. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

“I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year, ‘Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.’ And he replied, ‘Go out into the darkness and put your hand in the hand of God. That shall be better to you than light, and safer than a known way.’” (M. Louise Haskins, The Desert)

Midweek Reflection: In our shoes Wednesday 27th December

The action of people switching bodies with each other occurs in a number of films. One of these is ‘Family Switch’ in which a mother and daughter and son and father both swap bodies.  They learn to live each other’s lives on a very important day for the family. They learn what it’s like to be the other person.

And this is the Good News of Christmas. What we call the Incarnation. God’s Son came to earth from heaven to become one of us, not just for a day but for the whole of his earthly life. We know now that he understands what it is like to be you and me.

He stepped into our shoes. To show us what God is like. To teach us the true way. To share in human joys and sorrows, in challenges and temptations. To represent us as our fellow human being when he gave his life on our behalf on the Cross.

He shared our humanity as a baby, as a growing boy with parent problems, as a worker in a carpenter’s shop. He pursued a vocation. He enjoyed the friendship of his followers, his disciples and the women who accompanied him. He enjoyed a good meal and company. 

He did not experience every form of human suffering. We don’t hear of any illnesses he had. For example he was never terminally ill. But he experienced the worst of human suffering when he died an agonising death on the Cross. Not only physical, but also spiritual suffering, when he carried the sins of the world on himself. We can’t imagine what that was like. He experienced being forsaken by his Father for us. He understands what we suffer too. So God’s Son, the Word, took human flesh. Yes really. He became one of us. He stepped into our shoes. 

And there is a challenge for us here. He commanded his followers to love God and to love one another. To love our neighbour as ourselves. And to do this effectively we need to step into the shoes of others. As we show love for others, as we wonder how best we can do this, we need to feel our way into the other person’s life and circumstances. How is she/he experiencing life? What does it feel like to be them at the present time? To be leaving home for the first time? To live without the partner they have lost? To be deaf or blind? To retire from working? To be dependent on others? To be young, to be old, etc. etc. In praying for others this can help us answer such questions, so that our words and actions are helpful and appropriate.

King Charles in his Christmas broadcast said: “Imagine ourselves in the shoes of one another and seek their good as we would our own.” Jesus stepped into our shoes. Let us imaginatively step into the shoes of others.

Reading: Hebrews 2: 14; 17-18

“Since the children (us), as he calls them, are people of flesh and blood, Jesus himself became like them and shared their human nature….. He had to become like his brothers and sisters in every way, in order to be their faithful and merciful High Priest in his service to God, so that the people’s sins would be forgiven. And now he can help those who are tempted, because he himself was tempted and suffered.”

Prayer

We praise you, Lord Jesus, that you became fully human, and walked where we walk. We praise you that as you became one of us you continue to represent us as our High Priest in heaven. As you stepped into our shoes, help us to share your love by imaginatively stepping into the shoes of others so that we understand what best meets their needs. We ask these things in your precious name. Amen.

Go in peace, and the Lord bless you and go with you.

Midweek Reflection: Leap for Joy! Wednesday 20th December

It is amazing what has been learned about the sensitivity and receptivity of a child in the womb. It can pick up so much from the mother, and even from outside the mother’s body.

I heard about an expectant father who was away from home for long times on duty in the army. On one occasion, before he went on duty, his wife became pregnant. He had something to do with it! Then the soldier had to go away. During the whole time of his wife’s pregnancy,he was not able to return home. 

While he was away the baby in the womb mainly heard one voice, his mother’s. But to balance this, when they were in contact regularly by phone, the mother placed the receiver on her stomach, and the father spoke through the phone to the unborn child, hoping it would pick up the reverberations of his much deeper voice.

The father got leave to return home for the birth. He arrived, as fathers are known to do, just too late! As he rushed along the hospital corridor a nurse carrying a newborn baby came towards him. “Is it mine?”, he asked. At that the baby turned its head towards him. It recognised the familiar voice of the father who had spoken through the receiver many times before!

Andrew, our minister spoke on Sunday about Zechariah and Elizabeth, parents of John the Baptist, focusing on the naming of John. Let me focus on another part of the story. Mary, the mother of Jesus, after she conceived by the Holy Spirit visited her cousin Elizabeth who was already six months pregnant with her son. He was to grow up to be John the Baptist. Remember he was to act as a herald, preparing the way for Jesus starting his public ministry. 

With our modern knowledge it is much more understandable what we hear happened on Mary’s visit. When Mary greeted Elizabeth the babe in Elizabeth’s womb leapt for joy! From inside the womb the unborn child recognised his calling and so responded to the sound of Mary’s voice. Mary, whose womb was inhabited by the embryo of Jesus, whose coming was to be heralded by John (see Luke 1:39-45).

“Joy to the world” is one of the carols we sing at Christmas. For Christians it is a time of the deepest joy which we express in worship. This is the most appropriate response to the miracle of the Son of God humbling himself and being conceived in Mary’s womb. It is a time, if ever there was one, to leap for joy, if you are fit enough to do so! If not, better not try this at home!

Let me turn to the words of John’s father, Zechariah, when he supported his wife’s insistence that John should be called by this name. He declared that John would “Go before the Lord to prepare the way for him (Jesus), to give his people the knowledge of salvation, through the forgiveness of their sins….because of the tender mercy of our God”. He goes on to speak of Jesus as “the rising sun who will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness..” The rising sun is the promised Messiah, also compared in scripture to a star or the dawning light. The ‘rising sun’ is the Son! As the sun chases away the darkness, filling the world with light, so does the coming of the Son (see Luke 1:76-79). 

Reading: Isaiah 9:2-3 & 6 

“The people who walked in darkness (that is us) have seen a great light; they lived in a land of shadows, but now light is shining upon them. You have given them great joy, Lord; you have made them happy……… A child is born to us! A son is given to us!.…”

Prayer

Lord our God may this season of Christmas be one of worship and great joy, as we wonder at your intervention in human history by coming into this world. We pray that people everywhere may be distracted from the tinsel and the trappings to glimpse the miracle of Jesus’ birth, and to contemplate its significance. In his name we pray. Amen.

Go on your way rejoicing, and the blessing of God be with you.

Midweek Reflection: Light and Darkness Wednesday 13th December

Darkness is sometimes just what you want. When you want to look at the stars and identify the constellations. When you want to settle to sleep. When you have a migraine, and you want to lie down, draw the curtains and shut out the light. God made the light and the darkness too. We can give thanks for both. 

But in a spiritual sense darkness in the Scriptures is associated with sin, death, depression, unbelief or being separated from God. In contrast, “God is light; in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). The apostle Paul writes to the Ephesians now that they have become Christians, “For once you were in darkness, but since you have become God’s people you are in the light. So you must live like people who belong to the light” (Ephesians 5:8). 

I should say right away that while sin separates us from God, that is different from feeling God is far away. In depression and suffering it can seem that God is far away, but all the time God is with us. Many of the saints have experienced going through a tunnel of darkness.

While the season of Advent brings to us promise of the Light shining in the darkness, it is traditionally a time when the Church has also engaged with darker themes – such as death, judgement, and hell. Along with the contrasting themes of heaven, and Christ’s coming again in glory. All these, light or dark, we can call the ‘last things.’

Advent looks forward to Christ coming again. A question we need to ask ourselves is whether we are living in such a way as we would if we knew Christ was returning tomorrow? Or am I still living in darkness rather than in the light of Jesus Christ? Or regarding death (which is as certain as taxes), are we prepared? I mean not only have we written our wills, and made sure our affairs are in order, but are we also prepared to meet our Maker? Are we right with God? And with our brother or sister? If so, Christ’s coming is the light of our hope.

Then there is the subject of hell, one of these last things. God does not wish eternal suffering on anyone. But as he loves us, he never takes away our free choice. If someone ultimately chooses evil (darkness) rather than God’s way (light) and refuses to repent; if he or she dies without turning to God; then they choose final separation from his love. That is what hell is. The darkness of such separation.

But Jesus assured his followers that he was going to prepare a place for them in heaven. In this is our eternal hope. The African slaves in America who suffered so much at the hand of their owners composed the “Negro” Spirituals which sang of an eternal home which would more than compensate. Those for whom their suffering is not resolved in this life can be assured it will be in heaven. There is glory to come! Light will finally banish the darkness. We have this to look forward to. Wow!

Reading: John 3: 19,21

“This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light, because their deeds were evil. …. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be plainly seen that what they have done has been done through God.”

Prayer (Advent Collect)

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and put on the armour of light, now in the time of our mortal life, in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility; that on the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal, through him who is alive and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever.

Walk in the light of the Lord, and his blessing be upon you and remain with you always. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: Advent Wednesday 6th December

This is the time of year when the Advent candles are lit in many churches, one for each Sunday leading up to the fifth candle being lit on Christmas Day. Before the Christian celebrations of Christmas began, many ancient cultures had festivals of light to mark the winter solstice, the darkest time of the year. In the ancient Roman festival, called Saturnalia, there was much partying. Wreaths and greenery were in evidence. Candles were lit and given to one another as if to hasten the return of the sun. When Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, Christmas took over many of the features of the Saturnalia including the lighting of candles but gave the symbols new meaning. We don’t know when Jesus’ birthday was, but it is fitting that it is celebrated around the time of the winter solstice. It is in sharp contrast to the darkness of the season that Jesus brings light to the world.

It is at this moment a dark time for the world – with wars in Ukraine and other places, and the horror of the Israeli-Palestine conflict in Gaza. It will be a dark time too for some people personally if they have experienced loss, serious illness or are simply struggling to buy enough food and keep warm. In such situations the expectation to be merry can serve only to intensify the darkness being experienced.

Against the background of a dark sky the light of a star guided the Magi to Bethlehem. The sky was filled with the ‘glory of the Lord’ when the angels appeared to the shepherds (at night!). And the One who was born grew up to proclaim, “I am the Light of the World.”

We can enjoy the lights in the streets and in our homes (or outside our homes), but let us focus on the light that Jesus brings to us. From him shines the light of God’s love upon us. He came to show God is not distant or remote from us. He drew near and became one of us, sharing our humanity, and loving all who came to him. It is amazing, and let it continue to amaze us that the one through whom all things were created loves you and me. Deeply and intimately. We matter so much to him.

From him shines the light of salvation. The greatest expression of his love was his self-sacrifice upon the Cross to reconcile us to God and make us his sons and daughters. None of this deserved, but his unearned gift of grace. It is said that the shadow of the Cross was there even in the manger. 

And despite the darkness in the world and for many in our lives, Jesus gives us the light of hope. He was given the name ‘Immanuel’ which means ‘God with us.’ In all circumstances! He is our best friend, and will never leave us. Nor will he desert the world as we look forward in expectancy to his return and to the new creation that is promised.

Reading: John 8:12 (A promise to treasure)

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Prayer

Lord our God, we thank you for the fun and festivities of Christmas, for presents given and received, and for families being together. For lights in streets and homes. But we praise you for that greatest light which darkness cannot extinguish, the light of the world, Jesus Christ. We pray that those who are experiencing darkness in their lives will know the light of his love, his salvation, and his hope dawn upon heir souls. In his name we pray. Amen.

Go in peace, and walk in the light of his love.

Midweek Reflection: Wednesday 29 November

Are you a procrastinator? One of my weaknesses, I’m afraid. And when you have less energy to do things than you used to have, it becomes more common to put something off until tomorrow. I’m even known to leave washing the dinner dishes over to the next morning when I’ll have more energy! But It isn’t always a fault. It can be a matter of pacing oneself and is the wiser option.

It is a human tendency to put matters off that really need to be attended to now. And one matter is taking the measures needed to halt climate change. It is so easy to procrastinate on this issue. Nations want to pursue those industries that bring in most profit, and use the resources that they have at hand. I mean oil and gas. Is it right to be developing new oilfields when the need is to change to green energy options and reduce carbon emissions as a matter of priority? COP 28, the annual United Nations conference of nations on climate change, is beginning on Thursday in Dubai. Can it be right that it is to be chaired by Sultan al-Jaber, who is CE of the state-owned oil company? He is also CE of a renewable energy firm, but it is alleged that he will be using his position as host to seek oil and gas trading agreements with other nations. He is certainly procrastinating on this urgent issue.

We might well take the view that the problem won’t affect us too badly as far as we can tell, although clearly we are experiencing the effects of climate change already. Our children are more concerned. Young people are more concerned. They say act now. Their future is threatened. Not to mention other parts of the world which have done the least to cause the problem but are now experiencing life-threatening climate change – drought, flooding and rising sea levels. 

It is the same with our relationship with God. We may have the niggling feeling that something in us, in our lives, has to change for that relationship to grow. It may be we need to forgive someone who has wronged us, recently or a long time ago. It may be to respond to the impulse of the Holy Spirit calling us to some action. The scriptures keep telling us ‘Now’ is the time to act. Now is the time to obey. Rather than put it off day after day.

When Jesus called people to follow him, many wanted to delay. In Jesus’ parable of the Great Feast (Luke 14:15-24) many who were invited to the feast (representing the Kingdom of God) refused the invitation because they had other priorities – having just bought a field, having just bought five pairs of oxen, having just got married. In Luke 9:57-62, people told Jesus they would follow him, but first they had other priorities to attend to.

Jesus is always calling us ‘now’. That is the time to respond. Let’s not procrastinate with God but respond to his call in loving, joyful obedience and service. 

Reading: Isaiah 55:6-7

“Seek the Lord while he may be found, call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their way, and the evil their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.”

Prayer

Creator God, who made the earth and the universe and said that what you had made was good. Help us to cherish your good creation, and end the destructive actions that fuel climate change. We pray for national leaders and all the delegates at COP 28 that they will not put off the urgent action that needs to be taken. And help us in our relationship with you, to give you priority and seek your kingdom first, knowing that you promise to provide what we need. In Jesus’ name we ask it. Amen.

Go in the strength and love of Jesus Christ our Lord, and the blessing of God be upon you. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: Two = One Wednesday 22nd November

On Monday Maureen and I celebrated our Golden Wedding. It was a quiet celebration because of my wife’s present health. But it was good to reflect and reminisce, to look through the Wedding photograph album, as well as to open cards and presents and have telephone conversations with family and friends. 

We are so grateful to God for the many years we have shared together – joys, tears and all. Harmony and adapting to changes in each other – we are not the same people as we were 50 years ago! It all began by catching each other’s eye across the room at a Youth Fellowship meeting in St. Cuthbert’s Church Halls in Edinburgh! We fell in love. We were eventually married in St. Cuthberts. We had a special service in the same Church 10 years ago when Rev. Elizabeth Curran led us in the renewal of our vows.

Marriage is meant to be until “death us do part.” Jesus set a high standard for it. Sadly, not all marriages last that long because they just don’t work. It always takes two to make them work. When separation or divorce become inevitable, this must be faced and then learned from. God is forgiving and full of grace towards us. And those whose marriages do last and thrive may well have failed in other areas of life and need God’s forgiveness just as much. So let us remember lovingly those whose marriages haven’t lasted, those who have lost a spouse or partner through death, and those who would like to have married but it has been denied them. And those who are happily single! We are all one family in Christ.

There is one relationship that lasts longer than even the best quality marriage. Even death does not end this relationship. I am talking about our relationship with God through Jesus Christ who saved us. “Neither death nor life …. will ever be able to separate us from the loveof God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.” He is faithful. He never divorces us or separates us from himself. And death is a final journey into the closest relationship when we will see him face to face. How wonderful that will be! All earthly joys will be a poor reflection of the eternal and never boring joys of heaven!

One interesting fact about heaven Jesus pointed out to some Sadducees who were trying to catch him out with their trick questions. He said that there is no marriage in heaven. I don’t believe that means we won’t be with our loved ones, but the way of relating to one another will be different. Marriage won’t come into it. We will be like angels, Jesus said. We will be given new, spiritual bodies, Paul taught. We will all be united in God’s unending love.

Reading: Mark 10: 6-9 (God’s ideal)

“…. in the beginning, at the time of creation, ‘God made them male and female,’ as the scripture says. ‘And for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and unite with his wife, and the two will become one.’ So they are no longer two but one. No-one must separate, then, what God has joined together.”

Prayer

God our Father, we thank you for marriage which is your idea, not ours. Bless all such unions, that your self-giving love would be reflected in them and overcome barriers and difficulties. Help all couples to know the joy of true love. We pray for those whose marriages haven’t worked out, and also for those who have been bereaved of their spouse. Married or single, may we know the joy of our relationship with you which lasts to eternity. In Jesus name we pray.

Go in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the strength of his Spirit, and under the blessing of the Father. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: Seeing clearly Wednesday 15th November

The other day as I was driving I couldn’t see clearly through the windscreen. So I gave it a squoosh with the wipers but found even that didn’t clear it. Because the dirt was on the inside. That’s what needed a clean. If you are a spectacles wearer, the glasses continually get dirty and need to be wiped for you to see clearly again, both inside and out!

Jesus once healed a blind man from Bethsaida, restoring his sight. But he didn’t do it all at once. He laid his hands on the man, then asked him if he could see. The man replied that he could see men “like trees walking”. So he didn’t yet see clearly. Jesus touched his eyes a second time, and this time the man’s sight was completely restored. This is the only incident recorded in the gospels where Jesus healed in two stages (Mark 8:22-26).

It is interesting that immediately after this incident, Mark gives an account of Jesus asking his disciples who people are saying he is. They tell him that people are saying he is John the Baptist, Elijah or one of the prophets. Then Jesus asks them who they say he is. Peter replied, “You are the Christ” (‘Christ’ is the Greek for the Hebrew ‘Messiah’).

But then Jesus goes on to tell them how he must suffer many things, be killed and then rise again. In response Peter takes Jesus aside and rebukes him. This wasn’t Peter’s idea of the Messiah, long expected by the Jews, that he should suffer and be killed. He expected Jesus to be victor, not victim (Mark 8: 31-33). Jesus was touching Peter’s eyes a second time. He had seen that Jesus is the Christ, but Jesus was cleansing his eyes a second time so he would see the kind of Messiah Jesus was: one who triumphed through suffering.

We know that Jesus suffered most terribly, through betrayal, abandonment by his close friends, unjust trial, mockery, scourging and the agonising death of crucifixion. He also said that his followers must be prepared to suffer. Many were indeed persecuted for their loyalty to their Lord. Some were put to death. And many suffer for their faith in the world today. Mostly, for us, ridicule is the worst we face.

But many, including Christians, suffer in other ways. We could mention redundancy and financial hardship, cancer and a course of chemotherapy, chronic illness etc. Such troubles can be devastating. And it’s not because God has abandoned us, or is inflicting a terrible punishment. Just think of the example of the good man, Job. 

What we can say is that through such suffering people can know the fellowship of sharing Christ’s suffering. It is two-way. First, if you suffer, remember that Jesus understands. He knows all about human suffering after all. So in your suffering you can know his fellowship with you. His tears mingle with your tears. He enters into your suffering. Secondly, you enter into his suffering for all of us. Though we can never fully understand the depth of his suffering when he took all the sins and sorrows of humankind on himself.

This leads directly to our short reading.

Reading: Philippians 3: 10-11

“All I want is to know Christ and to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in the fellowship of his sufferings and become like him in his death, in the hope that I myself may be raised from death to life.”

Prayer

Father, we thank you that you are not remote from us and aloof from our troubles. In Christ you suffered for us, and you still enter our suffering and our troubles now. Wash our eyes clean that we may see Jesus in all his compassion and love. And help us in our troubles to enter into his suffering for us. Amen.

Go in peace, and in fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ

Midweek Reflection: Rewinding the Day Wednesday 8th November

A review of the Government’s handling of Covid is going on just now. As long as it isn’t just a blame game, but a genuine attempt to learn from the past, it will help us be more prepared for a comparable pandemic in the future.

You may have been asked to review your performance at work, or in some project or other. In order that you might learn from this how to do even better in the future. A review needs to have a positive purpose like this.

What about daily reviewing our lives? Here is one way we can do this.

Firstly, rewind the day. At the end of your day, look back through the day replaying it like a film in your head. Trace the events. Take your time to remember them all. Recall conversations and meeetings with people. Include what you saw of nature, music you heard, etc. etc.

Secondly, rejoice! Thank God for the good things, for the events, the people, the glimpses of creation, acts of kindness. Rejoice that God was present in the events and encounters with others. Count the blessings of the day. Again, take your time so that you don’t miss out on anything!

Thirdly, repent! Confess the wrong things you did, said or thought during the day. Include in this any subtle reactions that were un-Christlike. Remember God is merciful and honours our openness with him. Receive his forgiveness.

Fourthly, re-set, having reviewed your day, rejoiced and repented, and discerned the good from the bad, commit all things to God and ask him to grant you rest and sleep. Ask God to grant you a re-set for a fresh day tomorrow.

This is a modern version of the EXAMEN which means a review of consciousness and started as a Jesuit practice. You can vary it as suits you, but keeping to the essentials. You may want to include, for example, a prayer for those people who have featured in your day. I am indebted to Pete Greig for his book “How to hear God”.

Reading: 1 John 1: 6-7

“If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”

Prayer

We thank you, o Lord, that you meet with us in the everyday events of our lives. Help us to recognise your voice as you speak to us in them and through them, and through other people.Lord Jesus, you want us to walk close to you. May we walk closer to you each day and grow in your likeness. Amen.

May God bless you, and speak to you each day.

Midweek Reflection: Love is tough Wednesday 1st November

Our tap water has been constantly piping hot recently, and a tradesman has been in to diagnose the problem. Eventually he put his finger on the fault.  The pipe from our oil boiler to the hot water tank has a valve that is permanently open (it shouldn’t be) so that the water is always heating up even although the hot water switch at the boiler is turned off. When he diagnosed the problem, another tradesman had to be called in to help put things right. As I write they are both working at the job in a very small, cramped space inside the back door. 

What has this got to do with love? They probably wouldn’t dream of using the word. But when I look at the famous chapter in 1^st Corinthians I am reminded of the kind of love that Paul speaks about. It is tough love. It is love you have to work at. I don’t know how well I would do working in such close quarters with someone else for several hours.

Reading the famous 1^st Corinthians Chapter 13, ‘love’ is defined according to its various parts. It is like a diamond with its many facets. Thinking particularly of these two tradesmen working together in close quarters, each having to wait for the other to do his part before he can continue with his. Both crammed for space, and easily getting in each other’s way. The text says: “Love is patient and kind.” It also says: “Love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable.” Then “Love never gives up.” 

Love isn’t slushy or sentimental. Yes, it involves feelings of kindness and compassion, but it is also tough. It involves being considerate to one another and not selfish. It doesn’t get easily angry. Isn’t easily provoked. It means being patient with each other even if that means we are held up in our progress towards our own goal.

The two tradesmen seem to have made good progress. I haven’t been listening in to their conversation, but I haven’t heard any shouting or swearing! I think they are working patiently together, and being considerate towards each other. And, I cannot emphasise enough, in such a cramped space!

As a parish minister a lot of what I did was on my own – preparing services in my study, or doing pastoral visits by myself as I chose to do them. Yes, there was also working with groups, organisations and the courts of the Church. But I am not sure I would fare so well as these two men in their circumstances, who though they are probably unaware of it were practising tough love.

Now I’ll just have to wait for two bills to come. I’ll be very patient about this!

Reading: 1Corinthians 13: 4-7

“Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. Love never gives up; and its faith, hope and patience never fail.”

Prayer

God our Father, we thank you for the revelation of your love in and through Jesus, your Son. We thank you for his compassion towards the people who came to him, how he reached out to those in need; but also for his tough love – shown in his patience with his disciples who were so slow to learn, and shown above all in suffering and sacrificing himself for us. We ask you to strengthen us by your Spirit to practise such love. In his precious name we ask it. 

Go in his strength to love and serve the Lord. Amen

Midweek Reflection: Israel – Palestine Wednesday 25th October

With the war in and around Gaza going on it is surely necessary to view it as much as we can from the various and conflicting points of view. As we were reminded on Sunday the situation is very complex, and we need to be careful about taking sides.

There are several points of view. There is Hamas who deny Israel’s right to exist. There is the Israeli Government who take a very hard line in their treatment of the Palestinians. There are those who from both Palestine and Israel who want a peace process and who believe the two can learn to live together. 

We need to ask what it is like to be an Israeli who only in comparatively recent history have had a homeland of their own. They gained this after the horrors of the Holocaust. Now their very existence is threatened by surrounding powers such as Lebanon and Iran. Or what it is like to be Palestinians who were uprooted from their homes and deprived of their previous homeland to enable Israelis to establish theirs. Now their way of life is severely restricted (especially those in the Gaza Strip). 

The worst thing is that in the current war it is ordinary people who suffer and die. Think of the atrocious massacre of Israelis by Hamas that started the present war. Then Hamas using their own people as human shields to hide behind. And the Israelis, at the time of writing this, continuing to bomb Gaza, causing hundreds of civilian deaths. They are just beginning to allow a humanitarian corridor to allow food, water and medicines in. Meanwhile Hamas keep hostages of several nationalities captive, except we don’t know how many are still alive. As in so many conflicts ordinary people are treated as no more than pawns in a political game. Their lives don’t seem to matter as ideologies dictate the play.

But what we can say is that we believe Palestinians and Israelis are all people made in God’s image. Their lives are all equally sacred. Every Israeli and every Palestinian. I have mentioned that there is also a peace movement in Israel-Palestine in which both peoples are involved. Christians are very much part of this movement. They have a very significant role to play. 

Christians share a spiritual heritage with Israel. The New Testament affirms that we are all children of Abraham through faith. He is our spiritual father. We see Jesus as the true son of David, the Messiah whom Israel longed for, the long-expected King. We see the priestly and sacrificial ordinances of the Old Testament fulfilled in Jesus – he is our High Priest who offered himself as the once and for all sacrifice for our sins.

But through Jesus God’s covenant with Israel is succeeded by the new covenant. This includes all people and races.  In Christ, says Paul, there is neither Jew nor Greek. We could add there is neither Israeli nor Palestinian. And our vision is of a kingdom which unites all peoples through Jesus Christ, in whom we are one. 

Reading: Ephesians 2: 12-14

“…. remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility …..”

Prayer

Father God, we thank you for your love for all peoples and for your plan to unite us all in Christ your Son. We pray for Israel-Palestine – for all who work and strive for peace in that land, and for those who seek a political settlement. We ask that the forces of evil and violence would be restrained, and that those who are enemies now would have their hearts changed so that they might seek a way to live together in forgiveness, justice and peace. We ask these things in the name of our Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Go boldly and gladly in faith and love, and the blessing of God go with you. Amen.

Wednesday 18th October – sorry there is no Midweek Reflection this week. I plan to be back next week as usual.

Midweek Reflection: Power Restored Wednesday 11th October

There was a power cut near Aberlour where we stay on Saturday night. It lasted from about 7.40pm to 1.40am. As my wife feels the cold very badly because of her illness we invested in a generator for such emergencies, and this is the first time we have had to use it apart from regular testing. It worked!

I was reminded of the time I was a student and was attached to a church in Broomhouse, Edinburgh. At that time there was a major power cut. One of my first preaching duties was at this time, and I chose the power cut and its restoration as an illustration of our relationship with God. I repeat the same theme today!

When things are working properly, we are in a good and healthy relationship with God. This is made possible through Jesus’ saving work on our behalf, the ultimate expression of God’s deep love for us. Through the Holy Spirit we are in that relationship where we can speak to God, listen to him, and walk in his ways. But when we disobey him, and his commandments,that relationship is broken from our side, although he never stops loving us.

This was the case with King David, who is described in scripture as being a ‘man after God’s own heart’. We know his story. Despite his deep love for God and his close relationship with him, he once sinned greatly. While Uriah, an officer in the army, was serving in Israel’s army, David took a shine to Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba. He committed adultery with her, and then arranged for Uriah to be stationed in the thick of battle so that he was killed. It was nothing less than murder in an attempt to cover his tracks. 

It took Nathan, the prophet, to confront David with his guilt. Psalm 51 is described as David’s response, after he faces up to what he has done, and confesses it before God. It is an awful thing he has done, breaking his relationship with God from his own side. A power cut! The Holy Spirit no longer working through him, although he is the God-anointed king.

But on confessing his sin he finds God’s forgiveness, and the relationship is restored. Though there are still consequences for him to face, power is flowing again. The life and power of the Holy Spirit. David prays, “Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.” 

The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament was given to kings and priests, and to other leaders to equip them for special tasks. But in the new covenant we who are united with Christ through God’s grace, are also filled with the Holy Spirit. He keeps our relationship with God alive – the life and power and love keep flowing. This is the normal Christian life.

But one caution. Sometimes when we feel God is distant from us it is because we have disobeyed God. In these cases, we need to repent and receive forgiveness. Then the relationship is restored. But at other times it may not be our fault at all. We may be going through a valley of darkness. Let us remember that even Jesus who lived in such a close relationship with his Heavenly Father, felt abandoned by God as he suffered and died on the Cross. But let us pray that we remain in a close relationship with God, so he can use us, and his power and love flow through us.

Prayer (Psalm 51: 10-12) 

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.” Amen.

Go in peace and let the Spirit of God’s love and joy flow through you.

Midweek Reflection: Harvest Here and There Wednesday 4th October

Our Church celebrated Harvest Thanksgiving on Sunday. I gather it has been a mixed year for the farmers, with the weather being unpredictable. It is so difficult for the farmers having their barley harvest just right for the distilleries. They need the right conditions to bring the harvest in. Let us be thankful for them and the work they do.

At the service we were invited to give as part of our thanksgiving – give through the Foodbank to those who are unable to afford to provide sufficiently for their families because of inflation and the war in Ukraine. Many, who are able to, respond by giving in this way.

Harvest is time, too, to think of the poorer countries in the world, predominantly in the South, where people struggle to bring in a harvest. Climate change has intensified the degree to which they suffer from drought and flood. They have done the least to cause climate change, not being highly industrialised nations like ours, but have suffered the worst effects of it. While we, who are major contributors to climate change, have suffered comparatively little.

We may find it difficult to face such facts. When Prayer Points on our Church Facebook page are focused on global injustices, there are fewer ‘Likes’ recorded, but local concerns gather significantly more. Life for many of us is problematic enough as it is. 

If you look up a Bible Concordance, you won’t find Climate Change, Global Warming, or any such term. It wasn’t a problem when the books of the Bible were written. But there is a lot in the Bible about having deaf ears, needing them to be unstopped, and about the hardening of our hearts. And about loving our neighbour (who is the one who needs our help).

We are not facing the worst of climate change ourselves, so it is easy to distance ourselves from it. Or is it? We live in a “Global Village” after all, and receive news daily from all over the world. While we are comparatively free from its effects just now, it will be different for future generations. We need our ears unstopped, and our hearts opened towards our global neighbours. We were reminded recently about Malawi, one of the poorest countries in Africa and one with strong connections with Scotland. The average Brit’s carbon footprint is 100 times that of the Malawian. Lord, help us love such as those.

Since we are among those who have contributed most to the present crisis, it is surely right that we are paying for badly affected countries to adapt to the serious changes they are facing, so that they can grow the food they need. It is surely right, too, for us to think what steps we can take personally to reduce our carbon footprint.

We need to let God soften our hearts, and unstop our ears, and recognise all those neighbours Jesus calls us to love.

Reading: 2 Corinthians 6: 11-13

“We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange – I speak as to my children – open wide your hearts also.”

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you have commanded us to love our neighbour as ourselves. As we think of those in the world most adversely affected by climate change, open our hearts to them in love and our ears to their cry. Please save us from closed ears and hard hearts. We pray for the industrialised nations of the world that they will help the poorest nations adapt to climate change, so that they may feed themselves and their families. We pray these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Go in the love, peace and joy of Jesus Christ.    

Midweek Reflection: How is our hearing? Wednesday 27th September

Yesterday I drove my wife to Dr. Gray’s in Elgin to attend ENT. Her hearing was badly affected by the build-up of wax in her ears and she needed the wax removed. Thankfully the process was largely successful, and her hearing has greatly improved. I tell you this with her permission – I wouldn’t dare otherwise!

It must be very difficult for people with hearing problems, and although hearing aids are marvellous, there must still be a sense of isolation through not being able to communicate easily. I admire people who cope with this problem.

But there is another kind of hearing we may not all be good at. I am talking about hearing God’s voice. We need to keep asking what he is saying to us, realising that he can speak to us in various ways.

The hymn we sang in church last Sunday speaks of these different ways. I quote the first two lines of each verse.

“Lord you sometimes speak in wonders, unmistakable and clear….

Lord you sometimes speak in whispers, still and small and scarcely heard….

Lord you sometimes speak in silence, through our loud and noisy day….

Lord you sometimes speak in Scripture, words that summon from the page….

Lord you always speak in Jesus, always new yet still the same.”

(Hymn 606 in CH4 by Christopher Martin Idle)

Of course we can get our hearing wrong! But nothing God says to us will contradict what he says in Scripture. Scripture is our objective guide. And God speaks most clearly of all through Jesus who is his supreme Word to us. 

There are other ways in which God speaks. Through the words and lives of other people. Through inspired words another Christian is given to speak to us, called words of prophecy in the bible. Through books we read. Through his creation. We cannot limit how God speaks. 

Jesus, after telling some of his parables, said “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” We really have to listen to understand their meaning. I believe God is always speaking to us, but often we don’t hear because we are not really listening. Hearing God speak is something requiring our patient practice. We don’t become experts overnight, and I, for one, still feel like a beginner!

And as well as listeners we are called to be doers. See what James has to say about this in his letter (James 1:22-24).

Reading: John 10:27-29

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; no-one can snatch them out of my hand….. no-one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.”

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank you with all our hearts that you have spoken to us through your Son. You speak to us through him, and through him in many ways. Forgive us our deafness, and help us to be a listening people, learning to discern what you are saying to us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Go in peace, and the blessing of God go with you.

Midweek Reflection: Had a good rant? Wednesday 20th September

Have you ever had a good rant? When you have got all your bad and negative feelings off your chest? I say ‘good’, which it can be if you have a supportive listener. But such a rant can be very threatening to someone who is at the receiving end of it and is the target of your anger. Because what you say can be very hurtful to the listener, possibly full of exaggerated and unbalanced accusations against her/him. So a friendship, a relationship with someone you are working with, a marriage or partnership, can be badly damaged. The words you have said cannot easily be forgotten, even if followed by an apology. 

But what do we do with our negative thoughts and feelings when we have them and we can’t easily control them? 

In Psalm 109 David finds what to do with them. He finds a safe place for them. He finds someone strong enough to take them. He pours out his complaints, his anger and his vengeful thoughts to God. He finds that prayer is this safe place to do this.

He has obviously been badly wronged by his enemy. So he has a good rant. He goes on to wish this enemy no good, only evil. He prays that his “children be fatherless and his wife a widow”, that “a creditor seize all he has” and that “no-one extend kindness to him.” It really is a rant!

Of course this is long before Jesus gave us the command to love our enemies, and to do good to those who treat us badly. But that doesn’t stop us having vengeful feelings which we may need to recognise and express before we are enabled to forgive. 

The good news is that we can bring everything to God. Our thanksgiving and our praise. The things we need to confess. Our concerns for others and our own needs. But also our complaints, the ‘whys’ of our unanswered questions, our anger, our doubts and our fears.

In the words of the famous hymn:

“Just as I am, though tossed about with many a conflict, many a doubt, 

fightings and fears within, without, O Lamb of God, I come.”

Having brought everything to God, the psalmist in many of the psalms finishes on a new note of trust and praise. We too can finish our prayer of complaint, even our rant, with the sense we have handed everything over to God, and while our questions may not all be answered our trust is renewed. Something of his peace returns to us. We can even praise God who we recognise is Lord over all.

But in Psalm 88 there is no such positive ending. “Darkness is my greatest friend”, are the final words. Suggesting deep depression. But he has unburdened himself to the One who bears our burdens, as we can do to Jesus who bore our burdens on the Cross.

Reading: 1Peter 5: 6-7

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Leave all your worries with him, for he cares about you.”

Prayer

Lord God, who cares for each one of us, we bring to you our faith and our doubts, our joys and our sorrows, our health and our ill-health, our trust and our worries, our peace and our anger. Take what we bring, and transform us into the people you want us to be. Just as we are we come. Amen.

Go in peace, and the blessing of the Lord be with you.

Midweek Reflection: “I Don’t Apologise” Wednesday 13th September

One of the top funniest jokes at the Edinburgh Fringe this year, according to Dave, was from comedian Liz Guterbrock: “The most British thing I’ve ever heard? A lady who said, ‘Well I’m sorry, but I don’t apologise.’”

We don’t only apologise to God when we know we’ve shown an unloving attitude or done something wrong. We confess it. And as we do so sincerely, we are assured he forgives us. That is so central to the Gospel. But a problem may be that I still don’t forgive myself. Perhaps I can’t accept that I could have gone wrong in whatever way it was. 

This may seem virtuous, but really it is pride on my part to think this way. I think too highly of myself to consider I could have thought, said or done such a thing.  I need to humble myself, accept what I am like, gratefully accept God’s forgiveness……. and forgive myself too! And then ask God to work by his Spirit to make me different.

However, there is another way by which we may block the flow of God’s forgiveness, and so stop ourselves from receiving it. In the Lord’s Prayer Jesus taught us to pray: “Forgive us the wrongs we have done, as we forgive the wrongs that others have done to us.” Then he goes on to say, “But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive the wrongs you have done” (Matthew 6:12,15).

Another way of putting this (rather than seeing God’s forgiveness as conditional), is to think of an unforgiving attitude as blocking the flow of God’s forgiveness towards us. Think of a hosepipe. Turn the tap on at one end, then the water flows out at the other. But if someone stands on the hosepipe causing a block, the water ceases to reach its goal. Similarly, my unforgiving attitude blocks the flow of God’s forgiveness to me. It is impossible for me to receive it if the blockage remains.

It is not easy to forgive. But we can begin by telling God we want to forgive a wrong someone has done. And keep affirming this desire until forgiveness comes. Some of you may remember the true story of Corrie ten Boom who suffered in a concentration camp during the Second World War, and whose sister died there. After the war she worked for reconciliation. Once after speaking about the subject, a man approached her to ask her for forgiveness. He had been one of the prison guards who had caused her and her sister to suffer. She recognised him. At first she couldn’t respond as he offered his hand to her. She prayed to God for strength and finally stretched out her hand to shake his. She forgave him. Amazing!

One good reason for forgiving wrongs done to us is how unforgiveness affects us. It leaves us with a spirit that is bitter and resentful, unhappy and unfree. It leaves us bound to the person we refuse to forgive, in chains to them for ever. Much better to forgive!

Reading: Matthew 18:21-22

“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you not seven times, but seventy-seven times.’”

Prayer

Our loving and forgiving God, who has shown your mercy through Jesus your Son, give us grace to forgive others as you have forgiven us. We pray for any who have wronged us. Help them to see their need of your forgiveness too. In Jesus name we ask it. Amen.

Go in peace and in the strength of Jesus Christ.

Midweek Reflection: Baptism in the River Wednesday 6th September

On Sunday two adults were baptised in the River Spey at Aberlour as part of the morning service. This was their choice, and our minister and an elder willingly obliged. Clothed in waders they supported the two candidates for baptism as they waded out into the fastest flowing river in Scotland, accompanied by singing from our musicians. One was immersed, the other had water poured over him, and the words of the baptismal service were read. It was a very moving experience, both for those baptised and those who watched. It was all done very safely too. 

It is following biblical precedent to be baptised in a river. Remember Jesus was baptised in the River Jordan by John the Baptist. The difference is that the climate there is much more conducive to this. Scotland not so much so! So those who chose to be baptised in the Spey are to be saluted for their courage.

In the Church of Scotland we practise infant baptism for the children of those who make their own profession of faith, but also adult baptism for those who come to faith and have not been baptised as infants or as children. Other Churches only practise adult baptism, often called believers’ baptism. I am not making an issue of this difference. Christians can differ on matters of practice, listen to each other and respect one another’s beliefs. To me it is not a central matter of the faith how we do it. As long as we do do it, because Jesus commanded us so to do.

The important thing is to appreciate the meaning of our baptism. It is an outward sign of the forgiveness of our sins, and the new life we have in union with Christ. Through it we are united with Christ by faith. We are accepting in faith that all Jesus did was an expression of his love for us. We accept this personally. He lived, died and rose again for us, and baptism is like a seal of our union with him, especially in his death and resurrection. 

Paul graphically described this in his letter to the Romans: “For surely you know that when we were baptised into union with Christ Jesus, we were baptised into union with his death. By our baptism, then, we were buried with him (going down in the water)) and shared his death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from death (coming up from the water) by the glorious power of the Father, so also we might live a new life.”

In infant baptism, the emphasis is on the priority of God’s grace. All that God has done is accepted by believing parents on behalf of the infant although the tiny, vulnerable infant knows nothing of it yet. The initiative is from God who loves us long before we make any movement towards him. Later we can confirm the meaning of our baptism by our own profession of faith.

But baptism isn’t only an individual matter between us and Jesus. “For we were all baptised into one body….” says Paul. We belong not only to Jesus but also to one another.

Reading: Acts 8: 36-39 (after Philip had shared the gospel with the official)

“As they (Philip and the Ethiopian official) travelled down the road, they came to a place where there was water, and the official said, ‘Here is some water. What is to keep me from being baptised?’ The official ordered the carriage to stop, and both the official and Philip went down into the water, and Philip baptised him……. The official did not see him again, but continued on his way, full of joy.”

Prayer

Father, we rejoice in our baptism, which celebrates your love for us in Jesus Christ and expresses our identity as Christians. Help us by the power of the Holy Spirit to be true to our baptism . We especially pray for those recently baptised that you would uphold them and keep them by your generous grace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Go in peace, and God’s blessing go with you.

Midweek Reflection: “The flowers fall” Wednesday 30th August

Reading: Isaiah 40: 6-8

“A voice says, ‘Cry out.’ And I said, ‘What shall I cry?’ 

‘All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands for ever.’”

Reflection

They say that as men and women grow older, men’s feminine qualities are more in evidence, and women’s masculine qualities are too. Consistent with this I find myself appreciating flowers more than I used to. This summer I have delighted in the flowers in our garden, not least the large clusters of phlox outside our lounge window. Both the sight and the scent. 

But, sorry to say, the petals are all falling off! As are the honeysuckle and several others. They don’t last forever. And before very long the grass will stop growing.

The prophet Isaiah used this as an illustration of our mortality. Like the grass, representing us, we die. Like the flowers, the glory of human life is short lived. The grass withers, and the flowers fall.

In the Old Testament there is little that speaks of life after death. Only hints. After all, at that time Christ had not defeated death. He had not yet risen. In the New Testament it is different. The sadness and dreadfulness of death are still there, except that Jesus has conquered it. Halleluiah!

We are meant to enjoy this life and this creation. God said that it was good, and that humanity was very good! We don’t want to be too other worldly. Yet we are not to put our trust in human achievement but in God and in his word that stands for ever. We are to face our mortality, and put our trust for the future in him.

At a Christian funeral there are at least three essential parts. There is the thanks for the life of the deceased, indeed the celebration of it. Then there is the grieving, mourning the loss of the person and the acknowledging the sadness of this loss. Thirdly, there is the committal of the person into God’s care in the faith that Jesus, who defeated death, welcomes him/her into their eternal home in heaven. Without this for me there is an emptiness.

Jesus said, “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.” As our journey on this earth comes to an end, there remains our last journey, which is through death to our home in heaven. Unlike the grass we won’t wither. We shall see God’s glory, a glory which unlike that of the flowers will never fade away.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we pray for those who fear death, and also for those who because of their suffering long for death to come. Give us all the courage to face our mortality, and when you call us to yourself to make that last journey in the faith of your beloved Son. In his name we ask it. Amen.

Go in faith, hope and love.

Midweek Reflection: “Do not be afraid” Wednesday 23rd August

Are you ever afraid? I hope so. Our fears often have our best interests at heart! If you lived in British Columbia it would be disastrous not to be afraid of approaching wildfires, and to ignore warnings to evacuate your home. I once watched a little girl going fearlessly to the very edge of a cliff top, then scrambling on dangerous rocks. She seemed to lack the natural fear that preserves life and keeps us from danger. Thankfully she was all right in the end.

As Christians we are told not to be afraid, but that usually refers to being afraid of encountering God, or of difficult and challenging circumstances when we are reassured that God will be with us through them. I haven’t counted the number of times myself, but apparently the phrase “Do not be afraid”/ ”Fear not” occurs 103 times in the King James version of the Bible. When God’s people are called to act in faith, they are told to be courageous and not be afraid. When God’s messengers (often angels) appear to his servants they are reassured by such words. Think of Mary when the angel appeared to her to announce that she would be mother of God’s Son. He said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary. You have found favour with God.” Isaiah, the prophet, spoke these words of God to the people of Israel: “Fear not I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters I will be with you…..” This injunction not to be afraid must be tremendously important, when it is used so many times.

But wait a minute! There are also many instances of such phrases as “Fear God”. According to Proverbs 1:7, for example, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” To fear God is to remember that we are accountable to him, to revere him, to be in awe of him. God’s people are to fear him in this sense.

We know God is love, and full of grace, so how can we hold these truths together. To fear God, yet not be afraid? I am reminded of the words of “Amazing Grace” by John Newton. He wrote: “Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved.” Living as an unbeliever, and captain of a slave ship, he and his crew encountered a violent storm at sea. They were in danger of being shipwrecked, and Newton was very afraid. Despite his ungodly way of life he called upon God in prayer. The storm then eased, and their lives were saved. Presumably Newton had been afraid not only of the storm but of the God he had ignored, and to whom he now turned. He went on to experience the forgiving grace of God and the mercy of Jesus his Saviour. Grace had taught his heart to fear, then grace his fears relieved.

Many have experienced the same – realising we have fallen far short of what God wants of us we have feared his presence. Then we have become aware of how Jesus who lived the perfect life as representative of all humanity has stood in the gap between us and God, and paid the price of all our sins. We are then overwhelmed by his grace and love for us.

And we surely need to continue to “Fear God” and at the same time hear his voice saying “Do not be afraid.” And “Perfect love casts out all fear” (1 John 4:18).

Reading: Matthew 10: 29-31

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

Prayer

God our Father. help us to revere you and ‘fear’ you for you are a great and awesome God. But you have revealed your heart of love to us, and through your grace shown in Jesus taken away our fear.  Your love for us replaces it with our love for you. Accept the love we bring. Amen.

God bless you, and “Do not be afraid.”

Midweek Reflection: Labels Wednesday 16th August

What would we do without labels? We label the different sections in a folder according to the subjects of the documents we store. So that we can find the ones we want more easily. A mum stiches name labels on her children’s clothes so that they do not get lost (I remember having all mine labelled before going to a Cub Camp. I still managed to lose some!) At a meeting we are asked to stick name labels on our lapels so that others can identify who we are. Food jars, boxes of screws, can all be labelled to make life more organised. 

But while labels can be very useful, we need to be very careful about labelling people. Pejorative labels are sometimes used for people whose ethnicity or sexuality is different, or for asylum seekers, or for people with a mental illness or a disability….suggesting that is all we need to know about them. By labelling them we diminish them. We forget that underneath the labels are human beings of infinite worth. Each person has been made in God’s image which is the most distinguishing feature of every human being. Each person is so much more than the label we attach to them.

Jesus didn’t accept the labels people put on others. A leper was used as a label identifying those who carried it as having to be avoided at all costs. They were called ‘unclean’. But Jesus let them near him, befriended, touched and healed them. Jews called all other people ‘Gentiles’ and didn’t associate with them. Jesus crossed that barrier. Religious people talked disparagingly of ‘tax collectors and sinners’, indicating that Jesus was wrong to have anything to do with them. Yet he ate with, and forgave ‘sinners’, and invited himself to the home of Zacchaeus, the tax collector whose life was then transformed. Jesus saw beyond the label to the true person behind it and her/his potential. 

We can also wear labels ourselves! In our formative years we may have been told by an adult that we are ‘stupid’, ‘good for nothing’, even that we ‘can’t sing’. Were you given such a label? These things said about us when we are young can be stored deep inside of us, robbing us of belief in ourselves. Such labels can be very damaging. 

When we are conscious of this, we have an antidote in God’s word. There we are described as ‘God’s Children’, his ‘Beloved’, and the ‘Apple of his eye’. In Christ there is no condemnation, only affirmation, encouragement. and love. He does not put us down. And the Holy Spirit distributes his enabling gifts among us. 

So let’s not place unhelpful labels on others or on ourselves!

Reading: Luke 19: 1-9 (selected verses)

(Zaccheus had climbed a tree to see Jesus coming through Jericho. Jesus saw him). “When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today’. So he came down at once, and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, ’He has gone down to the guest of a “sinner” ‘. “
(Zacchaeus promises Jesus he will make restitution for all his dishonest dealings, and will give to the poor.) “Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too is a son of Abraham.’ “

Prayer

Father God, we bless you and praise you for sending your Son into the world. We thank you that he saw everyone as made in your image and likeness, and didn’t put limiting or condemning labels on people. Help us to follow his loving example. And reveal to us if we have accepted unhelpful labels foisted on us by others, so that you may free us from their constraining power. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Go in the freedom of the children of God, and his blessing be upon you.

Midweek Reflection: Brothers and Sisters Wednesday 9th August

How do you get on with your brother(s) and sister(s) if you have any? Perhaps one of them is the best friend you have. Family loyalty also keeps you close. On the other hand, some brothers and sisters no longer speak to each other which is sad. Or there may be some degree of sibling rivalry from the past still operating and causing underlying uneasiness in the relationship. 

The brother/sister relationship is a very important one. It goes back to one’s earliest days, meaning that your sibling has had so much in common with you and so much understanding of you as a person. It is surely a relationship to cherish and continue to work at.

I was recently asked what name I liked to ascribe to Jesus. Saviour, Lord, King, Friend, Brother ….? They all mean much to me, but at that moment ‘Brother’ seemed to speak to me most. Even if we don’t have a brother or sister, we can have this Brother – the best and truest one of all. Jesus, our elder brother.

Scripture teaches us that through Jesus, God’s Son, we too become God’s sons and daughters. So Jesus becomes our brother! The Book of Hebrews describes how Jesus calls us brothers, how he had to become one of the same human family that we are members of, so that he could represent us before God. As our human brother he understands our human frailties and temptations, and can help us in ours.

Isn’t it wonderful to know Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, as our brother? Think of him that way.  One who knows us so perfectly, who shares our humanity, who experienced the essence of all our experiences except that he did not sin. Our brother indeed. Our elder brother on whom we can totally rely. 

Let’s prize this relationship and keep it intact and always growing. Whatever experience we go through he understands and is there to help us. More than even a natural brother and sister he knows all about us.

If Jesus is brother to you and me, it follows that we are brothers and sisters to each other. Jesus once spoke of those who did his Father’s will as his family – his mother, brothers and sisters. And the New Testament writers address their fellow Christians as brothers and sisters. “Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters” (Hebrews 13:1).

So not only is it good to value and cherish our natural family relationships as far as we can (that always takes two!), but Christians are also to love one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. We belong together in the family of faith. A most important factor that draws people to faith is to experience the warm, loving fellowship of a Church family.

Of course our love for others reaches far beyond our Church family, but that is where we are to begin. As children of the Father, and brothers and sisters of J esus.

Reading: Hebrews 2:11-13; 17-18

“Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. He says, ‘I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters’ ……. he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

Prayer

Father God, we praise you that you have set us in families. Thank you for our brothers and sisters if we have them, and help us to cherish and strengthen these relationships. If they are broken show us steps we can take to repair them. And if we don’t have natural brothers and sisters, we thank you for the Brother we have in Jesus, and the brothers and sisters we have in the family of faith. Help us to value and strengthen these. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Go in peace and love, and the blessing of God be with you.

Midweek Reflection: Our Shade from the Heat Wednesday 19th July

We’re seldom pleased with the weather, are we? Too hot or too cold. Too wet or not enough rain for the garden. But however much we love the sun, most of us will be pleased that we are not experiencing the extreme degrees of heat that are reported from southern Europe, parts of the USA and China. Our son and his family are on holiday in Corfu, off the west coast of northern Greece. They are managing to survive by frequenting the hotel swimming pool, but it is a battle. With climate change we can expect temperatures such as these more commonly. With people even dying from the heat, measures need to be taken to protect ourselves. More trees in our cities, more suitable housing that keeps us cooler. 

I recall vividly one very hot summer’s day setting out to climb a mountain. Despite the heat I was determined to go on. I would head from one rock to the next eagerly seeking their shade. They made a welcome respite from the heat. But as the sun rose further in the sky there was less shadow to cover me and so less relief! It was quite a battle to go on. Eventually as I climbed higher onto the ridge a gentle breeze welcomed me, and the heat became less oppressive. The climb became easier. Eventually I got to the top.

Huddling under the shadow of each rock reminds me of the Biblical picture of the Lord being a shade in which we can shelter. We find the imagery especially in the Psalms. In Psalm 121:5-6 we read “The Lord watches over you – the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day…” Jesus, in the parable of the mustard seed, speaks of the tiny seed growing into a tree where the birds of the air can perch in its shade.  

We experience ‘heat’ of various kinds. There is the ‘heat of battle’. Many Christians face this heat when they take a stand for Jesus; or when they speak out on a matter of mercy or justiceand many oppose them. The heat can become difficult to endure. But the Lord is our shade in which we can shelter.

We can be tempted to do daft things in ‘the heat of the moment’. When we get carried away, and act before we think of the possible consequences; or when we let our wrong desires master us. Then there are the tough trials we experience in life when we really feel the heat, and need to take shelter under the Lord who is our shade.

One of the things we know to do when we face very hot weather is to drink plenty water and cool drinks. An ex-soldier spoke of his experience of serving in desert country in Africa. He had never been so thirsty in his life! But our deepest thirst is for Jesus who is the true Water of Life, who satisfies us with his love, with his presence and his peace. And who enables us to offer that living water to others.

Reading: Isaiah 25:4-5

“You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in their distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless is like ….. the heat of the desert.”

Prayer

Lord our God, we pray for those who experience extreme heat that you will keep them safe and well. We pray for those who face the heat of persecution for their faith. Thank you that you are the shade at our right hand, our shelter from the heat. May we rest under the shadow of your wing whatever kind of heat we face. In Jesus name. Amen.

There will be no Midweek Reflection for the next two weeks. Back on Wednesday 9th August.

God bless you and go with you.

Reflection: Free at the point of need Wednesday 12th July.

The NHS has been getting a lot of attention following it’s 75^th birthday. What an amazing service it has been – the envy of most of the world. Recently it has faced many problems and pressures, and requires reforming for the future. But while staff shortages and long waiting lists are certainly not to be envied, the principle “free at the point of use” is great to have. So every citizen, including the poorest, receives treatment at no charge (with some exceptions like dental treatment). The biblical emphasis on justice for the poor is well applied in the NHS. There is no discrimination. We can gladly thank God for the NHS, and pray earnestly about the form it will take in the future.

If we change the principle to “free at the point of need” we reach the heart of the gospel. Nothing we can do is ever good enough to bring us back to God, but God through his grace reaches us and brings us back to himself. Our salvation has no charge attached! It is free! For us, that is. Only Jesus paid the cost through his suffering and death. His grace is free at the point of our deepest need. 

The hymn puts it well:

“Grace is when God gives us the things we don’t deserve (2x). He does it because he loves us (2x). Grace is when God gives us the things we don’t deserve.”

The principle, “free at the point of need”, applies to us in our weakness. So often it is in our vulnerability that we are open to receive God’s grace. In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, St. Paul speaks of a ‘thorn in my flesh’ that he is tormented with by Satan. There are various theories concerning this thorn in the flesh. Many think it was a physical ailment he suffered from continually. Others think that it refers to the persecution that followed him from place to place. He was beaten, stoned and imprisoned for Jesus’ sake. Enemies kept following him. Just as we use the phrase ‘thorn in the flesh’ to speak of someone who continually frustrates or troubles us.

Whatever it was, Paul prayed thrice that God would remove this source of trouble from him. But each time God answered, “My grace is sufficient for you.” God’s grace free at the point of need again! In other words, God wasn’t going to remove the problem, but rather he was going to give him the grace and strength to cope with it, thus bringing Paul to rely all the more on God. So he was able to say that God’s strength was made perfect in his human weakness. 

Isn’t it true that we sometimes ask God to change a difficult circumstance in our life but instead he gives us the grace to cope with it? This can make us all the more dependent on him, conscious as we are of God’s grace helping us, sometimes even carrying us. “My grace is sufficient for you” – is in the present tense, meaning that his grace is always there for us. Let’s praise The God of all grace!

Reading: Hebrews 4: 15-16

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses…… Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Prayer

God of all grace, we praise you that your grace is free at our point of need. Help us to receive it with a grateful heart. We give thanks for the NHS and its governing principle, and pray for all its staff working under great pressure. Guide those who plan to shape its future that it might serve those who need it compassionately and effectively. Amen.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: It’s not Tennis! Wednesday 5th July

Wimbledon is under way again! As I write Andy Murray, our national hero, is due to be on court this afternoon. In tennis there are rules to follow, the laws of the game. However, players can on occasions engage in schemes to deliberately irritate, put off their opponents without actually breaking these laws. But, you could say, It’s not tennis! Such schemes are not in the spirit of the game!

Just as in the Men’s Second Test Match between England and Australia – I’ve changed to cricket now! – an English batsman had his wicket taken by the Australian wicketkeeper when the batsman thought the over was finished and wandered out of his crease. The wicketkeeper then knocked down his wicket to stump him. As the umpire had not yet declared the over (6 balls bowled) was complete, the stumping was within the laws of the game. But many felt it wasn’t in the spirit of the game. 

Last Sunday at Aberlour Church we were thinking about the Ten Commandments, God’s laws given as a gift of love to protect our loves and relationships, and to provide social stability. ‘The ten best ways’ they were called: the expression of God’s love for us. 

We divided into groups for discussion about these ten best ways. And in our discussion we looked ahead to Jesus who raised the bar for us, saying it wasn’t just our outward conformity to God’s commandments that mattered but also what is in our hearts. In what spirit do we live and act? Jesus said: “You have heard it said in the past, ‘Do not commit murder; anyone who does will be brought to trial’. But now I tell you: anyone who calls his brother ‘You good-for-nothing!’ will be brought before the Council….” He said something similar about adultery. He quoted the commandment, ‘Do not commit adultery’, and then went on to speak of committing adultery in one’s heart. As I say, Jesus raised the bar for us, speaking of the inner thoughts of our hearts as well as our outward actions. What’s inside us is as important as our outward actions. The spirit matters as well as outer obedience to God’s laws.

The bar Jesus sets for us is too high for us all. We may have kept the 10 commandments (or most of them!) but we have sinned in spirit if not in action. Jesus’ standard for us brings us to see ourselves in the light of God’s holiness, to repent and discover the saving grace of Jesus Christ. We then need His Spirit to work in our hearts and lives to fill us with his love, to make us more and more like him, inwards and outwards, so that we can become for him clearer, brighter lights in the world. This is the spirit of our faith. 

Reading: Matthew 15: 19-20(a)

“For from (a person’s) heart come the evil ideas which lead them to kill, commit adultery, and do other immoral things; to rob, lie and slander others. These are the things that make a person unclean.”

Prayer

Loving God, who reaches out to us with all our flaws and failings, with our wrong actions and our unworthy thoughts and feelings, make us more and more the recipients of your grace. Change us from within so that our actions would flow from a renewed spirt. We ask this not for our benefit alone, but so that we may burn more brightly as your lights in the world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

May God work deeply within you, and go with you

Midweek Reflection: Connecting with Creation Wednesday 28th June.

Are you regularly connecting with nature? With God’s wonderful creation? Living in the country makes it a lot easier, but we can do it in a town as well, with its green spaces. We can do it during a walk, or in the garden. Apart for anything else it is good for our mental health (something we all have), and it also helps us communicate with and worship our Creator.

I have been trying to use as many of my senses as possible when I go out for a short walk. I use my eyes to see the green leaves and grass, the colours of the flowers and of the sky, to notice a bird flying overhead….. I use my ears to hear the song of a blackbird, the buzzing of a bee, the refreshing sound of the stream flowing nearby, and of the breeze stirring the leaves of the trees…. I use my sense of smell to take in the pleasing scent of the flowers by the roadside….. and my sense of touch to feel the bark of a tree or the texture of a leaf. If there was any wild fruit by the wayside, I might use my sense of taste as well. “Taste and see that the Lord is good” comes to mind!

Do we try to protect ourselves too much from the elements? It is good to feel the rain on our faces too, the snow in winter, as well as the warmth of the summer sun. We need the rain, and feeling it helps us appreciate it and the love of God in providing it.

We don’t as Christians worship nature. We worship the God who formed it and renews it. However much we enjoy the sunshine, we are Son (not Sun) worshippers! But God is present in his creation, his Spirit sustains and renews its life. “When you send out your spirit, they (your creatures) are created; you give new life to the earth” (Psalm 104:30).

It is good to connect with creation because we are part of it! Although we have been given a special place in it, we belong to it. “When the Lord took some soil from the ground and formed a man out of it; he breathed life-giving breath into his nostrils and the man began to live” (Genesis 2:7). 

St. Francis in his hymn speaks of ‘brother sun’, ‘sister moon’ and ‘mother earth’. He is no earth worshipper, but he remembers our humble origins and earthly connections. Remembering this helps us to befriend, value and enjoy God’s amazing creation.

Reading: Psalm 104: 10-15

“You make springs flow in the valleys, and rivers run between the hills. They provide water for the wild animals….. in the trees nearby the birds make their nests and sing. From the sky you send rain on the hills, and the earth is filled with your blessings. You make grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to use, so that they grow their crops and produce wine to make themselves happy, olive oil to make them cheerful, and bread to give them strength.”

Prayer

God our Father and our Maker, we praise you for the joy of your creation of which we are part. Forgive us for failing to value it as we should. Help us to connect with it and appreciate it more and more, to cherish and look after it. We look forward to the time when the whole of creation will be made new and come into its own. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Go in peace, and blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with you, now and always.

Midweek Reflection: Reminiscing – Wednesday 21st June

I’ve been corresponding with a fellow minister whom I have known since student days. Our paths have crossed several times throughout our ministries in different parishes. We have been reminiscing! Remembering our fellow students and where their journeys have taken them. Recalling the different places where we have been. As we get older, reminiscing is something we do more often – after all there is more and more to remember!

Remembering has been a key characteristic of God’s people, both the people of the Old Testament and the New. Each year at the Feast of Passover the People of Israel remembered God’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt. They are urged continually to remember God’s deliverance, his presence with them in their desert journey, and their coming to the Promised Land. When, under the leadership of Joshua, they crossed the River Jordan into this land they erected 12 stones which would remind them how God had stopped the waters and had led them into the land (see Joshua 4) . Dwelling on the things God has done in the past reminds us of his faithfulness, and encourages us to trust God in the future.

In the New Testament Jesus introduced a special meal of remembrance for his people. The Christian equivalent of the Passover. The Lord’s Supper of course. What we usually call Communion. Jesus told us to eat and drink remembering him, especially his broken body and his blood that was shed for us, sealing the new relationship we have with him and the Father. In our praise and prayers we recall the story of our salvation reminding ourselves of the unlimited extent of God’s love. We remember his birth, death, resurrection and ascension and the gift of the Holy Spirit at different times in the Christian Year. We remember God as Creator too, especially at Harvest Thanksgiving. 

We do this as the new people of God. As individuals, too, it is good to remember God’s goodness to us throughout our lives. A birthday is a good time to do this, though we can do it at any time. We can reflect on how God has provided for us in the past and blessed us in many ways. How he has led us from one chapter of our lives to the next. How he has always been with us whether we knew it at the time or not. How he has helped us through very difficult times. As we recall his faithfulness in the past, we renew our trust in him for the future.

In Psalm 77 when the psalmist feels that God has rejected him (“has his unfailing love vanished for ever?”) he then goes on to say he will remember what God has done in the past and meditate on God’s works. Recalling God’s blessings and his deeds encourages us to believe in the present however hard the circumstances.

In a slightly different sense of ‘remember’, God remembers us. Each one of us, including you and me. He knew us before we were born, our birth was not a mistake even if humanly it wasn’t planned, and he never forgets us. He remembers the covenant he made with us.  And in this sense of the word let us continually remember him, his choice of us, his calling and his love.

Reading: Song based on Lamentations: 3: 22-23

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning, new every morning. Great is your faithfulness, o Lord. Great is your faithfulness.”

Prayer

Lord of all faithfulness, we remember all that you have done for us, how you have blessed us, and we give you our praise. Thank you that you knew us from before our birth, have always been with us and never forget us. Help us not to forget you. For Jesus’ sake we ask it. Amen.

As God has been with you in the past, may he go with you now and in the days to come.

Midweek Reflection: Wildfires Wednesday 14th June

It’s been said that the wildfires in Cannich have been the worst ever in the UK! Included in the damage these fires have caused has been the destruction of an RSPB reserve where school children had been involved planting trees. Heartbreaking for all concerned. Think too of the wildfires in Quebec in Canada, and the suffocating smoke stretching south to South Carolina on the US eastern seaboard. Lots of evidence of climate change, even while we enjoy warm, sunny days. How urgently the whole world needs to bring a halt to global warming.

Fire can be productive too. We can cook a meal in a gas oven, warm ourselves by a fire. The sparking plugs in a car fire the fuel in a combustion engine, enabling us to travel far. Lots of examples of fire put to good use. Yet how destructive fire can be. They reckon campfires left smouldering, not fully extinguished, sparked off some of the wildfires. Just a few acts of carelessness!

James, probably the brother of Jesus, uses the illustration of destructive fire in his New Testament letter. He compares the damage our tongues can do to a large forest set on fire ‘by a tiny flame’. He says, ‘The tongue is like a fire’, and he laments that the same tongue can be used to praise God and curse our fellow human beings. ‘This should not happen!’ he declares.

We all know that the saying ‘sticks and stones can break your bones, but names can never hurt you’ is just not true!  Names/words can hurt deeply. Cruel words spoken to a child may cause them to form a negative view of themselves which lasts throughout their lives. 

The trouble with words is that we cannot take them back, though an apology can go a long way in undoing the harm. Taking them back is like trying to remove the milk from your tea after you have poured it in, or like pushing the toothpaste back into the tube after you have squeezed it out! 

The tongue, James says, is impossible to tame – like an uncontrolled flame of fire. But just as there are constructive and destructive uses of fire, so there are of the tongue. We can praise God with our tongues. We can speak the truth. We can build up others by saying helpful things. We can give encouragement with our tongues. We can express love. Think of other good uses of your tongue. We can even share the good news of Jesus!

Bible Reading: James: 3: 5-6 & 9-10

“So it is with the tongue: small as it is, it can boast about great things. Just think how large a forest can be set on fire by a tiny flame! And the tongue is like a fire…. We use it to give thanks to our Lord and Father and also to curse our fellow human being, who is created in the likeness of God. Words of cursing and thanksgiving pour out from the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, this should not happen!”

Prayer

Dear Lord, please kindle our hearts with the flame of your undying love, so that our mouths speak words that are helpful to others, upbuilding, encouraging and kind. Help us keep guard over our tongues. Not to spread unkind and unfounded gossip. May we ever use them to glorify you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

God bless you and go with you.

Midweek Reflection: The Gospel and the Sandwich Wednesday 7th June

The famous preacher, Charles Spurgeon, once said, “If you give a man the gospel, wrap it in a sandwich.” He was meaning that if you meet a person who is poor and hungry, or in need of some practical help, you should not offer him the gospel alone. You should feed him or help him first and then share the Good News! His words were particularly important guidance for Christian missions whether at home or abroad. 

But he went on, “And if you give a man a sandwich, wrap it in the gospel.” The greatest gift we can offer people is the Good News of God’s love given us in Jesus. It is good to express God’s love through practical help that is needed, but we are called to share the gospel that meets the deepest human needs.

There are many para-Church organisations who are involved in either offering practical help to those in great need or in sharing the gospel perhaps through Bible translation. I like to support both. Not so many are holistic – both offering practical help and sharing the gospel.

Jesus did both. After teaching God’s message to a crowd of 5,000 he realised they were hungry and had a journey home ahead of them. He then asked the disciples what food they had. They in turn came up with 5 loaves and 2 fishes. He gave thanks to God, broke the bread, and distributed the food among the crowd. Everyone had enough to eat. They went home satisfied with both God’s word and with the bread they ate.

One of the most notable, if not the most notable feature of Pentecost was that, on receiving the Holy Spirit, the disciples of Jesus spoke out boldly about ‘the great things God had done’. It was the Holy Spirit, the often-neglected member of the Trinity, that enabled them to proclaim these things. They overcame any fears or embarrassment. And not long afterwards, after Peter and John had been arrested and then released, they prayed not for protection from the Jewish leaders, but for boldness in continuing to speak God’s message! And after praying they “were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to proclaim God’s message with boldness.” The room they were in was shaken! (Acts 4:23-31).

They were not educated people. They hadn’t had a theological education. Their only qualifications were that “they had been with Jesus” and that they had been filled with the Holy Spirit.

Their situation was very different from ours. They lived in a pre-Christian society. We live in a post-Christian one. Perhaps we are best emphasising practical Christian caring and obeying the commandment to love our neighbour. But while we may not all speak God’s message to the crowd as the disciples did at Pentecost, should we not seek opportunities to share our faith with others in “spiritually natural ways”? So that when our conversations come round to issues such as a person’s problems or finding meaning in life, we can speak of how we have been helped through our faith in God. We can speak of what Jesus offers us all. 

We still need alertness to recognise these opportunities, and boldness to speak when they arise. That is where we too need the Holy Spirit our Helper.

Reading: Acts 4: 29 & 31

(They prayed) “’And now, Lord, take notice of the threats they have made, and allow us, your servants, to speak your message with all boldness’ …. When they had finished praying, the place where they were meeting was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to proclaim God’s message with boldness.”

Prayer

Lord Jesus, we thank you that you showed your love and care for the whole person, body, mind and spirit. Help your people, including us, to do so too. Help us to love our neighbour as you taught us to. But also give us courage to take any opportunities that come our way to share with others what you can do. In your name we pray. Amen.

God bless you and strengthen you

Midweek Reflection: Have we neglected the Holy Spirit? Wednesday 31st May

At Pentecost last Sunday the Church celebrated the coming of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus’ followers after Jesus had gone back to his Father in heaven. So much happened on that day. It was very dramatic. The Spirit came with a sound like a rushing wind, and something like tongues of fire settled on them individually. The result? They were empowered to speak of the things that God had done through Jesus, in such a way that people from many different countries were able to understand them in their own language.

We can be uneasy hearing of the Holy Spirit, who has been described as the neglected Person of the Trinity. Hearing of the events of Pentecost can make us afraid of what could happen to us if the Holy Spirit descended. Yet think how lovingly he came to the disciples individually, respecting each personality; a type of fire that caused no harm but rested on each one so that they could be his witnesses. Not so much weird as wonderful!

The Holy Spirit does not always work in such a dramatic way. Indeed in John’s Gospel, in the nearest we come to Luke’s Pentecost, the risen Jesus meets his disciples, breathes upon them (individually I wonder?) and says “Receive the Holy Spirit. Just as the Father sent me, so I am sending you.” 

I recall leading worship for the first time in my first charge, shortly after my ordination as a minister of the Kirk. I had chosen the reading from John that I have quoted from but had not taken in the particular words Jesus spoke to his disciples: “Just as the Father sent me, so I am sending you”. I wasn’t planning to preach on these words specifically. It felt as if God was speaking directly to me, assuring a far from confident young minister of his calling and empowering him to speak the truth of the gospel. The Holy Spirit was definitely at work!

The Holy Spirit not only empowers us, but first of all works in our hearts to bring us to repentance and faith in Jesus. He guides us, gets alongside us, helps us, makes Jesus real for us. He distributes gifts among us so that we can all serve him according to the gifts he has given. 

He works in our lives to change us into Jesus’ likeness. This means he produces Christlike qualities in our lives – what Paul calls the fruit of the Spirit. This is no short-term task of his. It is lifelong. We are often impatient and want this to happen more quickly, but then patience is part of the fruit of the Spirit! “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace ….”

Every Christian receives the Holy Spirit. But we need to be open to the Spirit meeting us in new ways, whether dramatic or quieter. If we feel there is something lacking in our Christian discipleship, let’s pray that he would fill us. In fact how can we live the Christian life and do Jesus’ work without him? Let’s pray:

“Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Break me, melt me, mould me, fill me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.” Then pray it again, changing the ‘me’ to ‘us’.

Reading: John 20: 19-22

“… Then Jesus came and stood among them. ‘Peace be with you,’ he said. After saying this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy at seeing the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I send you.’ Then he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit……’”

Prayer

Lord Jesus, we thank you that you not only died for us, but poured out the Holy Spirt upon us, the gift from the Father. We praise you that it is through the Spirit that you are now present in our lives. Help us to be open to the Spirit, empowering us to speak words for you, giving us gifts and changing us into your likeness. We pray for ourselves and all Christians that we would not be content with less. Keep us ever expectant. In your name we pray. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: Wait! Wednesday 24 May

Are you good at waiting? For a bus… in a queue… for your holidays… for the morning to come if you are lying awake… so we could go on. Most of us, including myself, would probably answer “not very good”. There are some, however, who show remarkable patience, don’t get irritated, and find someone to converse with in the queue. Some, stuck at traffic lights, take the opportunity to pray rather than get stressed. 

We read at the end of Luke’s Gospel, and at the beginning of Acts (also written by Luke), that the risen Jesus told his disciples that he was leaving them, and that they were to wait in Jerusalem for the gift the Father promised – the Holy Spirit – to empower them to be his witnesses and spread the good news of the gospel far and wide. They were to wait for this to happen. 

So what did they do? They stayed together in Jerusalem and waited. We learn too that, as they waited, they prayed frequently along with Mary, Jesus’ mother, the women and Jesus’ brothers who apparently have come to believe in him. They waited and prayed expectantly. And on the Day of Pentecost, which the Church celebrates this coming Sunday, the Holy Spirit came upon them with power.

There are many examples of God’s people waiting in faith. Abraham and Sarah waiting as the years passed by for their son, promised by God, to be born. It wasn’t easy for them. Sarah, past the age of childbirth, on one occasion laughed at the idea. Abraham tried to help God on his way by having a son through Hagar, Sarah’s maidservant. But Abraham believed God and their waiting and longing bore fruit when Isaac was born. 

Moses had to wait before he was ready to hear God speak and deliver his people from slavery in Egypt. Then he went in God’s strength and not his own. It was God’s timing. So we could go on.

Waiting and praying is meant to be the way for us all. We may sense that God is going to do something. We need to wait and pray. That doesn’t mean we are to be passive and do nothing. But we want our actions to be in tune with the leading God gives us, so that we are working with him and not out of line with what he wants. Waiting is an essential part of faith.

A popular illustration of how God answers prayer is when a driver comes to traffic lights. Red says stop (God’s No), green says go (God’s Yes), and orange says wait. Often God’s answer is orange. Then we are to wait for God’s answers and recognise them when they come.

In a slightly different sense of ‘waiting’, imagine an expert waiter at work in a restaurant. (S)he waits on her/his customers. Waits to see if they are ready to order, have finished one course, are wanting to be served in any way. In such a way we are called to wait upon our Lord, ready to serve him as he prompts us. Like the waiter we need to be alert.

Waiting on God needs to be our attitude always. It shows we are humble before him, not trying to control him. It shows we are ready to submit to his will. Let’s wait for the Lord!

Reading: Psalm 130: 5-6 

“I wait eagerly for the Lord’s help, and in his word I trust. I wait for the Lord more eagerly than watchmen wait for the dawn – than watchmen wait for the dawn.”

Prayer

Thank you, Lord our God, for all the times in scripture when we learn of your people waiting on you – for your deliverance, for your promises to be fulfilled, or simply to know your love and presence with them. Give us this attitude of patient waiting on you, to know you more deeply, for your purposes to be fulfilled in our lives, to be ready like the waiter to serve you at your bidding. We ask these things through our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

May God bless you and yours.

Midweek Reflection: Raindrops Wednesday 17th May

Recently I read the short book of Titus, one of the so-called Pastoral Letters in the New Testament. The author, named as Paul, is encouraging and teaching Titus, who is leader of the church in Crete. What struck me for the first time in reading the three short chapters was the number of times the phrase “do good” or “doing good” occurs in the letter. I counted five times, plus once “teaching good”. There is also one negative, describing those who are “unfit for doing anything good”. So that is seven “goods” in total! Paul is urging Titus to encourage the people of the church to do good. 

I remember hearing a friend describing Christianity as simply about goodness and doing good. And that is surely the outcome of genuine Christian faith (and other faiths as well). As long as our doing good is not our effort to atone for our sins and earn God’s favour. For the letter to Titus also says: “But when the love and kindness of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of the righteous (good) things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit…” (Titus 3:4-5). As we receive the mercy and love of God, we are inspired to love him in return and to do good. This is our response to God’s love for us.

We don’t want to be “do-gooders” either. The Christian motive for doing good is not to be well thought of, to be admired or even thanked. It’s not to have a monument built in our honour! Jesus taught us that we are not to let our left hand know what our right hand is doing!

We can do good at so many different levels. Loving and helping our family, friends and neighbours, serving our church and community, serving the wider world. My wife and I have recently been recipients of such love and help, freely given. We are so grateful. It also takes grace to receive help, and we try not to feel guilty for receiving it!

This Christian Aid Week we have an opportunity to do some good to benefit the people of Malawi who struggle with the consequences of climate change. You can look up the Christian Aid website and learn more about the project. Others support Tearfund or other charities serving the poorest people in our world. However the world’s needs are so vast that we can be tempted to despair and think what good we can do is insignificant.

Here is a story. A raindrop falling on the slopes of a mountain said to the other rain drops and snowflakes, “I’m going to make a great river in the valley below.” “Nonsense”, they replied we are just tiny raindrops and snowflakes. What difference can a raindrop make?” The first raindrop answered, “But if we all run down the mountain into the valley, together we can.”

So they ran down the mountainside into the valley, and a trickle was formed. Soon it was transformed into a little stream, then a bigger stream and eventually, as more and more raindrops joined in, into a great river. A mighty, fast flowing river, one of the greatest in the land. And all this emerged from tiny, apparently insignificant raindrops and snowflakes.

So let us not underestimate the difference we can make by the good we do.

Reading: Galatians 6: 9-10

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

Prayer

Lord, how good you are! How pure is your love! How splendid your majesty! We thank you for the good we have received from others, but especially from you from whom comes every good and perfect gift. Purify our hearts, we pray, that in response to your call and inspired by your Spirit we would continue to do good and so make known your love to those near and far. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

God bless you and go with you as you love and serve him.

Midweek Reflection: A New King Wednesday 10th May

The weekend of King Charles’ coronation has just passed. There are mixed views about the monarchy, and it has less support in Scotland than the rest of the UK. But many were deeply impressed by the coronation service – the anointing with oil; the crowning of Charles and Camilla; the homage paid by the Prince of Wales; and the wonderful music, traditional and modern. Also the Archbishop of Canterbury’s emphasis on the monarch being anointed to serve rather than be served. The presence of representatives not only of the branches of the Christian Church but of other faiths was also a highlight which did not take away from the Christ centred character of the service. I was a little amused at one of the New Testament readings (very Christ-centred) was read by a Hindu, the PM Rishi Sunak.

One of the pieces of music played was Handel’s majestic ‘Zadok the Priest’ played during the king’s anointing. How moving that music was! In the Bible we learn that Zadok was High Priest of Israel who anointed Solomon with oil as he was appointed King David’s successor. Solomon then rode on David’s donkey, and took his seat on David’s throne. Thus David’s wishes concerning his successor were fulfilled.

I began by saying that there are mixed views about the monarchy. Back in Israel’s history we are told that God had a different view of kingship from the people of Israel who wanted to be like other nations and have a king. We are told that God warned them that their kings would collect great wealth to themselves from them, as well as take their sons and daughters to serve them (this ties in with the often-heard criticism of our monarchy that it has too much wealth, and taxpayers pay for it!) But above all God said that he himself was Israel’s king and Israel was rejecting his kingship in making their demand.

As Christians we are called to love and serve the Lord first and foremost. But also to obey our rulers and authorities who have been appointed for the good of society. When it comes to a conflict between the two, we are to serve God rather than men. Ideally our rulers rule under the guidance of God. But that does not always happen, and many brave women and men have suffered imprisonment or death as a result of opposing unjust and oppressive laws. 

Our monarch wields only ‘soft power’. He doesn’t make laws or form policies. But he or she can do much to serve our nation and the world. Charles as prince has through the Prince’s Trust helped disadvantaged young people to receive training and find employment. At Dumfries House he has given many the opportunity of work experience. He has himself embraced Christianity but has taught us to respect and befriend those of other faiths. He spoke out long before we were aware of it, of the harm we were doing to wildlife and to the environment. He has been a prophet of our times. He won’t be able to broadcast his views so much now he is king, but he will still serve the nation and the commonwealth supporting worthy causes and highlighting needs.

It is great to know our new king humbly acknowledges the one who is King of kings and Lord of lords. May he along with us all serve Christ’s kingdom, praying and working that this kingdom may come on earth. 

Reading: Acts 4:18-20

“Then they (the rulers, elders and teachers of the law) called Peter and John in again and commanded them not to speak at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, ‘Judge for yourselves whether it is right to obey you rather than God. For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.’”

Prayer

King of kings and Lord of lords we worship you alone. You alone are worthy of our devotion, and we gladly bow the knee before you. We pray for King Charles III that he would serve you and his people well. Strengthen him by the Holy Spirit, and grant him your grace and wisdom to rule us and represent his country according to your will. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God bless you and go with you.

Midweek Reflection: Where is your Home? Wednesday 3 May

Have you ever moved home? During my working life as a Parish Minister, I never really faced the question of where my family and I would live, as the house went with the job! It was always the Manse. I must admit however that seeing the Manse was a big factor in making us comfortable as a family with accepting a call!

Since retirement it has been different of course, and choosing where to stay has had fewer limitations, apart from such things such as what finances are available and where our wider family live. Recently my wife and I have been considering moving to a more suitable home, easier for my wife who is more or less confined to a wheelchair, and less out ‘in the sticks’ as we get older. Nothing decided yet though, and meanwhile our present home has a lovely setting which we enjoy.

One thing about anyone moving home is that they take themselves with them! I recall a story about a man who didn’t like the place where he stayed, so moved to another village. But he didn’t like it there either. He didn’t get on with his fellow residents. And so on it went, until he realised the problem was that he was taking himself with him! It wasn’t his fellow residents in the different villages he tried that were the problem, but rather his own attitudes. It was the inner problem, not outer ones, that was the issue. We take ourselves wherever we go. We all need to learn to love our neighbours.

But there is a deeper meaning to the question “Where is your home?” When two of John the Baptist’s disciples heard him pointing them to Jesus, they followed Jesus and asked him where he was staying. Jesus then took them to see. At one level we are to take this literally – they were to see where his home was – but at another I think John, the gospel writer, wants us to understand that Jesus was showing them that he lives in his Father’s House. By that I believe John is speaking of Jesus’ strong relationship with God. He dwells in God’s love, stays close to him, speaks and listens to him and does his Father’s loving will. That is what it means to live in the Father’s House where Jesus always stayed. 

We get the same message from Psalms 90 and 91: “Lord, you have been our dwelling place (home) in all generations” (Psalm 90:1), and “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1). 

So wherever we live, or move to, he will always be our true home. Here we are called to live – in a close relationship with God, being surrounded by his love and under his protection, trusting and serving him. May that be the foundation on which we build our lives, that together we may be a dwelling place for God in the Spirit. It is by God’s grace, shown to us through Jesus Christ, and not by our merit, that we are invited into this everlasting home. Let us dwell there with grateful hearts, now and for ever.

Reading: John 1:35-39

“… John (the Baptist) was standing there again with two of his disciples when he saw Jesus walking by. ‘There is the Lamb of God!’ he said…  Jesus turned, saw they (the two disciples of John) were following him, and asked, ‘What are you looking for?’. They answered, ‘Where do you live, Rabbi?’ (This word means ‘Teacher.’) ‘Come and see,’ he answered…. So they went with him and saw where he lived, and spent the rest of that day with him.”

Meditate on these words for a few moments, thinking of their different levels of meaning.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, who lived and lives in the Father’s House, we praise you that we too are not only invited to see where you stay but to stay there ourselves! We praise you for your matchless grace towards us. Father, wherever we stay, help us to dwell in your love, pray and listen to you, hear your voice, do your will and share your love with others. Amen.

God’s rich blessing be upon you.

Midweek Reflection: Easter Witness Wednesday 19th April

I hope you have been enjoying the lovely Spring weather we have been having. Soon the lambs will be skipping in the fields. Meanwhile the daffodils are still a riot!

It is Eastertide, and we shouldn’t leave the events of Easter behind too quickly. Let’s think today of the women who went to the tomb on Easter Day, and found it empty. Then two angels appeared to them and spoke to them: “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen.” When they hurried to the disciples and told them what had happened, the disciples did not believe them “because their words seemed to them like nonsense” (Luke 24: 1-11).

It is not surprising that the disciples reacted in this way. Not just because it seemed so unlikely, but because those who told the news were women! Women were not regarded as reliable witnesses. 

Let’s not forget that it was mainly the women friends of Jesus who stayed by him throughout his crucifixion, while the disciples, with the exception of John, had scattered. And it is significant that women were the first to be witnesses to the empty tomb and the angels, and later of the risen Christ who revealed himself first to them. He chose women, regarded as unreliable witnesses, to be first to meet him, risen from the dead. He entrusted the task of being witnesses first to them. As ever Jesus overturned the prevalent attitude towards women.

Jesus was far ahead of his time in his attitude to women. Would he have approved of modern feminism then? With much of it I think the answer is yes. Equal dignity, equal reward for the same work as men, equal representation – yes, I think so. But most Christians would disagree if feminists make it a war between the sexes. Of course there has to be a war against reactionary attitudes, but women and men for a Christian are not to be seen as enemies of each other. The New Testament teaches that in Christ there is neither male nor female. We are united in him, and neither gender, social status nor race divide us. 

At a time when there is much controversy about gender, about people choosing a gender other than their biological sex, we might ask what gender God is. And the answer has to be that he is neither male nor female. We normally address God as ‘He’, but scripture tells us that he made male and female in his own image. So neither men nor women fully reflect God’s image on their own. Together they express it. He is neither gender – he transcends human gender which is an aspect of his creation.

Bible Reading: Galatians 3:26-28

“You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus….”

Prayer

Gracious God, we praise you that you created both male and female in your image and likeness. Thank you that in Christ there is no enmity between us. Help us to treat one another respectfully and lovingly as befits your sons and daughters. In Jesus name we ask this. Amen.

God bless you and keep you.

Please note there will be no Midweek Reflection next week. Back on Wednesday, 3^rdMay.

Midweek Reflection: Easter Daffodils Wednesday 12th April

It’s been lovely to see ‘hosts of golden daffodils’ in full bloom this Easter! You may have them in your garden or see them in a park. They make a wonderful display, don’t they? They speak of the new life of Spring in all its beauty. At the middle of the daffodil flower is the trumpet, and I like to think of it proclaiming the good news that Jesus Christ has risen from the dead. 

In taking an Easter Day all-age service once I actually ate a daffodil. The point was that the children and adults there were witnesses of this. They believed I had done it because they saw it. If they told other people about it after the service, those people might or might not have believed it. But the people at the service who had seen it, believed. How this relates to the Resurrection is obvious enough. It took the risen Jesus appearing to his disciples to convince them that he had conquered death and was alive again. Jesus, according to John’s Gospel said: “Because you have seen me, you believe; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

A minister told a story about daffodils and Easter. The drive to the Manse where he lived was in a very bad state. It was muddy and full of potholes. Eventually those responsible for the Church property decided to rectify the situation. They had the drive tarred heavily, and the surface topped with stone chips. 

As Spring drew near, he remembered that the drive had been lined with clusters of daffodils, but now the tarmac would have covered them. He regretted that they wouldn’t appear any more. They were buried for ever. He wished he had removed and replanted the daffodils before the work had been done.

Imagine his surprise and delight when a few weeks later he noticed a tender shoot here and there coming up at the side of the drive. To his amazement they grew stronger and stronger, until in the end, coming through the hard surface of tarmac, was his crop of daffodils, lovelier and hardier because of their struggle.

People, including Jesus’ disciples, thought that all was finished when Jesus was crucified and buried. But his life proved stronger than death, his forgiveness than the sin of those who crucified him, his love stronger than hate. Peter said: “God has raised him up, having loosed the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it” (Acts 2: 24).Any more than the tarmac could keep the daffodils down!

“Now the green blade riseth from the buried grain,

Wheat that in dark earth many days had lain;

Love lives again, that with the dead has been:

Love is come again,

Like wheat that springeth green.”

John Macleod Campbell Crum (1872-1958)

Reading: Song of Solomon 8:6-7

“For love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away.”

Prayer

Grant that in our lives, Lord, love would overcome indifference and hate; hope would triumph over despair; forgiveness would rid us of bitterness; and life would conquer death. In the name and in the strength of Jesus who won that victory for us. Amen.

May the risen Lord bless you and go with you.

Midweek Reflection: “Caring from the Cross” Wednesday 5th April

An outstanding feature of Jesus’ suffering on the cross was the way that during it all he looked out for others. It is difficult for anyone in severe pain or distress to be able to consider the needs of others. Yet Jesus did.

Even as he contemplated the agony that lay ahead, which you would think would be more than enough to occupy his mind, he thought of his disciple, Simon Peter. He predicted that Peter would deny him three times before the cock crowed in the early morning. He told Peter he was praying for him. And after this prediction came true, as Jesus was being moved from one place to another during his trial, he “turned and looked at Peter” (Luke 21:61). Peter was obviously in Jesus’ thoughts! He cared about him and prayed for him.

On his cross, as he endured its agony, he had room in his heart and mind for the two men who were crucified on either side of him. They are described as criminals in Luke’s Gospel. One of them hurled insults at Jesus, saying mockingly, “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, pointing out that while they were being punished justly Jesus had done nothing wrong. And he called on Jesus, “Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom.” This was a cry of faith, and Jesus answered with the words, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23: 38-43). A “deathbed conversion” if ever there was one. Such is the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. And all of this while Jesus endured the disgrace and pain of crucifixion. 

That isn’t all! When we turn to John’s Gospel we find that while all but one of the disciples have deserted him, several women including Mary, Jesus’ mother, stand near the cross of Jesus. These women put the male disciples to shame. But to his credit one of these male disciples, described by John as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” is also standing nearby. This is no doubt John himself, the author of the gospel, who has been described as being so close to Jesus he could feel his heartbeat. How wonderful is that!

Jesus then, amid his suffering, spoke lovingly to his mother and to John. From the cross he took care of their family arrangements. He said to his mother, Mary, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then John took Mary to his home. Many take this as the beginning of the Church. All from the cross of pain. 

We think of the cross as universal in its significance: the pledge of salvation for all who believe, and the ultimate demonstration of God’s love for all humankind. Yet before and on that cross of suffering Jesus was able to reach out to specific individuals – to Peter, to a criminal and to Mary and John. Such care from the cross. Such love.

Many who suffer themselves are deeply comforted by the knowledge that Jesus suffered so intensely and is with them in their suffering. He of all people understands. They also may develop a deep empathy towards others who suffer. Their own suffering gives them a fellow feeling for others and leads them to care for and support them. They follow the example of Jesus.

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 1: 3-5

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.”

Prayer

Father of all comfort, Jesus who is with us in our suffering, Holy Spirit the Comforter, we bless your name. We praise you for the care for others Jesus showed amid his suffering and pain. Help us to know his love reaching out to us when we suffer. And we pray for any others we know who suffer at this time that they would know your love reaching out to them, even through us. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

God bless you and be with you.

Midweek Reflection: “Such love…” Wednesday 29th March

Think of a volcano. When it erupts the effects can be devastating, taking many lives in its flow, and destroying townships. Yet it is vital for life. The flow fertilises the ground, and from the steam from volcanoes has come the water we have on earth. 

As we come closer to Holy Week and Good Friday we focus more and more on the Cross. It too is a terrible event. It judges humankind because of what we did to the sinless Son of God. We smote him from the earth. Good riddance was the prevailing cry as Jesus died. That we could have done this to him! And we continue to add nails to that Cross when we reject his ways and his love. 

But it is also a wonderful event. We call it GOOD Friday after all! The day of our salvation, the day Jesus paid the debt we owe to God, the day we find forgiveness and friendship with God again. Jesus dying on the Cross brings life. No eternal life without it!

When a volcano erupts, people can see the fire that springs from the centre of the earth. The fire is always burning in the earth’s centre out of our sight, but only when the volcano erupts is that fire fully in evidence.

The wonderful, incomparable love of God for us has been in his heart since creation, and even before. It has been so wisely said, “There is a cross at the heart of God”. But in the death of Jesus, it overflows for us to see. It came to light at Calvary but has always been there. 

In fact God made his plan when he gave human beings free will. Better to make us free people than robots, despite all the risks as to how we would use our freedom. So the Cross of mercy and forgiveness was planted in his heart because he knew we would rebel against him. The Cross was his plan from the beginning. Revelation 13:8 speaks of “the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world”. 

We find in the Old Testament that the Cross is among its hidden treasures. When Abraham was told to climb Mount Moriah with his son, Isaac, whom he loved, he was ready to sacrifice his son. When Isaac asked him where the lamb for the burnt offering was, Abraham answered “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And when Abraham was about to slay his son, God stopped him and then Abraham saw a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. He then knew this was the sacrifice he had to offer. 

It is God who would provide the Lamb. He would sacrifice his own Son out of love for us. The Cross is hidden in this Old Testament event. 

The whole system of sacrifices in the Old Testament continually failed to take away sin, but it all points forwards to the loving sacrifice that Jesus is to make for us. So that we may find the love of God demonstrated, brought out into the open, blazing brightly on Calvary’s hill.

In the words of Graham Kendrick’s song:

“Such love springs from eternity; such love, streaming through history; such love, fountain of life to me; O Jesus, such Love.”

Reading: From Genesis 22: 1-14

“Abraham looked up, and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its thorns. He…. sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide.”

Prayer

Father, as Easter approaches, we are sorry for all these times when we have failed you and wandered from your ways. We are so thankful that Jesus did all that was necessary to take our sins away and restore us to fellowship with you. We praise you for the Cross, planned from the beginning of time; for the Lamb that was slain and your love fully revealed. As Easter draws nearer help us to draw closer to you. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: Our Creator God Wednesday 22 March

Pretend I don’t believe in God. I know we are a tiny part of a colossal universe in which there are galaxies and constellations. There is our solar system, among many others, with the planets revolving round the sun. Each morning I see the sunrise and each evening the sunset. There is land, sea and sky, and they are filled with creatures of all kinds. Imagine I am a scientist (which I am not!), and I am able to understand the laws of nature, make some sense of it all and understand how the universe works. I would be amazed even if an unbeliever. Even if I think all this came about by chance processes alone.

But I would have a problem. I would believe in the “Big Bang” which started it all and from which the universe expanded and continues to expand. But where did the extremely condensed matter come from that created this mighty expansion? And secondly how could such order now exist that I am able to study and make sense of how the universe operates?

Of course the first chapter of Genesis puts it all differently. However literally or not one takes this chapter, certain truths are clearly revealed to us. “In the beginning God…” He is the origin of it all. It is not by chance that the earth and universe exists. It is his creation. 

Then he brought order out of chaos. Day and night. Land and sea. Earth and sky. “The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters”, to bring this about this order.

There is design. He created the birds of the air, the fish of the sea, the animals that inhabit the land, all their different kinds. It was his plan. However we may think animal life developed, whatever we make of evolution, it was all according to God’s plan.

And He finally made human beings in his own image and likeness. Men and women. He made us to know him, relate to him as his children, and represent him in subduing and looking after the earth. Why should we take care of it? Because “God saw all that he had made and it was VERY GOOD.”

Why did God embark on this great project? He created the heavens and earth because he is a creative being. A great artist. He gave expression to his being through this. We, made in his image, are creative too. Whether in painting a picture, penning a poem, shaping an object out of wood, doing an embroidery, playing some music, baking a cake…. (fill in your creative gifts) we are expressing our creative nature too. 

Also because he is Love. Father, Son and Holy Spirit are in a communion of love. That love overflows as God seeks others to love and to love in return. He wants us to share in that communion of love.

All is not right in creation. Theologians speak of the Fall. But today it is in great peril because of our doing. The United Nations Report on Climate Change makes clear that we are not up to target, and the sense of urgency in reducing harmful emissions has been lost. It must be our Christian responsibility, not an optional extra for Christians, to care about this environmental crisis and take appropriate action in changing our lifestyle.

Bible Reading: Genesis 1:1 – 2:3

Prayer

God, our Creator and our Father, we are amazed at the universe and the earth you have formed and which you hold in being. We thank you too for the creative gifts you have given us by which we express who we are, your children made in your image. Help us to care for creation by our own example, and give our leaders the sense of urgency and passion to reduce the damage we are doing to planet earth. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God bless you and keep you.

Midweek Reflection: What happened to my prayer? Wednesday 15th March

I am thinking today of people who are trying to cope with “unanswered prayer”, or the prayer with the apparent answer “No”. Perhaps it has been a prayer for oneself, for a friend or for family member who is seriously or chronically ill. Perhaps it is for the healing of a broken relationship, or for the fulfilling of a lifelong ambition which you thought was God’s will and plan for you. How do you cope with such a situation? Do you give up praying, saying it does no good? Or that God has deserted you?

As we approach Easter let us remember that Jesus faced a similar situation when he wrestled in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Facing the ordeal that lay before him, he prayed: “Abba, Father…… everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me.” He believed God could do this. But then he prayed: “Yet not my will, but yours be done.” God did not remove the cup of suffering. And Jesus went on to drink the cup, which was the agonising ordeal of the Cross and the events leading up to it. Even Jesus’ prayer went “unanswered”.

Pete Greig, in his book “God on Mute”, writes: “Even against the background of big prayers that have gone unanswered, God’s will for me in Christ Jesus is still that I would “pray continually” and “give thanks in all circumstances”. Despite the big, unanswered prayer, the request denied – even when we can’t see why it has been denied – we can still continue to follow God’s way, and be thankful for all he has given us, both the common blessings he has bestowed upon us all, and the personal blessings of smaller prayers being answered, kindnesses received and joys we can still share. Above all we can rejoice that Jesus did drink his cup of suffering for our sake, and reconciled us to the Father through his atoning death. This was At-one-ment. This is God’s big Yes!

Living with unanswered prayer means “accepting that things are going to be difficult today. Maybe by adjusting our expectations we can reduce the sense of disappointment, isolation and unfairness riding on the back of unanswered prayer. With a business-as-usual approach to life’s trials, the good times can become surprising and delightful…..” (Peter Greig)

Another hard to accept consequence of unanswered prayer, yet repeated in scripture, is that much good can come out of hardship. “….We know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance character; and character hope….” (Romans 5:3—4). The early Christians often suffered persecution and opposition for their faith, and the writers of the new Testament  affirmed that as gold is refined by fire, so their faith was being refined through suffering, and results in “praise, glory and honour”.

We do not understand the whole picture now. We look through the glass darkly. But one day God’s plan and purpose will be fully revealed. We will see the loving, heavenly Father face to face.

Bible Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Prayer

Lord these words of our reading seem hard for us to put into practice when we face hardship and disappointment. But they are your will for us, and lead us on a better way than that of bitterness or self-pity. Help us to choose your way which is the way of blessing, that we may bring glory to your name. We pray for those we know whose faith is severely tested. Please help them and keep them in your love. Amen.

God bless you and keep you.

Midweek Reflection: From Creation to the Cross Wednesday 8th March

When we go for a walk, or do some gardening; when we see the bulbs opening; when we hear the sounds of flowing water or birds chirping; or admire the pure covering of snow; then as Christians we are worshipping our Creator God. This can be part of our worship of God as well as our worship when we meet together. It is part of our Christian response to God. 

It says in John 1: 1&3 that “in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God …….. through him (the Word) all things were made…” We know that the Word is Jesus Christ. Through him all things were created and are sustained by him. Jesus himself took physical form, becoming himself part of creation. We may tend to think of God the Father being the great Creator, and the Son of God being our Redeemer or Saviour. But these words from John show that Christ the Son of God was intimately involved in creation too.

I love the way the hymn “How Great Thou art” starts with creation and continues all the way to the Cross of Jesus and beyond. Can you recall the words of this great hymn? 

This reminds me of walking holidays Maureen and I enjoyed in Austria. We walked in the Alps, and found that on many a hilltop or mountaintop (sometimes climbed, sometimes ascended by cable car or gondola!) a cross had been erected on the summit. Austria is a predominantly Catholic country, and we also found places where the Stations of the Cross were situated on a forested hill. You could climb through the woods resting at the several stations. Creation and Christ together!

From our front window view we see uphill on the skyline what appear to be three crosses close together, with the central one higher than the two others. They are actually poles carrying electricity cables, but you can’t see the cables, and the poles have cross bars near their tops. They appear from our view to be close together. They always make me think of Jesus being crucified along with the two criminals one on either side. This is a constant reminder of the extent and cost of God’s love for us all. Again, Jesus and Creation together.

Last Sunday was the Second Sunday in Lent, and in some traditions this Sunday is linked with Creation as it was in our service. Remember that it was through Christ that God created all things. So when we abuse and spoil God’s creation are we not “crucifying Christ afresh” adding more nails to the cross of him through whom creation was made and is sustained?

We are called to enjoy creation. After all God said it was “very good”. But we are also challenged to take what steps we can to care for creation. It is an important part of our discipleship by which we honour our Lord through whom all things came into being.

Reading: Colossians 1:15-17

“He (Christ) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth…. all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

Prayer

One God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – you were involved in creating this universe and continue to sustain it. Help us to enjoy your creation as part of our worship of you, and to care for your creation in all the ways we can. We pray for all those, especially the young, who raise prophetic voices concerning the future of this planet, that life on earth may survive and prosper. We pray that your will be done on earth. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God bless you and keep you.

Midweek Reflection: What’s Lent about? Wednesday 1st March

We are well into the first full week of Lent now. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (last Wednesday) and lasts for 6 weeks up until Easter. The total number of days is 40, as Sundays are not included in the count. That is 4 days last week from Ash Wednesday, plus 6 weeks of 6 days each. 

The number 40 is Biblically significant. Moses was up Mount Sinai for 40 days when he received the tablets of the law from God; and Jesus fasted and was tempted by Satan in the desert for 40 days before the start of his public ministry, as recorded in the gospels.

If you read about the temptations of Jesus in the gospels, you will find they are largely concerned about the nature of his mission that was to follow. He was tempted to make material provision his priority, turning stones into bread. Satisfying the physical hunger of those to whom he ministered. He was of course to feed the hungry and care for people’s physical needs, but he was to teach that people were not to ‘live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God’. He was tempted to throw himself down from a pinnacle of the Temple and trust God to look after him – aiming to mesmerise people with his miracles. He did perform miracles to heal the sick and even raise the dead (note for other people’s sake not for his own), but he was not to deliberately put God to the test. Finally, he was tempted to give his allegiance to Satan, prince of evil, and receive power over all the kingdoms of the earth – he did usher in God’s kingdom on earth but not by political or military power, or by compromising with evil.

His motives were tested by being tempted. But he won the victory over these temptations. As the Son of God, he was to follow his Father’s way of loving service in which his priority was a spiritual one, namely to bring people into a restored relationship with a loving God; and into loving relationships with one another. Facing and resisting the temptations in the desert, set him on the course of ministry that was to follow, leading eventually to the Cross and Resurrection.

What does Lent mean for us? I suggest it be a time when in God’s presence we look at ourselves and our motives in the light of Jesus’ example and character. Since we haven’t resisted all our temptations, it can be a time of confession and receiving forgiveness. Of setting our feet in a new direction. It can be helped by a discussion group, or by reading scripture more than we usually do. There are devotional books for Lent which can help us. And any fasting or “giving up things for Lent” needs to have with it a positive purpose of going deeper into God’s will. Putting aside more time for prayer and joining in worship can surely help us here.

However you mark it, may your Lent be an enriching time as you draw closer to our Lord.

Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:13

“Every test you experience is the kind that normally comes to people. But God is faithful, and will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.”

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you were fully human and experienced the full onslaught of temptation to choose another path than the one your Father had prepared for you to follow. We thank you for enduring and overcoming. Through this time of Lent, let us see ourselves more clearly, confess our diversions from your paths and, forgiven, find strength to walk in your ways. Amen.

God bless you and keep you in his will

Midweek Reflection: Sweeter than honey Wednesday 22nd February

A few days ago, my wife was asked what her favourite sweets were when she was a child. Her answer was butternuts. Remember them? They are still available, as her friend then sent her a packet through the post! They are delicious to suck, then to reach and chew the caramel centre.

I wonder what your favourite sweet was when you were a child. I remember going with my pocket money to the local sweet shop where there were glass jars of sweets on display. I bought a quarter pound of my choice for the week. Health warning! Can lead to tooth decay.

I recall learning that Jewish people make/made sweets for their children with words from the Torah (part of our Old Testament) inside. If anyone can enlighten me further on this subject please let me know. Imagine sucking a sweet until you can make out a word from the Bible inside. 

Last Sunday Andrew asked us to recall times in our lives when God seemed especially close to us. He called them “mountain top experiences”. We cannot stay on the mountain top, we cannot prolong it indefinitely, but such experiences can be of great encouragement to us as we continue on our faith journey on more level ground. 

One example of these times when God is particularly real for us (the work of his Spirit) is when a verse or passage from the Bible seems to speak directly to us. Into our circumstances or state of mind. Here God is speaking directly to us. It may be a promise, an answer to our confusion, a word of comfort or encouragement, or a challenge. 

God’s word in scripture has this dynamic quality.  It bridges the distance between the time when it was written and the now. God’s word and Spirit work together.

So what has this to do with sweets? Good question! When God has spoken to us personally through his word, we want to digest it fully. We want to take in the goodness of it. Suck it like a sweet and chew the centre. 

We won’t want to forget it. Because through it God has come very close to us and helped us on our way. Or should I say, ‘his way’. To remember it in the future will continue to nourish our faith. Unlike the sweet we can continue to gain the goodness from it many times.

By the way, I would not recommend the practice of dipping into the Bible, putting a finger on the page and expecting God to speak. That is like a lucky dip and may turn out quite unlucky! We should not try to manipulate God into speaking to us.

May God speak to you through his word at the right time, and in such a way that is very real for you. And when he does, may you draw the goodness out of it like a sweet.

Reading: Psalm 119: 103-4

“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth. I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.”

Prayer

Father in heaven, we thank you for these times when you have spoken clearly to us through your word. Help us to cherish such times and never forget them. We pray for those who translate the Bible into other languages so that people everywhere may be enabled to read it or hear it in their native tongue. We pray this in the name of the one who is the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

May God bless you, and go with you on your journey.

Midweek Reflection: “Falling asleep” Wednesday 15th February

There are good deaths. I recall my own mother’s last moments, when she had her three offspring beside her, saying our goodbyes. I look back on it as a beautiful experience as she became suddenly alert, looked round us all and then slipped away peacefully.

It is natural to fear a bad death, one which involves a lot of suffering. Such as those who died squashed by the bricks and rubble pressing down on them after the recent earthquake in Turkey and Syria. Such as dying from a terminal illness in great pain. That is not so much fearing death itself but the process of death. How we die. Even here there is great comfort that Jesus endured horrific pain on the cross, and is with us in our suffering too.

We are all aware of the debate going on between those who believe in the sanctity of life and hold that we shouldn’t take it into our own hands to shorten any human life; and those who believe it is a kindness to bring an end to suffering for those who have no hope of recovery barring a miracle. Assisted dying. Whatever we think, we can all be grateful for the medical advances that bring pain relief to those who are dying so that they die with dignity. Hospices are a great example of this.

But as well as our concern about how we die, there is the issue of death itself; of this life ending and what if anything lies beyond. And our Christian faith has so much to say to us here. Paul in writing to the Church in Thessalonica speaks of those who “fall asleep” in Christ. Is this a euphemism to avoid speaking of the brutal reality of death? No, I don’t think so. He goes on to say that Jesus “DIED and rose again.” And then he says that “God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him”. He says that Jesus “died” but that we who believe “fall asleep”.

Jesus faced the horrible reality and finality of death for us. He conquered it. Removed the sting from it. So that we know when we die in faith we will be reunited with him. Death for us is a passing over from this life to eternity with him. How wonderful is that!

Of course there is the sadness of bereavement, and of leaving one’s loved ones behind. It is unhealthy to deny this. But such loss is to be seen in the context of a glorious future in heaven.

Let me finish with a story told by Corrie ten Boom, a famous Dutch Christian who survived a concentration camp in World War 2. She spoke of a time in her childhood when she was walking with her father to board a train. She told her father she was afraid of dying. Her father then asked her “When do I give you your train ticket?” She said just before she got on the train. He said “It’s just like that. God gives us the grace and strength at the time we need it.”

Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-14

“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of people who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.”

Prayer

Dear Lord, we praise you for the victory you won over death when you died and rose again. And we thank you for your promise that we will be taken up from this life to eternal life with you. We pray for those who grieve the loss of loved ones that they may be comforted, and for those who die in pain that they would know your presence in their suffering. In your name we pray. Amen.

May God bless you and allay your fears

Midweek Reflection: Apology Wednesday 8th February

Laura Trevelyan is a BBC presenter and hails from an aristocratic family. Her ancestors were slave owners in Grenada in the Caribbean. Last week she apologised on behalf of her family for their part in the practice of slavery. She is planning a trip to Grenada to make a public apology there. And it is not only words. She is giving £100,000 to set up a community fund for economic development on the island. An apology with action following is proof of its sincerity.

Slavery was a grisly business. In being forced to work, slaves were chained together and were punished with cruel instruments of torture. They were totally denied the dignity of being made in the image of God. Oppressed as they were, they strengthened their faith by singing their now well-known spirituals. They trusted in Jesus who came “to set free the oppressed”.They looked forward to a better life to come.

The making of slavery illegal in the UK’s Abolition Bill of 1833 did not end the injustice of it all. Compensation of the equivalent of £3 million today was paid – not to the slaves who had suffered such terrible injustice, but to the Trevelyans, the slave owners, for their loss of “property” meaning their slaves! The slaves received nothing.

We probably all have benefitted from slavery at least indirectly. To take one example, the erection of public buildings such as colleges and halls was the result of the generosity of benefactors whose wealth was gained through slavery. So our involvement in slavery was a corporate sin. We are all involved whether we like it or not.

The apology of Laura Trevelyan was welcomed by leaders in Grenada. Public apologies on behalf of nations or Churches for the sins of the past have been made. They are more convincing when followed by some appropriate action, just as in the case of Laura Trevelyan. I don’t think any public apology by a UK Government for the practice of slavery has ever been made, and part of the reason being the question of reparation to countries such as Grenada – especially now in a time of economic decline. What would be justice? What would be fair restitution? 

Some people today find apologising difficult. Politicians who have been caught in the act of abusing their position in some way get as far as admitting they have “made a mistake”. Seldom do they go as far as saying they have done wrong. When we say we will do something and then, because of other pressures, fail to do it, shouldn’t we at least apologise to the person we have let down? Rather than continue as if nothing has happened.

John in his first letter speaks of the importance of confessing any wrong in our lives to God. When we do so, “He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” What a gracious God we have!

But we need to apologise to the person we have wronged as well, and put things right with them as far as we can – proving the sincerity of the apology!

Reading: Galatians 3:26-28; Matthew 5:23-24

“You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus ….. there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

“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.”

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we praise you that when we do wrong, we find forgiveness through your Son. When we wrong others, may we say we are sorry and put things right with them as Jesus has taught us. 

We acknowledge before you the terrible injustice of slavery from which our nation gained so much wealth in the past. Help us to see everyone of whatever race as being made in your image, and respect their dignity and rights. Bring justice to our world. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: Who’s at the Centre? Wednesday 1st February

Yesterday I was sitting in our lounge, looking out of the window and being dazzled by the sun. I moved my seat until my eyes were in the shade. But a short time later my eyes were dazzled again. Clearly the sun had moved in the sky, clockwise from east to west. It’s obvious, isn’t it, the sun moves? The sun and the stars go round the earth which is the centre of the universe!

That’s what most people thought until the scientists and astronomers, Copernicus and then Galileo, came on the scene. They proposed the theory that the sun was the centre, and the earth revolved around it. Poor Galileo got into a lot of trouble because of this, and finished up under house arrest for pronouncing this view. For one thing it was counter-intuitive, and for another it seemed at face value to contradict scripture. Psalm 19:6 puts it this way: “It (the sun) rises at one end of the heavens, and makes its circuit to the other.”

However this writing is poetic, and the Bible is not meant to be read as a scientific textbook. We still talk about the sun moving in the sky, even although it is the rotation of the earth on its axis as it revolves round the sun that we see.

It must have been really hard for people to accept this new theory in Galileo’s day! It seemed to run counter to what their senses told them. Yet this radical new way of seeing things had to be adopted. Instead of seeing the earth as the centre, it was now the sun.

We are called to such a revolutionary change in our way of thinking about our lives. By nature, from babyhood on, we tend towards self-centredness. We centre on our own needs, wishes and interests. They come first. Everything revolves round us. But Jesus calls us to a complete change of centre. He calls us to change and put him and his kingdom first. Yes, a radical recentring of our lives. Love for him and for other people takes over from self-interest. 

Yes God loves us unconditionally but he doesn’t revolve round us. We find peace and direction as we learn to centre our lives on him. That is how we find our true selves, and how we open ourselves to his will and purpose. This is how we are meant to be.

But we are flawed human beings. And for me at least, and I guess for you, stubborn self-centredness can take over. So I need to humbly confess my need and allow him to reorientate myself once more. Thankfully he is full of mercy and steadfast love.

So I find it helpful to keep this picture before me – of my life centring on Jesus rather than the other way round. Of the earth revolving round the sun and not vice-versa. He is the greater Sun shining light, life and love upon you and me.

Reading: Luke 1:

“For you (John the Baptist) will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun (Jesus) will come to us from heaven, to shine on those living in darkness, and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

Prayer

Lord you are the light of our salvation. You are the sun who shines upon us. We thank you for the beams of light, love and the joy that radiate from you. We seek to centre our lives on you, and seek not our own selfish interests, but your interests of justice, love and peace. For your name’s sake we pray. Amen.

God bless you, and shed his light on your way.

Midweek Reflection: The Big Issue Wednesday 25th January.

In this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity I am reminded of a story about the Celtic Christian leader, St Columba who came from a high-class Irish family. According to the story, he made a copy of a sole psalter (the Psalms) he had borrowed from St. Finnian. Finnian demanded both back, but Columba maintained he had the right to keep the copy and to share its contents with others. An early copyright case!

In the court case that followed the verdict went against Columba. Refusing to accept this, he was soon engaged in a battle in which 3000 people were killed. According to one version of the story, Columba came to regret the terrible loss of life that had resulted, and as a self-imposed penance went into exile from Ireland, determined to win as many people for Christ as had died on the battlefield. He was one of the Twelve Apostles from Ireland who landed in Iona in Scotland where he set up a monastery and missionary base. From there he and his companions evangelised much of Scotland.

Christians may disagree over certain issues. It could be about how a church is run, how we interpret something in the Bible, what we believe about some moral matter. But it is good to remember that while there may be an issue we disagree about, there are also the very important issues of unity and love. We can disagree without being disagreeable. We can seek to find a way forward together. We can love one another. We can agree to disagree, and maintain the bonds of unity. This is a Big Issue, perhaps much more important than the issue we disagree about!

Many denominations have been formed by one group in a church leaving to set up their own church. It is sad to think that so many of these divisions might have been avoided if the issues of unity and love were kept to the fore. 

Of course love for God comes first, and in obedience to him a separation sometimes has to be made. The Reformers for example refused to compromise over the truths revealed to them, such as justification by faith, and so were excommunicated from the church. 

But such a decision is best made with humility, not with arrogance or believing one has a monopoly of the truth!

It is a challenge to us all to seek to maintain the unity of the church family we belong to; to love one another. It is also a challenge to recognise Christians in other denominations, to make friends with them and seek to be one with them in the Spirit of Jesus. Even to go on an occasion to one of their services! And as we in Aberlour and Craigellachie were challenged by Andrew on Sunday, while we do not normally worship together, we can take action together whether in mission or service to our community.

Reading: Psalm 133:1&3; John 13:35

“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! …. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.”

“By this shall all people know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Prayer

Lord, you prayed that your disciples would be one even as you and the Father are one. Heal our divisions, and help us to do all we can to maintain the unity of the body of Christ, your church. Strengthen us in love for one another, and enable us to see all Christians as brothers and sisters in Christ. We pray this in your name. Amen. 

God bless you and keep you.

Midweek Reflection: Are you SAD? Wednesday 18th January

I hope not, but many people experience SAD -Seasonal Affective Disorder – in the winter months. The main symptom they experience is low mood, which may be caused by lack of sunlight in these short days. So it has been called ‘winter depression’. 

This past Monday, the third Monday in January, has been named Blue Monday, because it is supposed to be the most depressing day in the year. However, The Samaritans say, “there’s no such thing as ‘Blue Monday’ – we all have our good days and our bad days, and those aren’t for the calendar to decide.” And they should know! They want to change the name to Brew Monday, a time to connect with friends or family over a cuppa and share how you are getting on. And this needn’t be Monday. It can be any day!

It is widely recognised that men find it particularly hard to share their feelings, such as being depressed. Many men think that they should not require help, they should be independent and cope on their own. Pride can stop them reaching out to another who might listen to what they are going through and show empathy and understanding. A problem shared is a problem halved! As Christians we need to be alert to this and reach out to those we know are vulnerable – not to give advice but to listen compassionately (we need to remember, too, that depression can be a clinical condition requiring medical help).

These are dark months. Days are short, and the sun is low in the sky. But we believe in an even greater light than the sun. It is said of this light in John’s gospel, “The light shines in the darkness but the darkness has not put it out” (John 1:5). This light comes from Jesus who called himself ‘the light of the world’. To know Jesus does not guarantee we will never be depressed, but by looking to him we can be recipients of his light. He will lighten our darkness. He assures us he is with us even in the difficult times.

How do we know this? Because Jesus during his life on earth also experienced dark times. Such as when he realised religious leaders were filled with hatred towards him and planned to kill him. Such as in the Garden of Gethsemane where he struggled in prayer to face the cup of suffering he had to drink, and when his closest friends fell asleep and left him entirely on his own. Most of all, on the cross, when he bore the sins of the world, including yours and mine, thus separating himself from God. Then he cried “My God, my God , why have you forsaken me?” What deep darkness he went through. We really can’t imagine it.

This is how we know he is genuinely with us even in the dark times. We know he understands because of what he went through. He shared every type of human experience andknows what it is like. Let us believe this, and let the light of his love, the light of his presence, penetrate our darkness. We are not alone.

And if you are feeling SAD at this time of year, remember that each day now is four minutes longer than the last, giving us about 30 minutes more daylight every week!

Reading: Isaiah 60:2-3

“See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”

Prayer

Lord, we pray for those who are downcast and experience low mood at this time of the year. May your light penetrate their darkness. Help us to reach out to any who we know are vulnerable, and offer friendship, hope and a listening ear. We ask these things in the name of Jesus who is the Light of the World. To him be the praise for ever. Amen

Midweek Reflection: Full Steam Ahead! Wednesday 11th January

As part of a Christmas present, we received a tin box in the shape of a steam train containing sweets. The sweets are almost finished. But the box is a reminder to me that the steam train is a good illustration of our Christian faith and of how our faith relates to facts and feelings. It can help us get these things in the right order.

In the illustration the engine represents the facts of our faith. These facts of our faith are truths that we grasp by faith. For example, that God created and sustains the universe; that Jesus is both Son of Man and Son of God; that he died for our sins; that he is risen from the dead and exalted at God’s right hand; that God loves us with an everlasting love; that he gives us eternal life; that he will never leave us; that he calls us to follow Jesus, to serve him and share his love.

These facts of our faith come first. They are the engine in the illustration. They lead the ‘gospel train’.

The tender filled with coal for firing the engine represents our faith. Faith in the facts. Through faith we take hold of the facts of the gospel. We believe them. They don’t all depend on you or me. They are true outside of us. Through faith we earth ourselves in their stability and objectivity. The facts come first. Our faith follows.

But in the picture of the train there are also the carriages pulled by the engine, following on behind the tender. These represent our feelings. I’m talking about the feelings of God being present with us, of his closeness. Of his peace and love in our hearts. Of his joy. Of our longing to serve him.

We are gifted with such feelings from time to time. But most of us if we are honest would admit that they are not always there. There are times in our lives when God seems more distant from us. We may even wonder if he has abandoned us. We lack the same desire we had before to serve him. With the psalmist we may even cry out to God, asking where he is for us, asking if he has given up on us. Because we don’t have the feelings we had before. This can be very hard for us and very perplexing.

God made us as people with emotions. They are an important part of us and need to be acknowledged. We need to listen to them. But we are helped by the train illustration not to rely on our feelings which are changeable. If we put them first where the engine needs to be we could too easily give up on our faith. Let’s earth our faith in the facts of the gospel. Then while we are not relying on our feelings, we can expect they will return – I mean the experiencing of God’s closeness, his peace and his love. If we remain faithful, we will surely find joy in serving the Lord again. 

Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1,3-5

“Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you have received and on which you have taken your stand…. For what I received I passed on to you as of the first importance, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day ….  And that he appeared to Peter and then to the Twelve.”

Prayer

Lord God, our Father, we praise you for the joy, love and peace that fill our hearts because through Jesus, your Son, we have been reconciled to you and know your presence in our lives. But help us when we feel jaded, or face hardship and you don’t seem so real, to rely not on our feelings but on you and the facts of the gospel we believe. Amen.

God bless you and go with you

Midweek Reflection: Rough Road Ahead? Wednesday 4th January

Someone indicated that she found it hard to say “Happy New Year” this year, as in many ways the days ahead seem far from bright. We begin the year with many workers on strike, and others threatening strike action. All for a reason of course: their wages and salaries have been losing their value in real terms because of inflation. Add to that the increased cost of living affecting everybody. Then there is the state of the NHS, with such pressure on medical staff, shortage of nurses and doctors, and long, long waiting times for treatment. Accident and Emergency is at crisis point too, with people having to wait for hours, often suffering severe pain, before a doctor or a bed becomes available. The state of the NHS can affect any one of us. And there is the crisis in social care as well, causing bed blocking in hospitals. And we may also have personal issues to face as well.

Thankfully it is not all gloom. People show amazing generosity in helping others especially the vulnerable. Food banks help to reduce hardship. The values of love and kindness are very much in evidence. Volunteers help smooth the way ahead for many.

I think that a large part of the problem is that in the past, especially for older people, there has been the expectation that everything will get better and better. Our standard of living we have expected to improve gradually, scientific discoveries will make many aspects of life easier and medical advances will continue to find cures and treatments for diseases. 

For young people these expectations have not necessarily been shared. Covid has seriously affected their education and social life, and being able to afford a mortgage or pay a rent has become more remote.

The Biblical witness should make us all realise that these hopes of constant progress are illusory. It warns us not to put our trust in material riches. “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses” we are also advised, “but we trust in the name of the Lord our God” (Psalm 20:7).We could modernise these words by saying, “Don’t put your trust in human leaders, increasing wealth, science, technology or military power”. It is good to be thankful for the benefits we have enjoyed from material improvement, science and technology, but we are surely not to look for our security in them. 

God is our security. He is our Rock, our Shelter, our Deliverer in whom we trust. We are to place our confidence in him, and commit our lives to him. This is the Biblical witness.

I heard on New Year’s Day that priests and pastors in the Ukraine have been pleading with the Ukraine Bible Society for more Bibles that they can distribute among those who want to renew their faith, or are discovering faith for the first time. These people face a very rough road ahead in 2023, but more people are turning to the Lord. Let us pray that more and more people in our own land would do this too as they see what they have trusted in is undergoing a great shaking (see reading).

Reading: Hebrews 12:27-28

“The words ‘once more’ indicate the removing of what can be shaken – that is, created things – so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe …”.

Prayer

God our Father, we pray that as we see so much ‘shaking’ of our earthly securities we would find our true security in you who loves us and sought and found us. We pray this for all people whether in the Ukraine or in Scotland and the UK. As yours is the only kingdom that will last, may we live by your kingdom values of Christian faith, hope, and above all love. We pray this in Jesus name. Amen.

May God bless you as you travel the road ahead, and enable you to live as a true citizen of his everlasting kingdom.

Midweek Reflection White as Snow Wednesday 28th December

As I write there are abut 3” of snow lying in the garden. Everything looks beautiful. Snow covered branches of the trees, and a pristine white covering on the lawn. Lovely to look at, though creating difficulties for many seeking to go about their business. 

My wife and I were watching the film “Lost at Christmas” yesterday evening, set around Glencoe. The white mountain peaks such as Buchaille Etive Mhor looked magnificent in their winter majesty.  

It reminds me of the time when Jesus with Peter, James and John climbed what is now called the Mount of Transfiguration. There on the mountaintop Jesus “was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white…” This was a foretaste of his Resurrection when on one of his appearances to his disciples “his appearance was as lightning, and his clothes were white as snow” (Matthew 28:3). What glorious sights these must have been when the glory, splendour and majesty of the Christ were revealed for human eyes to see. It would surely have been great to have been there!

When the snow lies it can cover over an ugly piece of ground. Everything becomes pure white. No ugliness is seen any more. This is what it is like when we trust in Jesus. All the ugliness of our past actions, words and thoughts is covered. We can hear the Lord speak to us: “Though your sins are as scarlet they shall be as white as snow” (Isaiah 1: 18). At Christmas we remember the babe that was born where animals fed. He grew up to teach and heal and eventually to die on the cross, then rise again. His cross and resurrection tell us thatour sins have been dealt with, so that we are justified through faith. One way of understanding is that God now sees us JUST AS IF WE HAD NEVER SINNED. What amazing grace!

There is something else about the snow. A snowstorm can stop us in our tracks. Events are cancelled because of the difficult conditions. We are reluctant to risk travelling at night. The plans we had made are put aside. It’s a time to recall that are our plans and wishes are not necessarily fulfilled. God could be saying, “Put aside your plans and trust in me. Be still and know that I am God”.

Despite the difficulties caused by the snow, let us thank God for it and let it speak his word to our minds and hearts. Let it be a blessing to you.

Reading: Mark 9:2-3; Isaiah 1:18

“After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.”

“‘Come now, let us reason together,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they shall be like wool.’”

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we praise you for the beauty of the snow and how it speaks to us of Jesus’ glory and your amazing grace. But we remember before you those who are cut off from others because of wintry conditions; and those who continue to carry out necessary services and must travel in such difficulties. Be with them and protect them, we pray. In Jesus name. Amen.

God bless you and keep you, and go closely with you as you journey towards a new year.

Midweek Reflection: Unexpected person Wednesday 21st December

We have our food delivered to us each week. During the snow and freezing temperatures recently, the man from Tesco (I should point out that there are other supermarkets and food stores) failed to reach us with our order because of the wintry conditions. It was reported as ‘undelivered’. After one or two phone calls the manager of the store in Huntly, where our deliveries come from, decided he himself would load a van and deliver our order late in the afternoon of that same day. So he risked the difficult road conditions, chose a better route, and successfully delivered our food stuff with a big, cheery smile on his face! We thanked him copiously, and away he went (with a bar of chocolate for his efforts) and braved the return journey. What an example! No pride of position or status stopped him from this act of service which I am sure was outside his remit as manager. 

In Jesus’ birth God himself came to us. In the words of what was possibly an early Christian hymn: “Christ Jesus, who being, in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness…” (Philippians 2). This is the astonishing message of Christmas, that Christ Jesus humbled himself in this way to become one of us, to draw alongside us as a human being like us, and give his life to humbly serve humanity, including us. He left behind every heavenly privilege to do this.

Think of the incredible sacrifice of it all. Coming from heaven itself, yet born in a place for animals, later a refugee to escape Herod’s wrath, learning his trade at the carpenter’s bench, in his public ministry serving all kinds of human need, associating with all sorts of people including those respectable society scorned, he the master washing his disciples’ feet and dying a humbling and sacrificial death out of love for us all. 

And how can we respond to this great sacrifice? Apparently anyone who wants to visit the place where Jesus is thought to have been born has to bend down to pass through a small doorway only 4 feet high. This is very fitting, as the only appropriate way for us all to approach the holy birth of God wrapped in human flesh is to bow down in humble adoration. 

Also, we need to grow more and more like Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Before the words quoted above from the letter to the Philippians, we read: “YOUR ATTITUDE SHOULD BE THE SAME AS THAT OF CHRIST JESUS.” Doesn’t this mean that like Jesus we accept the humble task? That we don’t cling to privilege, self-importance, wealth, or education feeling superior to others? That we are not too proud to befriend those whom others dismiss? 

Let us rejoice in knowing Jesus. Let us worship him, and allow ourselves to be transformed into his likeness, finding our true identity in him.

Reading: Philippians 2: 5-9 (The Message translation)

“Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a (servant), becoming human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless obedient death – and the worst kind of death at that: a crucifixion. Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honoured him far beyond anyone or anything, ever ….”

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you for coming. Come to us through your Holy Spirit, and renew us in your likeness. So may we have your attitude, your way of thinking and seeing things. As you came to us in deep humility but in the power of love, may we obediently follow your example in the same humility and love through the power of the Spirit. And to your name be glory for ever. Amen.

May you know God’s blessing as you celebrate Christmas, on your own, with family or with friends.

Midweek Reflection: Hard Times, Wednesday 14th December

We have, where I stay at least, been experiencing cold wintry weather. We have about 6” of snow lying, and the temperature has been as low as -11 degrees. Elsewhere there has been less snow, but it has still been very cold. People have faced icy roads and pavements, and many have been reluctant to take their cars out, or to walk outside. It’s a difficult time for frail and older people.

For others of course, it means playtime. Skiing and snowboarding and sledging. Not to mention snowball fights! And the snow is beautiful to see, Today I looked out the window as the sun was shining and the snow sparkled as if silver stars were scattered over it. And how magnificent the mountains look when covered with snow.

But the cold weather this year is not welcomed by those on low incomes especially. It’s bad enough having rising prices of food, and the hike in costs of energy. But now more energy is required to keep warm. For some it is very serious, and only adds to their existing dilemma of Heat or Eat.

I claim no prophetic gifts, but I do find myself asking if we, and the developed world, are experiencing the judgement of God. First there was Covid which isn’t over yet and many still suffer from Long Covid. Then the invasion of Ukraine by Russia leading to energy and food prices rising dramatically. Our Health Service seems broken. For long the West has largely turned from faith and believed it can work out its own way without God. This has been arrogance on our part. God has been patient. Is he not now disciplining us, and calling our nation and others to repent and turn to him?

(This does not mean that those who suffer most are the guiltiest. Indeed part of our repentance will show itself in the rich serving the poor. As Christians we dare not take the attitude of “I’m alright Jack”. We are called to share with those who struggle if we have the means to do so, perhaps by helping an individual or family we know are struggling, or by donations to a foodbank).

While God is love, he is also against our sin and rebellion against him. In Jeremiah ch 48 he proclaims judgement on Moab especially their idolatry. But he is not sadistic and cold. On the contrary we see from our Bible passage that his very judgement upon Moab causes pain to himself. He weeps, cries out, moans and laments.

God judged human sin and pride when Jesus died for us on the Cross, when he bore our sins on his own body. God is both Lover and Judge, and in this supreme act of love bore the judgement that should have been ours. But we still need to repent and turn to him. We need to respond to this greatest love of all and not reject it.

Reading: Jeremiah 48: 29-12

“We have heard of Moab’s pride – her overweening pride and conceit….I know her insolence but it is futile,’ declares the Lord, ‘and her boasts accomplish nothing. Therefore, I will wail over Moab, for all Moab I cry out, I moan for the men of Kir Hareseth. I weep for you, as Jazer weeps….’”.

Prayer

God our Father, you are loving and just in your judgements. You discipline us for own good. You weep over the world when it rejects your ways. Convict us and our nation by your Holy Spirit, and lead us all to see you want only our highest good. Bring our nation to seek your mercy and love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

God bless you and go with you.

Midweek Reflection: Called to worship, Wednesday 7th December

We are now into the season of Advent when children (and some adults!) daily open the windows of their Advent Calendar and enjoy the chocolate inside. It is a time of preparation for Christmas. For Christians that means preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. A time to wonder. To take in something of its significance. To be amazed. To admit we cannot take it all in. To bow down and worship.

It’s a time to ask: did God really become a human being? Is it a fairy story? Or was this turning point of human history – from B.C. to A.D.?

I have just come across a painting by Albert Herbert called “Nativity with burning bush”. It is childlike in its simplicity, and pictures Mary at the centre standing and holding up the baby. Kneeling on the left of the picture left is a man with his arms reaching out towards Mary and the baby in an attitude of reverence, ready to receive the baby in his arms. On the right of the picture, behind Mary, is a burning bush. (If you are reading this on the Aberlour Church website, turn to Aberlour Church Facebook Page where you will see the picture displayed)

It is suggested that the man on the left is a shepherd, or even Joseph, but I prefer someone’s view that he stands for you or me. Picture yourself in that man’s position welcoming and embracing the child. Why not meditate on that for a minute?

But what about the burning bush? Isn’t that from the life of Moses? Remember he was on the slopes of Mt Horeb, shepherding Jethro’s sheep, when he noticed a bush that was burning but strangely wasn’t being destroyed by the fire.  He drew closer to see when a voice told him to stay put and take off his sandals because this place was holy ground. It was God speaking to him. This was the scene of God calling Moses to deliver his people from slavery in Egypt and lead them to the promised land.

The remarkable thing about the bush was that God was present within it, yet it wasn’t destroyed. In the scriptures we hear on several occasions that no-one could see the face of God and live, yet here was a common bush in the desert burning with the fire of God’s presence and still alive and green. 

Isn’t this the mystery of the incarnation, that God entered a human foetus that developed intoa baby? That God resided in a human being without that humanity being diminished but rather finding its fulfilment? That Jesus was fully God and fully human? And of course God took this giant step to make himself known to us in a way never perceived before, to rescue us (cf. Moses), and bind himself to us forever.

What is our appropriate response to this? I suggest it might be wonder, worship, the offering of our deepest gratitude and love.

Reading: Exodus 3: 2-5 

“Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, ‘I will go over and see this strange sight – why the bush does not burn up.’ When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, ‘Moses, Moses!’ And Moses said, ‘Here I am!’ ‘Do not come any closer’, God said. ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.’”

Prayer

We worship you, Lord Jesus, God and man in perfect unity. Thank you for coming to us, on the greatest rescue mission humanity will ever know. We pray that as Christmas draws nearer many people will be drawn to you. We gladly offer you our love and service. Amen.

God bless you and go with you.

Midweek Reflection: Finishing the Race Wednesday 30th November

Good morning! I am indebted to Rev. Morris Smith who relayed to me a story he had previously told at a service in Craigellachie and Aberlour. Morris wrote:

“I read a lovely story about the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games marathon race – the winner that year was the Ethiopian runner Mamo Wolde – and, after he crossed the line, the spectators waited for the next hour and more to cheer on the rest of the field who came after him – some came fairly soon after still running well – but as time went on others staggered in, gasping thelast few hundred yards around the stadium to the finish. As the fans were finally preparing to leave, they heard sirens and police whistles.  A lone runner, John Stephen Akhwari of Tanzania was the last man to finish the race. His leg bloodied and bandaged from an injury,he winced at every step as he hobbled the 400-metre circuit around the track.  The spectatorswho were left rose and applauded him as if he were the winner. Later, he was asked many times, ‘Why didn’t you just give up?’ He always replied: “My country did not send me 5,000 miles to start the race.  They sent me 5,000 miles to finish it.”  

Akhwari knew who he was running for. He knew that it was important for all those people who were counting on him that he finished well.  He didn’t have to win – but he knew who he was running for and that kept him going when everything said he should quit.  

In several places in the scriptures the Christian life of faith is described as a race. For example Paul the Apostle writes to Timothy, “I have finished the race. I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). And we know who it is for. Keeping the faith, keeping going, despite the obstacles and past failures, is what matters. At times in our lives such as illness, and for many towards the end of our lives, we are not able to do so much in the way of expressing our love for others and serving our Lord. But we are not put right with God by our deeds, by what we do, but by our faith in Jesus. Challenging and difficult as it may seem, we are to hold on to our faith and keep going! For him who did so much for us. And remember God’s hold on us is much stronger than our hold on him! God will still be working in us as we are open to him, and others will know that we haven’t opted out of the race.

And here is an inspiring thought to help us on our way. The writer to the Hebrews spoke of us “being surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses”. This suggests all these witnesses from the past, including those whose lives have inspired us, including the men and women of the Bible, are like spectators in a stadium cheering on the athletes – cheering us on to victory – even if we feel like we are the last, limping painfully to the finish – because this race of faith on which we are engaged isn’t always easy is it? Sometimes it is a bit like struggling up a steep mountain.  

So let’s encourage one another. Let’s not give up. Let’s finish the race. And we are promised at the end a crown of glory! It will certainly be worth it! “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” (I Corinthians 2:9).

Reading: Hebrews 12: 1-2

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders, and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith…”

Prayer

Lord Jesus, we thank you that you persevered all the way to the Cross, that you “finished the race” out of your love for us. Enable us to run the race through our love for you until we have finished the course. Hear us as we pray for any who are tempted to give up because of hardship or suffering. Hold them firmly by your loving hand so that they in turn may hold gladly and thankfully to you. In Jesus’ priceless name. Amen.

May God bless you and go with you.

Midweek Reflection: “It’s not fair!” Wednesday 23rd November

“It’s not fair!” we hear children exclaim. From a young age we have an instinctive desire for justice to be done. At least for ourselves, if not for others! The pudding should be shared out equally. Everyone should get a turn in the game. And it is basically a godly instinct because we are made in God’s image and likeness. He is the God of righteousness and justice, and it is normal for us to hunger for justice too, to long to see justice done.

Psalm 72 is about Israel’s king. It seems to be about King Solomon or his successor. It begins with a prayer that God would endow the King with justice and righteousness. It speaks of the King this way: “He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy ….. he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no-one to help.”  So it isn’t a cold, formal kind of justice. It is justice with compassion at its heart. 

This psalm also says of the King, “He will endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations.” Who on earth is this kind of King? 

So early on, before the coming of Jesus, Jews took it to have a future reference. As well as speaking of Solomon or his successor, it referred to the expected Messiah. And Christians have taken this application too, with the only difference being that the expectation of the Messiah has been fulfilled. Christ has come! Jesus is the supreme King of justice and righteousness. He said of himself, quoting from the prophet Isaiah ch 42, “I (God) will put my Spirit on him, and He will proclaim justice to the nations.”

It’s surely right that the Church should speak out about issues of justice. That’s not the same as getting involved in party politics. But politics means affairs of the state, and our God is concerned with all of life, including our relationships with other human beings, the way we do business and trade, the way governments do their job.

That is why many in the Church have spoken out about climate change. Justice cries out “It’s not fair” that countries who have done the least to cause it are suffering the most from it. Although we are all tasting its effects now. Christians have campaigned that the industrialised countries, who have done most to cause climate change, should pay developing countries to help them adapt to its effects. One good thing about the COP27 agreement, though it wasn’t all so good, is that a Loss and Damage fund has been started that industrialised nations are encouraged to contribute to, to help those who suffer most. 

And what about the wealth gap continuing to grow when so many in our nation are struggling to meet the high costs of energy and food? At least our government is giving extra help to the poorest, but while we all pay higher taxes there is no cap on bankers’ bonuses.

Christians have differing views about abortion, but why is there not much said about justice for the unborn child. Instead, we hear abortion described as women’s “health care”. There may be circumstances when abortion should be allowed, but why not the option of adoption by parents who cannot have children of their own?

We won’t agree about all these issues but let us put justice with compassion at its heart at the centre of our thoughts.

Bible Reading: Amos 5:23-24

“Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”

Prayer

God of justice and righteousness, we thank you for the vision of your kingdom where everyone and every nation is treated with justice and compassion. Help us to be just and compassionate in all our dealings, never to rob others of their dignity and worth, and to seek a fairer world, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

May God bless you, and his Spirit strengthen you. Go in love and peace

Midweek Reflection: Included in him Wednesday 16th November

Last week I lost my wallet, and still haven’t found it. It contains the means of access to our money through two bank cards; a licence to drive the car; cards providing free access to certain venues; membership cards; my bus pass; my donor card; discounts on cups of coffee in certain cafes – in short my identity and access to what I can do in this life. Never mind, I’ve managed to cancel my bank cards and get replacements without there being any evidence of fraudulent transactions. I’ve confirmed that I can still drive. Perhaps the lost wallet will still turn up. But, small and compact an object as it is, it contains the means of access to so much!

Do I really appreciate the spiritual treasures that are contained in God’s gift of Jesus Christ? “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us …. with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” (Ephesians 1: 3). If you read the whole of the first chapter of Ephesians, and I do recommend it, you will find listed so many of these blessings, these riches that are ours in him. Just as my bulging wallet was filled with so many material riches. 

I’m not listing them all, but here are some of them, all accessible through Jesus Christ. Adoption as sons and daughters of God, which means entry into God’s family. Forgiveness of our sins. Redemption. Becoming part of God’s plan to bring everything together with Christ as head. God’s choice of us in him to live for his praise and glory. God’s stamp of ownership on us by giving us the Holy Spirit. Yes, you are included in Christ and in all these spiritual blessings which are accessed through him. 

What a treasure trove is Jesus! What a wonderful compact container of treasure he is! The key to God’s blessings!

I suggest you read Ephesians chapter 1 and realise afresh what you are included in. Then reflect on one or two of the spiritual blessings listed that stand out for you at this time. Thank God for these and resolve anew, with the Spirit’s help, to live for God’s glory.

I fondly recall a man who had recently become a Christian being at a Bible Study. We were studying this same passage from the Ephesians. When everyone was asked what had spoken most to him/her, he read, “You were all included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of salvation.” This word had deeply taken root in his heart. It was a great thrill for him to fully realise this truth and its personal application to him.

May you too find rich blessing in reading this passage, and hear God speak to you through it. Like the man I mentioned you might even get very excited about what you hear!

Reading: Colossians 3:2-3

“My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

Prayer

Father, we praise you for Christ your Son and for all the riches you have given us in and through him. We are thrilled that by your grace we are included in all of these. We thank you that you have included us in your plan to bring everything together under Christ as head. We desire and seek this, your kingdom, with all our heart. In Jesus name. Amen.

May God bless you richly

Midweek Reflection: Our Father’s love Wednesday 9th November

A small group of us, at a recent informal and participatory service, were discussing Jesus’ meeting with Zacchaeus and got on to talking about people who felt excluded rather than welcomed. How people who were excluded by others could doubt their value as people and feel unloved. Then we got onto our upbringing and whether we felt truly loved by our parents. Most of us knew our parents did love us but, in some cases, could be slow to show it.

Some people aren’t so blessed. Perhaps their father was stern and indifferent, their mother was always shouting at them and ridiculing them, or they were even physically or sexually abused. Suppose you were so badly treated by your father, how difficult it would be to believe in a Heavenly Father who loves you unconditionally. Your experience of a father was so different from that.

Even with good parents some grow up with the unspoken message that their love is dependent on you doing your best. You sense that their love must be earned. Or they were so busy that it seemed they hadn’t enough time for you. So you did not feel secure in their love.Perhaps father was rather like a policeman towards you, and you came to believe God the father was like that too, always judging or finding fault.

The shortcomings of parents can therefore distort our image of God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. This can be a stumbling block to our faith and understanding.

On the other hand, and this is the Good News, our faith in Jesus can bring a dawning awareness of how perfect our loving Heavenly Father is. Perfect in his love and care for us. He knows us completely, and knowing us loves us completely. There is no limit to his love, no false messages such as our parents might have given us. God’s love is the corrective to our limited understanding.

If we became parents ourselves, then later our children became independent, if we are honest with ourselves, we then realise our own faults as parents. Maybe we did not give our childrenas much time as we should, maybe we were overstrict or overindulgent. We certainly weren’t perfect parents! So we need to forgive our own parents’ shortcomings, and hope our children forgive ours. Thankfully God will forgive us.

So let us be thankful for our own parents and their love for us, but even more for the God who loves us and parents us unconditionally. We read in Genesis that God made both male and female in his image, so all the best masculine and feminine qualities of parental love are revealed in our Father God.

Readings: Psalm 103: 8 & 13; Matthew 7:9-11

“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love ………. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.”

“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish will give him a snake? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

Prayer

Father of the fatherless, we pray for all children who lack a father’s love; for all who have been badly damaged by abusive parents; for all of us who need to know your unique and perfect love. Teach us to look to you and trust in your love and care; forgive us where we ourselves have failed to be the parents we might have been; help us to reflect your love in all our relationships with others. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

God bless you and go with you.

Midweek Reflection: What will the day bring? Wednesday 2nd November

…. that is a question we might well ask when we get out of bed in the morning! We might ask it optimistically, feeling good and looking forward to the day. Or again maybe pessimistically. If we are going through a bad time, not having the money to buy the next meal or having to cope with serious problems of some other kind, we would no doubt ask the question pessimistically – not looking forward to the day ahead.

There is reason for us to look forward positively to the day ahead. “His mercies are new every morning.” He loves and cares for us. He is faithful. He has a plan for us. These truths never change.

This leads me to think of an equally important question we can ask ourselves at the beginning of each day: which is “what will I bring to the day?” The way we answer this question can make all the difference to how the day pans out.

We can bring faith to the day ahead. As I said before, faith that God loves us and that we can know his will for us. He cares about what we do. We therefore ask God what he wants of us this day. Our faith will then set our priorities as we seek to follow the Lord. 

Then there is faith that God will supply any particular needs we may have that day. George Muller who ran an orphanage did so in faith, depending on God’s provision not for himself but for the children’s needs. Every morning, in prayer, he brought these needs before God in prayer, and found that his prayers were answered through people being prompted to bring supplies or give money to the orphanage. We may not do anything nearly so dramatic, but we can apply the same principle. We can trust in God for the needs of the day ahead. For example we can pray for strength to do what he wants us to do.

We can bring love to the day ahead.  George Muller not only showed faith, but also love for the children he cared for. We are inspired in scripture to put on our spiritual clothing for the day: qualities such as compassion, kindness, patience and above all love. We can seek to “put on” such clothes. We can ask the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with such love, and help us to be patient and kind. We’ll fail sometimes to show such qualities in all our relationships and contacts with people, but Jesus is forgiving and knows we are still learning to be his followers.

We can bring hope to the day ahead. I read in my Study Bible that “hope is not wishful thinking but a firm conviction”. It is faith with a future reference. We have this wonderful promise in Jeremiah, given to God’s people Israel in exile in Babylon: “I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope.” Remember how the disciples of Jesus were in utter despair after his crucifixion? Peter writes in his letter: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” In the light of the resurrection, however difficult the times we live in, we can begin the new day letting this marvellous hope drive away any despair.

Reading: Jeremiah 29:10-11

“When 70 years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfil my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope.”

Prayer

Father, help us to bring to each new day an attitude of faith, hope and love that will shape the day ahead and keep us close to you. Turn us from unbelief to faith, from despair to hope, and from hatred or indifference to love. In Jesus name we ask this. Amen.

God bless you and keep you.

Midweek Reflection: What is Autumn? Wednesday 26th October

We are right in the middle of Autumn, and enjoying its beauty. We see the varying and vivid colours of the leaves on the trees. I heard that it is because of a decent summer that we are having a particularly impressive autumn show this year. I love to see the trees at Arndilly and at the riverside at the Alice Littler Park in Aberlour. Then there are the stubble fields, and late fruits on the trees. Can’t we see the glory of God reflected in it all? It is all part of his great creation; it is part of the course of the seasons that he initiated and promised to continue “as long as the earth endures”. 

You might remember from school days John Keats’ Ode to Autumn. Spring is wonderful too, but rejoicing in Autumn he says:

Where are the songs of Spring? Aye where are they?

Think not of them, thou hast thy music too.

Yet when we think about it, Spring is the season of new life, but the colourful display of Autumn leaves is really the result of decay. The leaves are dying, and already are falling from the trees. It is like the last blast of a trumpet, magnificent in its sound yet soon to be heard no more. Why so much glory in decay? It seems paradoxical.

It makes me think of the late Queen Elizabeth’s death. Despite the expressions of sadness there was also such a rendering of praise for her, for her life of service to her country and the world. For her personal example, commitment and faith. What an outpouring of admiration there was. Like Autumn’s display marking the end of summer.

I recall attending the funeral of a man whom I greatly admired especially for the loyal, unselfish service he gave to others. Although I knew a lot about him already, I learned so much more at his funeral. The nature of his whole life and Christian example was somehow magnified. It all added to the respect in which I held him. It was like the fanfare of Autumn again. 

Psalm 116 v 15 comes to mind: “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints”. Whether this man I have spoken of, or the late Queen, they were dear to him, and are now in his closer presence. Another reason for joy!

Yes, Winter follows Autumn. PB Shelley wrote of the wind-driven leaves, as he addressed the West Wind:

Yellow, and black, and pale, and hectic red,

Pestilence-stricken multitudes: O thou,

Who chariotest to their dark wintry bed ……

But he also writes:

If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?

All seasons are from God, Winter too, and let’s give praise to him!

Reading: Genesis 8:22; Revelation 14:13

“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”

“Then I heard a voice from heaven say, ‘Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’

‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘they will rest from their labour, for their deeds will follow them.’”

Prayer

Lord of the seasons, we praise you for Autumn and its awe-inspiring beauty, for the rhythm of the seasons and of day and night. We praise you too for those who have died in the Lord, whose lives have reflected your glory. Help us to follow their example. In Jesus name. Amen

Midweek Reflection: God’s Rainbow Wednesday 19th October

On Monday our grandson showed us a photo of a rainbow he had taken on his way to Aberlour. It had been wet in the morning, but as they neared Aberlour the sun was breaking through, and a lovely multi-coloured rainbow was the result. 

Creation is like a painting book, full of many colours. We enjoy the autumn colours at this time of year. I call the changing colours of the year ‘God’s Disco’ (white for winter, light green for spring, deeper green, blues, purple, pinks for summer, and yellows, reds and browns for autumn). A disco in slow motion! Giving glory to our Creator.

But throughout the year we can enjoy the appearance of a rainbow, with its seven colours. It was deeply moving to see pictures of rainbows over Balmoral Castle, Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace on the night of Queen Elizabeth’s death. They seemed to say, “All is well”, “God is present”, “Out of death new life”. 

We all know the story of Noah in the Bible, and how after the great flood God made a covenant or promise that never again would he destroy the earth with a flood. God had passed judgement on the wickedness that was on earth; now he promised mercy. As a sign of his mercy he set the rainbow in the sky. It was the sign of God’s covenant with the earth; with “you (Noah) and all living creatures of every kind”. In the words of the hymn:

Our midnight is thy smile withdrawn,

our noontide is thy gracious dawn,

our rainbow arch thy mercy sign;

all, save the clouds of sin, are thine.

We need to note that the covenant which God made with humankind was also with the earth and all its creatures. That means we are to respect the earth, its creatures and indeed all creation. If God cares for it all so must we. 

So as well as being a mercy sign, the rainbow is all inclusive. God included all of creation in his covenant promise. Nelson Mandela called South Africa, after apartheid ended, the Rainbow Nation. A nation that included people of all skin colours. Whatever our view of LGBT today, and I know Christians differ on this subject, they take the rainbow as a sign of inclusiveness as well. God loves all people; all are made in his image. Our love needs to be inclusive if we are to be bearers of his love.

The rainbow also speaks words of hope to us. A rainbow occurs when out of the darkness of the clouds and rain the sun begins to shine through. The hymn writer, George Matheson, who experienced personal tragedy was able to “trace the rainbow through the rain”. In our darkest hours let’s look for the rainbow of hope. 

If God speaks such things to us through his creation, how much more through the cross. The cross of Jesus shows us the way to God’s mercy since he took the place of sinners and put our sins away. It is God’s mercy sign supreme. It speaks of the inclusiveness of God’s love since he died for all. And it speaks of hope since it was followed by resurrection. The word of creation and the story of salvation say the same!

Reading: Genesis 9: 12-15

“And God said, ‘This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come. I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever …. the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life’.”

Prayer

Thank you, Heavenly Father, that you speak to us in so many ways, through your Word, through other people, through the prompting of your Spirit and through creation itself. Above all you speak to us through Jesus: of your mercy, of hope and of the inclusiveness of your love. In his name. Amen.

May God bless you and go with you

Midweek Reflection: Don’t be ashamed! Wednesday 12th October

If you have watched the TV programme “The Weakest Link”, you will have seen the loser of each round having to do the “walk of shame” on their way out. “Shame” because of the wrong answers they gave, and their fellow contestants having voted them out.

“Shame on you! Shame on you!” might have been the taunting words of onlookers as they watched Jesus suffer and die on the Cross. It was a very shameful death. There was the dreadful, agonising pain of course, but also the shame of being exposed to public view and being humiliated before all who watched. “Anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse” (Deut. 21:23). It was a disgraceful and debasing way to die.  A terrible walk of shame.

Yet scripture tells us that Jesus “for the joy set before him, endured the cross, scorning its shame” (Hebrews 12:2). It was out of love for us all that Jesus came to this earth, lived, died and rose again. He willingly bore the disgrace of it all. He wasn’t too proud to die for you and me, as we know our names were written on the nail-torn palms of his hands. 

But I imagine that some people who had followed Jesus during his public ministry, but then witnessed his humiliating execution, were well and truly put off. They became ashamed of him. Some people who witnessed the apostle Paul being stoned almost to death, and being imprisoned by the authorities, would have become ashamed to identify with him. But he wrote to Timothy whom he called his son, “Do not be ashamed to testify about Our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner”. 

We are not to be ashamed of the gospel and of our Lord Jesus Christ. When asked about why we go to Church or why we are Christians let’s be eager to give a reason for the faith that is in us, seeking the Holy Spirit’s help.  After all, Jesus said that if we are ashamed of him and his words, he will be ashamed of us when he comes in his glory.

And we are not to be ashamed of identifying with and befriending anyone because of their social status, their sexuality, their race, their mental health, disability or any stigma they carry. To be so ashamed would not be in his name!

I recall that I was happy to have a friendship with someone who was a good friend to me, whom I had known from school days, but whom I found it difficult to associate with when other people were around. The reason: he seemed strange to others and odd in some of his mannerisms. So it embarrassed me slightly to identify with him in front of others. He was a good man, and I am ashamed of having felt ashamed! 

We recall Jesus never being ashamed to identify even with those who were stigmatised and rejected by the society he lived in. And like them he himself was to walk the walk of shame.

Reading: Romans 1:16; 2 Timothy 1:8-9

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first the Jew, then the Gentile”.

“So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us…”

Prayer

Lord, who was despised and rejected, may we never be ashamed of you and your gospel. By your grace make us always ready to own your name, and know the privilege of being called  your friends. We pray for those around us who carry a burden of shame because they do not match up to the expectations of others. Grant us courage to befriend them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

May the Lord bless you and keep you.

Midweek Reflection: No Backbiting! Wednesday 5th October

A close relative was telling me that what he found very difficult and unpleasant in his working environment was the amount of backbiting that went on among some of his colleagues. He heard them slandering others when they weren’t present, and he didn’t want to be part of it. Alongside the backbiting was status seeking by down talking others. He wanted to get on with doing a good job for those he served, while several of his colleagues were more interested in jostling for position, and damaging the reputation of those they perceived as rivals.

Of course backbiting goes on in many situations. Work situations, neighbourhoods, yes even in churches (though I have not been aware of it here). It can lead to people dividing into factions and warring against each other. Refusing to be part of it, and standing up for those being wronged in this way, takes courage but is part of a loving Christian witness. Backbitinggoes totally against the Christian command to love one another as ourselves. We would not want others to do this to us, so we should not do it to other people!

Offenders will often justify their position by saying it is the truth they are speaking about another person. But that so-called “truth” is usually highly exaggerated and personalised. It also fails to acknowledge the good qualities of the other person.

The scriptures are very strong on this subject. We are not to judge others, Jesus taught, warning that if we judge others, which is God’s prerogative, we will be judged as well. Instead of slandering others, we could well take Paul’s advice: “Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4 “The Message”).

We are talking about how harmful our use of the tongue can be. I came across these words: “Backbiting is a destructive and damaging sin, don’t be a backbiter, use self-control to take control of the things you say about others.”

Preachers are known to quote from John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but shall have eternal life.” Then they might suggest substituting one’s own name in place of “the world”. If there is someone we naturally dislike, and are tempted to speak of wrongly, we could similarly try substituting their name in place of “the world”.

When we criticise others we need to be conscious that we may be projecting our own faults on them. Or we may be jealous. Or they may be people very different from ourselves and whom we feel uncomfortable to be with. A little self-understanding is helpful.

A wonderful help to control our tongues, and change our thoughts about others, is to start praying for them. It is hard to hate or speak negatively about someone we pray for. Remember God made that person in his own image, and Christ lived, died and rose again for him or her.

Reading: Galatians 5: 19-23

“The acts of the sinful nature are obvious …. Hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy .… But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

Prayer

O Lord, your word is so clear about this. Teach us love and understanding, appreciation of the good qualities of others, and control of our tongue in the way we speak. Help us to love others in the strength of Jesus Christ and in his Spirit. Teach us to pray for those we think wrongly about instead of backbiting. in Jesus precious name. Amen.

May God bless you and go with you.

Midweek Reflection: What clothes do you wear? Wednesday 28th September

How fussy are you about the clothes you wear? Is it the first thing that comes out of the wardrobe, or do you take great pains to ensure your tie matches your shirt perfectly or that your clothes suit your figure and enhance your appearance? 

In the Genesis narrative we find that Adam and Eve at first were naked and unashamed. Then after the shame of their disobedience they covered themselves with fig leaves until God provided them with animal skins instead. A much-improved wardrobe.

In the New Testament we are told what kind of clothes to wear – but it’s not outer, rather inner clothing, spiritual clothing, that Paul talks about. The scriptures refer to our own righteousness being like “filthy rags” compared to God’s. So Paul tells us to take off the old self and “put on the new self.” He goes on to encourage his readers to “clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience ……… and over all these virtues put on love, which binds them together in perfect unity.”  Elsewhere he tells us to “clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ.” So these clothes, which reflect an inner beauty, become ours through us being cleansed from our sin by Jesus, and remaining in him. With our co-operation the Spirit works in us to produce such qualities as Jesus had.

What an amazing wardrobe to dress from! They will adorn us and enhance our personality and character. We need to pay at least as much attention to this clothing as we do to what we put on in the morning! Let’s be dressed in these qualities of Christ each day. And if you needsome more specialist clothing for a spiritual battle look up Ephesians 6: 10-18.

But back to material clothes. Jesus mentions them, when he tells the parable of the sheep and the goats. Remember the Lord commends the righteous by saying that when he needed clothes they had clothed him. ‘When was this?’ they ask. He answered that when they had done this for one of the least of his brothers they had done it for him. 

How can we give clothes to those who need them? Well what about these clothes we hoard (if you do)? Probably some are in good condition for someone to wear. We can give them to a charity shop or thrift shop. Then some people who cannot afford the price of new clothes can make good use of them. This at a time when prices have soared and many people struggle. If we do this in response to Jesus’ encouragement we do it for him too. Added to this the charity gets some modest income from selling the clothes.

At times there are special appeals for clothes. For refugees and asylum seekers. For the homeless. If we are clothed with the inner clothes of compassion and love we will think of ways in which we can support those who need the material kind of clothing too. 

Reading: Colossians 3: 12-14

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another, and forgive whatever grievances you may have against each other. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Prayer

Father, we thank you that all those qualities we have spoken of are perfectly exemplified in the life and character of Jesus, your Son; and that he was also clothed in the spiritual armour in defeating the powers of evil. Help us to be clothed inwardly as we seek to follow his example. And we pray for refugees, the homeless, and those too who struggle to provide clothes and shoes for themselves and their families. Show us how we can help. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

May God bless you and keep you.

Midweek Reflection “The Monarchy” Wednesday 21 September

The outpouring of love for our late Queen, the remarkable service she rendered, and the strong Christian faith that motivated and inspired her, have been highlighted since her death. She was a wonderful Christian witness through her life. The Archbishop of Canterbury said in his funeral sermon, “Her late Majesty’s example was not set through her position or her ambition, but through whom she followed.”

Now that the funeral is past, however, people will be commenting on the future of the monarchy. Already some countries in the Commonwealth are considering holding a referendum on whether they want to retain the British Sovereign. And of course there are many republican voices in the UK. 

What does the Bible have to say about monarchy? Israel didn’t yet have a monarch in the time of Samuel, but people came to him demanding that they should have a king to lead them “such as all the other nations have”. Samuel didn’t think much of this and prayed to God about it. God said to him, “It is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.” God said, “Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who rules over them will do.”

Then Samuel tells the people that a king they appoint will cause them, and their sons and daughters, to serve him in various ways. Some will have to join his army, or make weapons of war or serve with chariots and horses. “He will take the best of your fields and vineyards …. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage… “. He warned that the day would come “when they would cry out for relief from the king they had chosen.”

But the people still insisted they needed a king. The Lord then said to Samuel, “Listen to them and give them a king.” (Read 1 Samuel ch 8) 

The Israelite monarchy was autocratic, while our monarch is more of a figurehead with real but soft power. However many people today, including those who support the monarchy and see it as a unifying force in our land, are critical of the degree of wealth and property the Royal Family own. Are 12 residences for the King (I think I am right) not a bit much? 

Within the present system of the monarchy, our late Queen served us so very well. But it is expected now that King Charles III will slim down the monarchy. Would it not be better if the lifestyle of the royals was not so different from that of the people they serve? Of course it is not just the royals who are very rich while so many face poverty and have to choose between eating and heating today. The gap between the very rich and the poor keeps growing. But the monarchy could set an example by reducing their wealth.

To bring it back to ourselves, Jesus taught us not to set our hearts on wealth, and when we have it to give and use it generously. He told us that where our treasure is there our heart will be also. What is your heart set on – material possessions or God’s kingdom?

Reading: Matthew 6:19-21

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Prayer

Lord our God, King of kings and queens, we thank you again for the faith, love and example of our late Queen. We pray for King Charles and the rest of the Royal family, that they would be guided by you in the way the monarchy is shaped in the days and years to come. We pray for those in our society who can ill afford the prices they have to pay for food and energy; and for ourselves that we would seek to love and serve you before the riches of this world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: A sustaining influence Wednesday 14th September

When I was a schoolboy, I was a member of the gym team at the Royal High School in Edinburgh when the Queen came to visit. There were mats and boxes out in the playground, and we did somersaults and walked on our hands over the mats, and vaulted over the boxes as the Queen walked past. Sorry about that, “Love does not boast”! 

Several decades later, Maureen and I stood among the crowd in the Grant Park in Forres as the Queen was driven past. We were near the front and as she approached she was waving her hand to the crowds as they waved back. Then just before she reached us, she turned her head and looked the other way! “Love is not touchy” (Living Bible)! That by way of introduction. 

One of the emphases made in the many tributes paid to our late Queen Elizabeth has been on the continuity and stability of her reign. For 70 years, through colossal change and varying fortunes she has been one constant factor contributing a sense of security to us all. From her accession to the throne, right to her decease she has been a faithful presence, putting her own interests aside, and serving her country and the Commonwealth with loyalty and love. Her devotion has been remarkable.

But how has she been able to keep going? We all know that her Christian faith was basic to her, inspiring and guiding her. From her teenage years when she vowed to serve her country and the Commonwealth, right to the end. She looked to God and to Jesus as her helper. He was the Rock on whom she relied. God was the source of her stability, and constancy. His right hand has sustained her.

We are living at a time of great uncertainty. There is war in Europe which we are involved in. Rapid climate change threatens the planet. A dramatic hike in energy costs and high inflation.All make the future look very challenging, and life seem unmanageable for many. We need that reliance on God that the Queen has had. Let him be our Rock, the source of our stability and constancy through all these changing circumstances. Let’s never forget this is the world he loves, and for which he sent his Son to live, die and rise again. Great is his faithfulness.

“We have an anchor that keeps the soul, steadfast and sure as the billows roll;

fastened to the Rock which cannot move, grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love.”

(Priscilla Jane Owens)

Reading: Psalm 92:12-15

“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree ……… they will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, ‘The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.’”

Prayer

We give heartfelt thanks to you, o Lord, for the long reign of Her Majesty the Queen. Bless our memories of her and inspire us by her faith and example and her love for her people. As it was for her, may you be our constant companion through good times and bad. Help us to give ourselves for you and for others, as she so wonderfully did. In Jesus’ name we ask it. Amen.

Now go in peace and love, and may the Lord be with you.

Midweek Reflection: “The day of small things” Wednesday 7th September

It’s good to be back after a break! Recently I was walking along the road near our home when a cyclist stopped, picked up some litter which someone had dumped at the edge of the road, then went on his way. I was impressed, and coming across some more litter I was inspired to follow his example and pick some up myself. I hope I will continue to do this in the future! Small things matter and make a difference, whether we think of caring for the environment, caring for people or serving our Lord in some other way.

Under the heading “A minor courtesy” the story is told of Desmond Tutu, when he was a small boy in South Africa. He was walking along the pavement in Sophiatown with his mother who was carrying a load of washing (she took in people’s laundry). They were approached by a tall white man wearing a black cassock. They prepared to step off the pavement to let him pass, as they were required to do by apartheid rules, but before they could do so he stepped out into the road and doffed his hat to Desmond’s mother. 

The tall white man was Trevor Huddleston, the parish priest of the sprawling African Township where the Tutu family lived. For young Desmond what might seem to us a small courtesy was a life-changing gesture. It told him that for some Christians at least race and skin colour were matters of indifference. He sought out Father Huddleston who helped him with his education. More importantly Desmond embraced the faith that lay behind that simple courtesy. And we know what a major influence Desmond Tutu became, alongside Nelson Mandela, in the struggle against apartheid. But it all began with a minor act of Christian concern and a small step towards justice. Small things matter.

So let us not belittle the small things we can do in service of our Lord. We cannot estimate the importance of these small things. “Who despises the day of small things?” asked Zechariah the prophet, when only the foundation of the Temple had been laid, and an enormous task lay ahead. 

Jesus, told the parable of the talents, in which a man going on a journey gives a certain number of talents (which were coins) to each of his servants. When the master returns he asks his servants what they have done with the talents they had received. To the ones who had multiplied the number of talents two times, he says “You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things”. But he rebukes the one who had been given one talent, and who had gone and buried it in the ground instead of doing something profitable with it. He takes it from him and gives it to the one who had gained the most.

Small things, and what we do with them, matter. Small steps we take in showing God’s love to others, in standing for justice, in caring for creation, in using our gifts however little these may seem to us, are not to be despised!

Reading: Matthew 25:20-21

“The man who had received the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘You entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’ His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’” 

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for the gifts and opportunities you give us to serve you. May we not despise them however insignificant they may seem to us. Even if we are limited in what we can do, help us to do what we can for you, to show love and respect for others, to pray, to care for our environment and to stand up for justice. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

May God bless and keep you now and always.

Midweek Reflections

I hope you have been enjoying the reflections and have found them meaningful. I’m having a break from now until September. They will resume on Wednesday 7^th September, God willing. Thank you for your interest, and God bless you.

From David Anderson

Midweek Reflection: “Water of Life” Wednesday 10th August

Many people enjoy a dram of their favourite whisky, whose name derives from the Gaelic for “Water of Life”. Good, fiery and satisfying it is, and such an important export and source of local employment. But the present drought that is being experienced particularly in the south of England reminds us of a more basic liquid that is life-giving and life-sustaining: water of course. People are being urged to save water by spending a shorter time in the shower and not using a hose to wash the car. There is the danger of reservoirs running dry.

On a world scale drought is a serious problem. There have been warnings of “Water Wars” between countries that share the same river. One country nearer the source of the river dams the flow of water to have more with which to irrigate their land, much to the displeasure of the downstream neighbouring country. And an appeal has been launched for help to East African countries experiencing their fourth year of drought in which climate change has been a major factor. We can currently give to this appeal through Christian Aid. 

We need to value water and the rain that supplies it. It is so basic to life. We use it for many purposes. For our health we are urged to drink plenty of it. Let’s not waste it. Let’s thank God for it. As good stewards let’s use it wisely. 

The scriptures speak a lot about water. We think of Moses striking the rock from which water then poured out when the Israelites had complained of thirst. Abraham and his descendants dug wells, and these were important meeting places where people gathered to draw their supply. Wells have been sacred places in many cultures, including the Celtic culture where we hear of the wells having healing properties. They were used as places of worship.

Jesus met the woman of Samaria at Jacob’s well. She was drawing water there and Jesus who was thirsty asked her for a drink. This led on to Jesus speaking of a deeper thirst within us than our thirst for water. This a spiritual thirst which we all have though we have power to deny it. It is our thirst for the water that Jesus offers, which will become a spring within  us  welling up and providing eternal life. Remember eternal life is not only life beyond death. It is new life in this life, stemming from a life of different quality through our relationship with God which Jesus makes possible. As the prophet Isaiah put it, “With joy you will draw waterfrom the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3).

Let’s value the water we need for life. But let’s cherish even more this Water of Life that Jesus gives, and drink continually of it.

Reading: John 4:13-14

Jesus answered (the woman), “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Prayer

Thank you, Creator God, for life giving water that the rain and springs supply. May we use it wisely, and support as we can the people of the world suffering from drought. But thank you even more for the life-giving water that Jesus gives. May we joyfully and thankfully drink of it. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

God bless you and keep you in eternal life.

Midweek Reflection: Let’s pray Wednesday 3rd August

A tortoiseshell butterfly is flying round the room as I write, obviously wanting to escape. A few minutes later – so now I’ve opened the windows, and just managed to coax it out into the open air and the wider world it inhabits. That was a live event you were following!

It’s a bit like that for ourselves. We are spiritual beings, and while we are made to live our lives in this world, don’t we long to free ourselves from its restrictions and experience a higher dimension? To have our feet on the ground but our eyes to heaven. We are made to relate to our Heavenly Father, unseen but spiritually discerned. We do this through prayer.

Just as we need to communicate with one another to keep our relationships alive, so it is with ourselves and our Heavenly Father, who longs for fellowship with us as his children. In prayer we speak and listen to him and start to see life from his perspective.

We live in this world. But when we pray each day we add a new dimension to what we do, even ordinary things. We ask God to guide us so that in the ordinary things as well as the more unusual things we are guided by him, serve him and seek his glory. 

Jesus taught several lessons about praying. We are to pray in our natural way of speaking, not in a special language or using many words. We are to pray privately in our own space and not for show. We are to persevere in prayer (often we need to wait some time before we become aware of God’s answer). We are to pray to our Father in “faith that he exists and rewardsthose who seek him”. We are to pray with love for others, including those who have wronged us. Yes, even for our enemies. Think of someone who has wronged you recently, slighted you perhaps or been rude to you. Then pray for that person remembering that God loves her or him too. 

I believe God changes things through our prayers. Miracles happen as a result. But often the biggest change that occurs is in ourselves. As, for example, when we pray for someone who has wronged us. Or while praying for those in our society who are struggling to pay for their food and power supply, we may feel a prompting to give to the Foodbank for example. As a result we act unselfishly. When Jesus taught us to ask, seek and knock when we pray, he goes on to say the Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask. It is the Holy Spirit who will fill us with love for Jesus and for others. And the Holy Spirit inspires us to pray for what God wants rather than our selfish needs.

From an early age I was taught to use ACTS as a guide to prayer: A for Adoration (praising God for who he is rather than for what he gives us); C for Confession (acknowledging our sins and seeking forgiveness through Jesus Christ); T for Thanksgiving (for his gifts and all that he has done for us); S for Supplication (praying for others and ourselves). In thanksgiving we can include the everyday things, seeing everything coming from the Father’s hands and being his gifts to us.

And let’s listen. Pray with an expectation that God will speak to us. Be aware of the Spirit’s promptings in our hearts and minds.

Reading: Luke 11:9-10,13

“And so I say to you: Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks will receive, and the person who seeks will find, and the door will be opened to anyone who knocks……..Bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Prayer

Pray the Lord’s Prayer, noting, as you do, whose will you are praying to be done, and whose kingdom you are praying to come.

God bless you, and keep you close to himself. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: “What’s the use of worrying?” Wednesday 27th July

“What’s the use of worrying, it never was worthwhile

So, pack up your troubles in your old kitbag and smile, smile, smile”.

So go the words of the 1^st World War marching song. Certainly worrying about something, as opposed to responsible foresight and planning , gets us nowhere. It does no good to our mental, even physical, health. But not so easy stop worrying. And what is the equivalent for us of packing our worries in an “old kit bag”? What to do with our worries remains the question. How do we handle them?

Some people suffer from anxiety to the extent that it is recognised as a medical condition. The problem may go back to early childhood and require medical help. But I am talking about the kind of worrying and anxiety that we are all prone to, to a lesser or greater degree. How do we handle these worries?

We find a command from Paul not to be anxious about anything! This in itself sounds unhelpful. “I would stop worrying if I could” might be your answer when you are worrying about a problem. But think of it differently. It is a command! It is spoken with the authority that is more than human, that carries with it the power of God’s word to make it happen. But that is not all. Paul continues, “…. But in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God, that passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). By bringing our worries to God in prayer, handing them over to him and putting our trust in him, we can know God’s peace filling our hearts. Placing our worries in God’s hands is the equivalent of putting them into“the old kitbag”.

I remember a Church of Scotland missionary in India, David Rae, speaking about a service for healing taking place in that country. He went with his wife who suffered from epileptic seizures, and people ministered to her. To cut a long story short, she wasn’t physically healed, but she experienced the Peace of God about her situation, feeling she could trust God with the problem, rather than worrying about seizures happening and trying to avoid embarrassment. She may not have been healed outwardly, but she was inwardly healed. It was a transformative experience in her life.

David, the psalmist, exhorts us in Psalm 55: 22, “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you”, and Peter in his 1^st letter bids us “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you”. This is surely the antidote to worry and anxiety – to realise we are in God’s loving care. Each one of us is! So as Jesus himself said, conveying his authority along with the command, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life…”.

Reading: Philippians 4: 6-7 (The Message)

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the centre of your life”.

Prayer

God, our loving heavenly Father, thank you so much that we can place our worries in your safe hands, knowing you care about us. May we, too, know the peace that comes from this – your peace that transcends human understanding. We pray for those who do not seem able to stop worrying. Help us to listen to their worries and see if we can help them cope with what they are anxious about. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

God bless you, and keep you in his peace.

Midweek Reflection:​Our Real Self Wednesday 20 July

You may have watched the BBC documentary, “The Real Mo Farah” last week (available on BBC iPlayer). It is a very moving and shocking story, well worth watching. It tells how, when he was a young boy, his father was killed in a civil war in Somalia. He was later separated from his mother. He was then sent illegally to the UK where he served a family in slave-like conditions. But he was allowed to go to school, and after demonstrating his skills as an athlete, he confided in his PE teacher about his circumstances. He revealed to him that his real name was not Mo Farah at all, but Hussein Abdi Kahin. He was living under a false identity.

Apart from the school learning his secret, the truth was not publicly revealed. He pretended he had come to the UK from Somaliland with his parents. However he was not happy living under a lie (though this had in no way been his fault) and now has he revealed the truth publicly. It took a lot of courage, as he might well have had to join the queue for a plane to Rwanda. But thankfully he has not had to do that, and obviously is greatly relieved to have told the truth. He can now live with himself much more easily.

We can all live “under a lie” of sorts. We may be deliberately hiding something about ourselves or pretending to be something different from what we are. But we cannot, need not, hide from our Maker. He knows us as we are and his love reaches out to us as we are. We are invited to come to our Lord just as we are, and he receives us. If we do this we are more likely to be ourselves with others. John, in his first letter, tells us to “walk in the light as he is in the light”, and says that if we do so “we have fellowship with one another”. This is surely an encouragement to be honest with God, and be more open with each other. No room for pretence! We are called children of light, not of darkness. 

The Psalmist was real with God. He told him where he was at, whether thankful, fearful, full of faith or wondering why God seemed to be deserting him. As the hymn says, “Just as I am I come”. Not as I would like to be, or what I pretend to be, or what I think I ought to be, but “just as I am”. And God can then accept us and help us to see things differently – from his perspective. Selwyn Hughes used to say, “God loves me as I am, but loves me too much to leave me as I am”.

Jesus called the Pharisees and teachers of the law who opposed him ‘hypocrites’. This word was used of actors in the Greek and Roman theatre, meaning people who pretended to be someone else. He said of his opponents who gave a pretence of righteousness, “on the outside you appear to people as righteous but in the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness” (Matthew 23: 28).

We may not be like that, but we can put up a front of being better than we are. Think of Mo’s sense of relief when he came out in the open. Let’s be our selves!

Reading: 1 John 1: 5-7

“God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin”.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we come to you just as we are, trusting in your love, acceptance and forgiveness. Grant us the fellowship with one another where there is no pretence. Help us to be true to you, to ourselves and to others. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: Let’s think about Trees Wednesday 13th July

Let’s think about trees. They are one of the wonders of God’s creation. Have you seen, during these hot days, sheep huddling together under a tree’s shade to get out of the way of the scorching sun? Trees provide shade and shelter, timber for construction, fuel for cooking and heating, and fruit for food as well as having many other uses.

Trees play a significant role in reducing erosion, binding the soil together. They help prevent flooding, absorbing thousands of litres of stormwater. Of particular importance today, they absorb carbon dioxide as they grow and the carbon that they store in their wood helps reduce the rate of global warming. Hence the plans to grow many more trees, and the deep concern about the destruction of the rain forests.

Trees and forests provide a habitat for many species of animals and plants. Birds nest in them for example. Tropical rainforests are among the most biodiverse habitats in the world

They provide shelter from the wind, and cool the air as they reflect heat upwards from their leaves. With global warning and more frequent heat waves, we will probably be planting more and more trees around houses and in towns and cities. It’s estimated that trees can reduce the temperature in a city by up to 7°C.

Add to all these things the beauty and variety of trees. As the hymn goes: “Think of a world without any trees…”. Let’s praise the God of creation for them!

There are many mentions of trees in the Bible, from its beginning to its end. There is the Tree of Life in Genesis ch 2; the cedars of Lebanon used to build Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem;the tree from which Zacchaeus had a good view of Jesus entering into Jericho (reminding me of my boyhood delight in climbing trees!); the tree that produced the wood for Jesus’ Cross; the Tree of Life (again!) in John’s vision of the New Jerusalem, growing on both sides of the river of life, producing fruit every month of the year and providing healing for the nations.

And from a tree there is a clear message about a person trusting in God. Such a person is compared to a tree planted by the water. It sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes, its leaves are always green, it has no worries in a year of drought, and never fails to bear fruit. Let us learn from such a tree, and put our confidence in God – such confidence that keeps us going even in the heat of battle and enables us to live fruitful lives. So the message is simple – let’s renew our trust in God, put down our roots in him, and drink from the living water that sustains and refreshes us, which Jesus gives.

Reading: Jeremiah 17:7-8

“But blessed is the person who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

Prayer

Lord God who has created all things in heaven and earth, we praise you for all you have made and the wonders of your design. Thank you for trees, their beauty and their usefulness. 

Help us whether our circumstances are good or bad to trust in you, to be like the tree by the waterside, to put down our roots in you and to live fruitful lives in your service. Amen.

May God bless you and keep you.

Midweek Reflection: What’s your name? Wednesday 6th July

The other day I was speaking to someone whom I knew but whose name I couldn’t remember! I find it a problem remembering names. Do you? I know myself that when someone calls me by my name, that in itself helps create a personal bond between us. In today’s culture we are much more likely to call people by their first name than was the case in the past, and I am definitely in favour of this (though some might think of it as lack of respect!).

Your name is not just a label to identify you; it speaks of the real you. Your name is a very personal matter. In the scriptures, names are given to describe the characteristics of a person, or the circumstances in which they were born. So Abraham means “Father of many”. Jesus gave Simon his disciple a second name, rather like a nick name, to describe the kind of person he would become. He called him “Peter” which means stone or rock. Peter became the rock-like leader of the early Church.

Jesus, who described himself as the Good Shepherd, says of himself “I call my sheep by name”. It is wonderful, isn’t it, to think that he knows and speaks your name? It indicates that he is drawing us into a personal relationship with himself. He speaks to us personally, and lovingly. It is awesome that the Son of God should speak to us by name. By our personal name. He knows not only our name, but also our character and everything about us which our name sums up. We are special to him.

The names of the tribes of Israel were engraved on stones and fastened to the garments of the High Priest when he went into the Most Holy Place on their behalf. He was representing the people before God. When the people of Israel said, “The Lord has abandoned us. He has forgotten us”, the Lord answers, “Jerusalem, I can never forget you! I HAVE WRITTEN YOUR NAME ON THE PALM OF MY HANDS” (Isaiah 49: 16).

Jesus is our High Priest who died on the Cross on our behalf, and continues to intercede for us in heaven. As we think of his nail-torn hands we can picture our names being engraved on the palm of his hands. All he did and does is for you and me.

Tony, in Westside Story, sings of the most beautiful sound in all the world being “Maria”, with whom he has fallen in love. God is passionate in his love for you and me. Your name is precious to him. Remember that! 

And let the name of Jesus be the name above every other name for us. Tony sang of Maria’s name, “Sing it loud and there’s music playing, sing it soft and it’s almost like praying…… the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard. Maria”. Change the name of Maria to Jesus and let’s be passionate in our love for him. Amen.

Reading: Philippians 2: 8-10

“…. he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross! ThereforeGod exalted him to the highest place, and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow…”

Prayer

Dear Lord, our Shepherd, we praise you that you call us by name and that our names are written on the palm of your hands. That we are included in all that you did in love for humankind, and that each one of us is special to you. Lord Jesus, your name is so special to us. We pray that your name would be kept holy, lifted up and adored for ever. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: “Feel the Love” Wednesday 29th June

J Leach, the English spin bowler, who recently took 5 wickets in both innings in the Third Test Match against New Zealand, said afterwards that he “felt the love” from his fellow team members referring to their support and unity. So I did some googling. I discovered that “Feel the Love” was a song by drum and bass group Rudimental released in 2012. Earlier than that, in 1994, the “Lion King” animated film included “Can you feel the love tonight”, lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Elton John. I’m sure you know the song.

Here is an interesting fact. According to a survey, couples who chose “Can you feel the love tonight” as the music for the first dance at their wedding were more likely to stay together! But I don’t think it is any guarantee – I can think of better ones!

But what kind of love are we singing about? In the case of the couple it is romantic love. Then there is the love between a mother and a child which is natural and instinctive. Family bonds are this kind of love. 

“Philia” is the friendship bond. We all have friends we love. And think of the love between David and Jonathan. 

Finally there is Agape Love, the unconditional love of God shown to us in Jesus Christ. 

C.S. Lewis, author of the Chronicles of Narnia, describes these Four Loves in his book “The Four Loves”. He says that as Christians we can love in these different ways (they are all gifts of God), but we should subordinate the first three to Agape Love. In that way our other loves are purified. Agape love is supreme.

Let me tell you when I have often “felt this Love”. It is in Christian fellowship. When we are together worshipping God, hearing his word, celebrating the unconditional, self-giving love of Jesus, offering our prayers for the world, sharing in fellowship, do we not “feel the Love”, this Love that comes from God, and is among us through his Spirit?

I am sure it is possible to be a Christian without belonging to a Christian Church or fellowship. But then we are limited in our experience of Agape. I know things can go wrong in Church. People can get hurt. There can be division. But we can learn from these things, forgive, confess our sins and grow again. Grow in Love. Love should be the norm. When we have to, we can learn to “disagree agreeably” about some things.

Then there are some who are no longer able to go to Church. But they can be included in our love by our prayers, by a visit from someone else in the Church, by watching a service online if they are able.

It was Jesus who said to his followers, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” This is where it begins. But it doesn’t stop there. We want that love to overflow to the world around us. For “God so loved the world that he gave us his only Son…..”

Reading: John 12 vv34-35

“Let me give you a new command: love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognise you are my disciples – when they see the love you have for each other.” (The Message)

Prayer

God our Father, we thank you so much for your love for us shown to us in Jesus, your Son. Help us by your Spirit to know your love among us, to love one another, and to be channels of your love to others. In Jesus name. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: My Rock Wednesday 22nd June

We often hear of people speak about their partner, saying “He/she is my rock”. Sometimes it is a famous person who acknowledges that they could not have achieved what they had done without the solid support of their partner. 

But whether we have a partner or not, we all need a greater Rock for support if we are to live our lives as we are meant to. There is a limit to what another human being can do for us. We all need to rely on the Rock who is Christ. 

My wife eventually accepted my proposal of marriage. I had to wait months for this answer! And her answer came when we were on holiday, sitting on some rocks near the shore on the Isle of Cumbrae. She has been a rock to me since. But we were conscious then that we were both sitting on these rocks, and that in our marriage not only were we to support one another but also, together and individually, we were to depend on the much greater Rock who is the Lord.

The writer of Psalm 18, probably King David, proclaims: “As for God, his way is perfect……He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. For who is God beside the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God?” (v30, 31). In the psalms alone God is called the “rock” 23 times, and many other times in the scriptures. He is called the rock of refuge, and the rock of our salvation. Let’s place our feet firmly on that great Rock, and build our lives onhim!

Of course, there may be times when we don’t feel so secure even on the Rock on which we stand. The waves rise up against us, and we feel we are just holding on. Then we can just hold on and let him hold us. His hold on us is so much greater than our hold on him. To change the metaphor, when the parent is teaching her/his child to walk it is not the child clinging to the parent’s hand that makes it secure, it is the parent’s firm grasp of the child.

Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount told the story of the wise and foolish builders. One built his house with its foundations on sand, and when the rains came, the streams rose and the winds blew, the house collapsed. But the wise man who built his house on a foundation of rock found his house withstood the floods and the storm. Jesus said that the wise man who built on rock is like the person who hears the words of Jesus AND puts them into practice.

So we are to have Jesus as the foundation we build on, both in the sense of finding our security in him, and also in the sense of letting him and his words direct our lives.

Reading: Psalm 40 vv1-3

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God….”

Prayer

“Praise the name of Jesus, praise the name of Jesus
He’s my rock, he’s my fortress, he’s my deliverer in whom I trust. Praise the name of Jesus”.

Lord Jesus, thank you for being the rock of our salvation. Help us to build our lives on you. We ask you in your love to reach out to those who have lost their foothold and give them a firm place to stand again. In your precious name we pray. Amen.  

Midweek Reflection: Did you get the message? Wednesday 15th June

Two days ago, I sent an email to someone to pass on some information that she needed. But I didn’t get a reply. So last night I emailed her again asking her to let me know if she had got the information. She replied a short time later to let me know she had. 

I gather there is an understanding that you don’t have to reply to emails. In a busy world where so many emails are sent this is understandable. But it is difficult if you don’t know if someone has received and read one. Having said that, and in case I’m getting on my high horse, I can fail to reply to emails myself, or more likely take a long time to get round to it!

Communication is important in God’s story. At the start of John’s Gospel we hear of the Word being with God in the beginning. The Word refers to Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity, who became flesh. Jesus was God’s supreme communication with us. God’s message (the Word) came to us in human form. And this supreme Word calls for our response. We read in John chapter 1 that “to all who did receive him (Jesus)…. he gave the right to become children of God”. They received the message (Jesus) and responded with the giving of themselves to him. And when we hear the gospel, and the word of God in scripture, we are called to listen and respond. Going back to the illustration, we are called actually to read and answer the Email sent to us.

Communication as we all know is so important – between members of a family, within a congregation of the Church, within any organisation or business. How easily it breaks down. One person in the team doesn’t pass on some information that it is important for another person in the team to know.

Christians are called to be good communicators. Through our lives and words to communicate God’s love to others and not keep it to ourselves. We are also told by Jesus to communicate plainly and straightforwardly. He said, “Let your ‘yes’ be ‘yes’ and your ‘no’ be ‘no’.” This is so important for us. In a world where truth is often hidden or distorted, truth can be hard to find. We hear of ‘false facts’ being spread around. And it’s not just Russian leadership that is guilty of that. It happens much closer to home! We need to be truthful in what we say, even if what we say is unpopular with some people.

However, Paul also tells us we should be “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians ch4 v15). Some people say: “I speak my mind.” But that can be an opinionated way of speaking, without listening to what others say, and not considering the effects our words can have on others. God’s Word to us was Truth and also Love. “Grace and truth came from Jesus Christ.” It is surely good to follow his example and be loving and gracious in the way we speak to one another – being truthful but avoiding unnecessary hurt.

Now I must get down to replying to one or two emails!

Reading: Ephesians 4:15-16

“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is Christ. From him the whole body…… grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work”.

Prayer

Our Lord and our God, we praise you that Jesus is your supreme communication, revealing yourself and your will to us. Jesus, you said “I am the Truth”. Help us in our communication with one another to be truthful and straightforward, and always to speak in your spirit of love. Amen.

May God bless you and keep you in his love.

Midweek Reflection Wedneday 8th June

Three in One

There was excitement recently near us when a young lad found a four-leaf clover. Such a leaf is rare, and finding one of course is meant to bring good luck! Normally, as I am sure you will know, a clover has a threefold leaf. It is “Trifoliate” just to impress you – I found that through a google search! 

It was St. Patrick who, according to legend, used a similar plant, the shamrock, to illustrate that God is three in one. Like the clover the shamrock is trifoliate, having three ‘leaflets’making up a larger leaf. Patrick explained that God is three persons in one, just like the shamrock leaf.

There is no word “Trinity” in the Bible, but the truth of it is there, at least implicitly. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are all there in scripture, and are all God. And whenever God is working, all are involved

I have heard people ask the question: “How could God allow his Son, if he loved him, to suffer and die on the Cross? Is there not another way he could have brought us forgiveness and new life?” The thought is that God the Father was cruel to his own Son.

But while the Father and the Son are different persons they are also one. They are of the same nature and essence. They share the same love, the same passionate desire to save us, and are of the same mind. It is true that Jesus, also vulnerably human, struggled in the Garden of Gethsemane to accept the cup of suffering that was before him, but most deeply of all he shared in his Father’s will and the desire to do it for our sake.

And where does the Holy Spirit come in? He brings the saving love of God shown to us in Jesus to our hearts. He brings life to what we believe. He makes these things ours. “God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom he has given us.” (Romans 5:5).

The Spirit bridges the time gap between what God did for us through Jesus 2000 years ago and us now! How much we need the Spirit who came to his followers at Pentecost and comes to us when we put our trust in Jesus. Through the Spirit we appropriate for ourselves all that was done for us 2000 years ago. And when we sense God near us or around us, when we gather as Christians, or when we pray for example, or the words of scripture come alive for us, that is the presence of the Spirit.

Last Sunday was Pentecost. Let us rejoice that God gave us his Spirit to fill us with his love and power, and to enable his love to overflow from our lives to others. We need the Spirit as much as we need the Father and the Son.

Readings

“For through him (Jesus) we have access to the Father by one Spirit.” Ephesians 2: 18

“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” 2 Corinthians 13:14

Prayer

Our God, we worship you Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three yet one. Father, we thank you that you created us and care for us, Jesus, we thank you that you came for us, Holy Spirit, we thank you that you bring to us life, love, joy and peace. As you, o God, are one, make us one with you and with one another, sharing the same love. Amen.

May God bless you and keep you, and fill you with his Spirit.

Midweek Reflection: The Queen and Her King Wednesday 1st June

I don’t have to remind you that we are celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee. She has reigned for 70 years, and is the UK’s longest reigning monarch.That is an amazing achievement. Strictly speaking she is Elizabeth I of Scotland and Elizabeth II of England, but she has reigned over all the UK for all these years.

She has been a source of unity for the nation. There has been Brexit which divided the nation so that some families would hardly speak to one another. There is division between those who want Scotland to be independent and those who want the UK to remain one nation. There is division not only between the political parties but also within the Tory Party (and within the whole nation) over the present Prime Minister’s entitlement to his position. But throughout her reign, and even now, she has been a unifying influence. The Jubilee brings us together through celebratory events, including the lighting of beacons, parties, picnics and concerts and Church services. Even Republicans who don’t support the monarchy respect the Queen and acknowledge the unifying influence she has been, and continues to be.

Why this widespread respect? Because of her outstanding example, and leadership in service. She has put the nation first and been its greatest servant. We admire her unselfishness, her devotion to duty, her dedication to the task – from being a young woman of 25 when she became Queen after the sad death of her father, George VI, to the ripe age of 96 she is today. And we don’t know how much longer.

In a country which has become increasingly secular she has lived and served as a Christian, unashamed of her faith. She has often spoken about it while still respecting those of other and no faiths. She has indeed been the Defender of the Faith and a fine Christian example.

All this time she has served a greater King whose supremacy she recognises. He is the King of Kings (and of Queens). As a mortal she humbly worships him and recognises herself as his subject. He rules eternally and will never die, the longest reigning monarch ever! He is the truest source of unity. He came to reconcile the world to God, and reconcile us to one another. When we concentrate on being united with him, as branches in the vine, we are brought together, and denominations as well as other divisions cease to be so important. He is our perfect example of loving service and faithfulness to God. Praise his glorious name!

Reading: Psalm 148:7a,11&13

“Praise the Lord from the earth…….kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth……let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his splendour is above the earth and the heavens.”

Prayer

Lord our God, we thank you for Queen Elizabeth, her long and faithful reign and the service she continues to give to our country. Bless her through this year of Jubilee and give her the strength and wisdom she needs. We especially give thanks for her Christian witness and example. With her we lift our hearts to worship your Son, Jesus Christ, our everlasting King, our Saviour and Lord. In his name we pray. Amen.

God bless you and fill your heart with thankfulness and joy.

Midweek Reflection: Happy Birthday Wednesday 25 May

We like to mark the birthdays of family and friends. Cards, gifts, Facebook messages, even parties now that Covid restrictions have mostly gone. “Happy Birthday” we say or sing tunefully or otherwise!

But let us think about that simple birthday greeting, Happy Birthday. Let’s spell it out differently: Happy BIRTH – DAY. Meaning “Happy the day you were born. I am glad you are my friend/spouse/child/parent/colleague. That you were born to be. The world, my world, would be poorer without you. So “Happy day of your birth”. It is good to mean that, even spell it out. Say what that dear person means to you, and how we cherish them.

Some may not feel like celebrating their own birthday, however. Just another year older, they think. Or they can no longer do what they used to do and find it hard to see the purpose in their living. Or life is one of suffering rather than enjoyment.

To such people when we say, “Happy BIRTH – DAY” we need to show we understand something of how they feel, but let them know how much they mean to us and how they have enriched our lives. We are glad they are with us.

For a Christian there is special depth in the greeting “Happy BIRTH – DAY”. We believe God created each one of us. Psalm 139 puts it this way: “You created every part of me. You put me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” We believe our birth was no accident, even if it wasn’t planned from a human perspective. It follows from this that, if God created us, our life also has a purpose. Let’s rejoice in this.

God says to Jeremiah, the prophet, “I chose you before I gave you life, and before you were born I selected you to be a prophet to the nations.” (Jer.1:5). And God created us too for a purpose, one that covers this life and extends into eternity.

I once attended a “Wholeness through Christ” weekend. The aim was to help us find Jesus’ healing in our lives, helping us deal with those areas where we could grow in freedom to our God given potential. The Holy Spirit was very much at work. I remember for myself having a mental picture of my birth symbolised by the positive charge on a battery. It gave me a very positive sense of God’s purpose in my birth and life.

I hope you have a very positive view of your own birth purposed as it was by God, and enriched through the redeeming love of Jesus Christ. Rejoice in your physical birth, and in your spiritual rebirth too. May your next BIRTH – DAY be a very happy one!

Reading: Ephesians 1: 4 & 11

“Even before the world was made, God had already chosen us to be his through our union with Christ so that we would be holy and without fault before him……. All things are done according to God’s plan and decision; and God chose us to be his own people in union with Christ because of his own purpose, based on what he had decided from the beginning.”

Prayer

God our Creator we praise you that we are so marvellously made. We praise you for the gift of every new-born child, so beautifully formed. Thankyou that our birth was no accident, but planned by you, and that you have a purpose for our lives. Help us to live for your praise and glory. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: Blessed are the poor – Wednesday 18th May

I’m writing this on Tuesday 17^th May on a lovely, warm afternoon with a temperature of around 20 degrees. I am much enjoying it, but I think of those in the developing world who have had more than enough sunny days. They long for rain to end the drought they are experiencing, which has been intensified by climate change – climate change which they have done so little to cause. Christian Aid Week, this week, is focused on families in rural Zimbabwe, helping them grow food in these conditions by training them to grow drought resistant crops and providing water taps in fields. It is a privilege to help them. Walkers from Aberlour, Craigellachie, Dufttown, Rothes and Knockando, went on a Sponsored Walk for Christian Aid Week on Saturday raising money for this cause. Well done to them! Others support Tear Fund, or charities such as Oxfam which address the needs of the poor in developing lands.

But there are plenty poor people in the UK, I hear you say. What with inflation, the soaring cost of energy, and the rising prices of food, many people cannot see their way forward. We can support the food bank – they too are running short of supplies because fewer people can afford to donate. If we are able, supporting the foodbank is something we can all consider doing. We can give food, or, even better, money, as the foodbank can then purchase the products they are short of.

We often read the word ”righteousness” in scripture. The root meaning of the word is to do with right relationships. The prophets called God’s people back to a right relationship with himself by departing from the worship of idols to worship him alone. They also called us to right relationships with others. That includes being in a right relationship with those who have much less than we have. The prophets spoke against those who oppressed the poor and denied them justice. 

The huge disparity between rich and poor both in the UK and in the world is a challenge to all. Let us heed the words of Psalm 41: “Happy are those who are concerned for the poor; the Lord will help them when they are in trouble”.

Reading: Amos 5:24

“But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream”.

Prayer (from Christian Aid “Hungry for Justice”)

Heavenly Father, stir up within us a hunger and thirst for justice and keep us burning with passion to right the wrongs that anger you. Amen.

May God bless you and keep you in his love, and in the knowledge of his will.

Midweek Reflection: Science and Faith Wednesday 11th May

Did you know that many birds in the UK have longer beaks than those in the rest of Europe? An explanation of this has been found. Far more British people than other Europeans feed their feathered companions regularly. The theory is that through microevolution the beaks of British birds have become longer so that they are more able to feed from bird feeders in people’s gardens. An example of scientific evidence followed by a hypothesis to explain it.

Science is amazing as it discovers what God has invented and made adaptable. As scientists discover more and more about the development of the universe, including our solar system and the planet earth, we are amazed, and given cause to wonder like little children. It continues to astonish me, for example, that the stars we see in the heavens we are seeing as they were perhaps thousands of years ago, it takes the light from them so long to reach us!

There is no necessary conflict between faith and science. The illustration I like to use of creation is baking a cake. The maker of the cake does the creating of it. You or I enjoy eating it. Some may go on to work out how the cake was made, the recipe and ingredients in other words. God is the baker of the cake. Scientists try to work out the recipe.

We believe God through Christ created the universe. We can all agree with God’s own verdict that “it was very good” (see Genesis 1:31. Scientists go on to discover more and more of how he created everything. Genesis 1 tells us why the universe exists and is so designed; the scientists attempt to discover how it all came about. 

God, the Creator, is the God of everything, not just the God of the gaps that science has not yet explained. Many things point to a Creator God – that everything came into being and is kept in being; that there are laws, the “laws of nature”, such as the law of gravity, that govern the workings of the universe; that nature can be studied rationally and understood; all this points to a Creator God. It is our faith position that God the Creator, through the Son and by the power of the Holy Spirit, brought everything into being, holds everything together, sustains and renews it.

Things go wrong for believers when we reject science. Many rejected Copernicus’ discovery that the sun, not the earth was the centre of the solar system. Things go wrong for scientists when they deny that they are discovering what God first invented. 

Newton said that scientists were “thinking God’s thoughts after him”. They are called to be creation’s choir leading us and all creation in the worship of our Creator. All honour and glory and power be unto him who has made all things well!

Reading: Colossians 1:16-17

“For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels – everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He (Christ) was there before it came into existence and holds it together right up to this moment.” (The Message)

Prayer

We worship you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, for all the work of your creation. You are indeed our Creator God. Bless all scientists. Thank you for all they discover. Keep them humble before you. 

You sustain your creation, renew and hold it together. But creation like us groans for its final redemption, and we long too for that to come about. Help us, meantime, to be good stewards of the earth you have committed to our care. In Jesus name. Amen.

May God bless and keep you.

Midweek Reflection: The Bottom Line Wednesday 4th May

I remember my first computer. When I typed a document, a thick line appeared beneath where I was working. It wasn’t possible to move the cursor under this line. It was indeed the bottom line.

Psalm 44 witnesses the struggles of God’s people, Israel. They have suffered a devastating defeat at the hands of their enemies. They are disgraced by this humiliation. The writer protests that they haven’t been false to God’s covenant, or turned to idols. So he calls for God to save them. “Rise up and help us; redeem us because of your unfailing love”. This is the last line of the psalm.

This is the basis of his appeal to God: his unfailing love for his people. This unfailing love refers to the covenant he has made with his people, a covenant he has promised to keep. This “unfailing love” is the bottom line of the psalmist’s appeal.

This is available to us as the bottom line of our lives: that we are loved by God. This is the God who formed us in our mother’s womb, who created us in love. Amid any uncertainty, unresolved problems, suffering or pain, we cannot get beneath this bottom line.

Not only are we “fearfully and wonderfully made” by our Creator, we are redeemed by Jesus our Saviour. Through Jesus who loved us, who lived and died for us, we know this all the more clearly. He turns no-one away who turns to him. There is no limit to his love for us. Only our rejection of him can break that covenant of unfailing love. 

We cannot move our cursor underneath this bottom lie. It was Corrie Ten Boom, a Dutch Christian who was imprisoned in a concentration camp during the Second World War and who lost her sister there, who said that “however deep the pit, the love of God goes deeper”. Again the bottom line! She became an agent of reconciliation after the war, even forgiving the prison guards who caused her and her sister to suffer cruelly.

There is so much evil and suffering in the world today. It shocks us to think how the people of Ukraine have suffered and continue to do so. And it seems apparently all due to one man. The ripples spread out to affect most of the world through food shortages, soaring prices of fossil fuelsand in other ways. I don’t know about you, but I pray for Vladimir Putin and his associates to be ousted from power, that many more lives will be saved. The bottom line is that God loves the world he made and sent his Son to redeem. We must make that the bottom line of our prayers for the world and plead for justice and peace on that basis.

Reading: Ephesians 3:17-19

“…I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of the very fullness of God.”

Prayer

Loving Father, we give thanks to you for the bottom line of your love that upholds us and undergirds our lives. We pray for the world on the grounds of your love for it. Help us also to ground all our relationships with others in that same love that Jesus reveals in all his dealings with us. In his name we pray. Amen.

May God bless you and keep you.

Midweek Reflection: There is an enemy Wednesday 27th April

Watching the small birds flying to and from our bird feeders, or exploring the nest boxes, we often spy a sparrowhawk nearby. Often it perches on the garden fence waiting to pounce. If they are to keep safe the birds must be continually on guard. Protecting themselves from the sparrowhawk is part of their lives. They have no option. If they denied the danger they would easily come a cropper.

In journeying with Jesus we must be on watch as well. That is if we believe there is an enemy, an intelligent, personal spiritual force who is out to oppose us on our journey. There have been times in my life when I have been very conscious of this opposition. When training for the ministry for example, and when reorganising my life to have an undisturbed time to draw near to God each day, to read the Bible, pray and seek his will. Someone does not like that!

I’m reluctant to use the term “devil”, as this conjures up an image of a creature with horns and trident. I prefer the term “the enemy”. Some Christians think that all evil can be explained in terms of the sin within us, and that to speak of an external spiritual force of evil is to fail to take responsibility for our own sin. That is true if we say “The devil made me do it”! But others find that they are much more able to resist evil if they recognise there is an adversary who is ready to exploit their weaknesses.

We read in the account of Jesus’ life and ministry that he was well aware of such an opponent. Remember how he was tempted by him in the desert just before he started his public ministry. And he resisted the works of the enemy throughout his ministry. On the cross and through the resurrection he won the victory over him.

We are not meant to fight this battle in our own strength but in the strength of Jesus who has won this victory. It is his armour we are meant to put on to fight this spiritual battle. It has been said that the most important thing about the enemy is that he has been defeated. This is the good news, that through God’s love for us we too can overcome and stay true to him in our Christian journey. The message today is always to put the armour on. You can read the whole passage about it in Ephesians 6: 10-18.

We see the enemy at work in society and in the world. For example he exploits people’s weaknesses through addiction to alcohol and drugs causing lives to be ruined and bringing families into misery. The Lord wants people’s happiness, the enemy wants their misery. 

Let us thank God that in Jesus we have the victory, and we can be strong and safe in the armour he supplies. We need not be afraid.

Reading: Ephesians 6: 10-11

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Best to read the whole passage.)

Prayer

Lord, who stood against the evil one and triumphed over him, thank you that we can be strong in your strength. We ask you to help us to avail ourselves of the armour you provide. so that we might be equipped to follow you and glorify you through our lives. In your name we pray. Amen.

May God bless, strengthen and keep you.

Midweek Reflection Wednesday 20 April – I am with you always

Do you remember a time when you were really glad to have someone with you? Perhaps it was an important doctor’s appointment when you wanted to be sure you took in all that was said to you correctly. Recently I had an issue to tackle which involved some phone calls. My wife was with me at the time, ready to remind me of anything I forgot to say! It just felt goodto have someone close to me supporting me, especially someone who loves me! For you it could be a case of asking a friend to accompany you on such an occasion.

But none of us can have someone with us in all the challenges we face. We are all humanly alone at times. We need to find strength within ourselves.

Yet, think of it, none of us need ever be alone. We have just celebrated Easter and rejoiced in the resurrection of Jesus. Before he left his disciples to go to be with his Father in heaven he promised them that he would be with them always, even to the end of the world! If we are disciples of Jesus, this amazing promise applies to us too. We need to remember this continually. Jesus does not leave us alone. He is with us as he has promised.

We may not always feel his presence however. I recall being taught as a young Christian that our faith does not depend on our feelings. 

• The FACTS of our faith come first (one of these facts being that God loves us; another that Jesus has risen and is always with us).

• FAITH in these facts follows. Such faith does not depend upon feelings. 

• Finally, FEELINGS follow our faith e.g. the sense that Jesus is with us.

You could look at it this way – the FACTS of faith are the engine that pulls the train. Our FAITH follows the facts like the tender of the train containing the coal to fuel the engine. Then the FEELINGS follow as the first carriage does. I hope you find this picture as helpful as I do.

It is good that we picture Jesus being with us, reflect on this and take it in. We are never alone because of Easter. Believe it and then feel it.

We want to bring this to others through our love for them and through our prayers. Let us pray for the people of Ukraine, and others facing adverse circumstances, that they would have both human support and the faith, and feeling, that Jesus is with them.

Reading: Matthew 28: 19-20

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. AND SURELY I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS TO THE END OF THE AGE.” (my capitals)

Prayer

Living Lord, bless those who are lonely; those in places of conflict and danger; those persecuted for their faith; those who are refugees. We pray that they, and all of us, may believe the promise of your presence and know that you are nearer than the breath they breathe. We ask this in the strong name of Jesus Christ, our risen Lord. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: The Cross of Jesus Wednesday 13 April

As we journey through Holy Week we look towards the Cross. There were many crosses by the roadsides in Palestine where the Romans crucified those they regarded as public enemies. So the physical suffering of Jesus was not unique. But the one who was crucified on Good Friday was unique. He was the Son of God. He was the best person who ever lived. “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him…” (John 1:11) This exposes the evil in human hearts that, faced with such goodness, this was the world’s final response – to destroy him. The crucifixion was not really a judgment on Jesus but a judgement on the world for what we did to him. This above anything else calls for repentance, but there is hope for us all because, as he died, Jesus prayed out loud “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing”. 

This brings us to the heart of what Jesus did for us through the Cross and Resurrection. It is often expressed in terms of Jesus becoming our substitute. He who was without sin, a man of total integrity, died in the place of us who are sinners and paid the price of all our sin. So that we could be forgiven, and set free from condemnation and guilt. The distance between us and God is finally bridged. This was his spiritual suffering, experiencing abandonment by God as he bore the sins of all the world. Greater spiritual suffering than anyone else has experienced. The Cross was God’s work of reconciliation between himself and us. What a wonderful Saviour is Jesus!

We can also see the Cross as a warrior winning a great victory. Jesus seemed far from being amighty warrior as he carried his cross to Golgotha. He had been flogged and abused, was in a state of physical weakness and he stumbled under its weight. But after a mighty struggle in Gethsemane he resolved to “drink the cup” of suffering, and then battled spiritually to win salvation for us all. The ancient “Dream of the Rood” (Rood means Cross) describes Jesus as a brave warrior leaping up on the Rood and fighting a great battle to overcome the powers of evil. He is our hero and victor.

Another very important aspect of the Cross is that Jesus suffered. When we suffer we can know close fellowship with our suffering Lord. He feels for us in our pain. When we see no way out of our suffering we know Jesus is there with us. He feels for us and weeps with us. Let us turn to him for comfort at these times.

Above all, the Cross reveals God’s heart of love. He loved us so much that he gave up his dearly beloved Son for us. It has been said that there has always been a Cross in the heart of God, long before Jesus died at Calvary. But there his heart of love was fully revealed. 

Reading: Romans 5:6-8

“You see, just at the right time…… Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners Christ died for us”.

Prayer

Loving Lord, your Cross is like a precious diamond with many facets. We cannot praise you enough for your incredible love demonstrated there. Thank you for all it means to us, and as we meditate upon it help us see new depths in Christ’s suffering and sacrifice. May we also, being loved so much, reflect this wonderful love to others. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.

God bless you richly this Easter and always.

Midweek Reflection: I couldn’t follow Jesus – Wednesday 6th April

The title of an article in this month’s Life and Work, the magazine of the Church of Scotland, reads “I knew that I couldn’t follow Jesus”.  At least that is what I thought it reads! I also thought it was an unusual title in a Christian magazine. It was therefore successful in catching my attention. But when I read it again I discovered I had been mistaken! The title actually reads: “I knew that I couldn’t NOT follow Jesus” (capitals mine)!

However my first reading of the title makes a real point. If you for the first time read Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, and his other teaching on the cost of discipleship, it would be a very reasonable conclusion. Though you were deeply impressed by Jesus’ words, and were amazed at his exemplary life, you might well decide that as much you would like to follow this man of Nazareth it was impossibly difficult to do so. Think of it. I am to love my enemy, forgive those who sin against me, put Jesus before my own selfish desires and ambitions. This might well be your conclusion: “I couldn’t follow Jesus”.

This would be true except for one basic factor. Jesus hasn’t only won the victory over sin and death, and made of us a new creation, he has given to each one who believes in him the gift of the Holy Spirit. He hasn’t only cleansed us from our sins, he has empowered us to follow him. We cannot follow Jesus in our own strength. It is too much. But his Spirit within us enables us. This Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus and enables us to live and love for him. Of course, we still fail at times, but he will also forgive us and renew us. The Spirit comes to everyone who puts their faith in Jesus Christ. But we are commanded to keep being filled with the Holy Spirit. “Be filled with the Spirit” is in the continuous tense (Ephesians 5:18). Why? Because without the Spirit filling us, we are not able to follow Jesus and reflect his love. 

I am reminded of settling into a manse with a large lawn. Thankfully a petrol driven lawn mower was provided. The first time I attempted to cut the grass I pushed the mower around the lawn while the blades were powered by the engine. It was still hard work. Then eventually I spotted a lever which I pulled, and the mower was propelled forward with little effort on my part! What a difference that made. And what a difference it makes to realise that we are to follow Jesus not in our own strength, but as the Holy Spirit enables us. 

Reading: Acts 2:38-39

“Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptised, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call’”.

Prayer

Lord our God, we thank you for this marvellous promise. Help us to be open and alive to this precious gift of yours that in the strength and love of the Holy Spirit we may follow and serve Jesus all through our lives. Amen.

May God bless you and keep you.

Midweek Reflection: Back to Basics, Wednesday 30th March

If you’re old enough you may remember Prime Minister John Major’s Back to Basics campaign. He was urging a return to traditional values. This, he thought, would help cure many of society’s ills. Unfortunately for him, a number of skeletons in the cupboards of his own MPs were exposed. Later he had a lapse from family values himself, so the campaign was largely discredited!

But as Christians I think it is good for us to get “back to basics”, not traditional values but thebasics of our faith I mean, to make sure they are firmly established in our lives. To illustrate this, I am recalling the example of David Sheppard, the famous and successful English test cricketer, who went on to be ordained in the Church of England, and later became Bishop of Liverpool. There he championed the poor and disadvantaged in the inner city. Along with the Catholic Archbishop Derek Worlock he fought for change on their behalf. His biography is called “Batting for the Poor”, and he wrote the book “Bias to the Poor”. This particular expression of his Christian faith to which he was called is what he is remembered for (along with his cricketing achievements).

His decision to enter the ministry, however, arose from his coming to a personal faith in Jesus Christ. This he never forgot. It was “basic” to him. He describes going to a Christian mission with a friend, where he heard that only by “the undeserved love and grace of Jesus Christ can anyone be accepted (by God)”. Church going which he had done since childhood did not in itself win God’s acceptance.

He realised that his sin came between himself and God, like a cloud; that Jesus on the cross took our sin upon himself; that Jesus had died for him. His faith became personal. He found that his sins were forgiven through the mercy and love of God. He later wrote: “Either Jesus was outside the door of my life, or he was inside. Though I had, so to speak, talked to him through the keyhole or on the doorstep, I knew very well that I had never sincerely asked him into my life and take charge of it”. He personally put his faith in Jesus.

While David Sheppard became more and more committed to serving the poor in Jesus’ name, this was his starting point. We all have our specific callings as Christians, but our grounding needs to be in coming to the same personal faith where we own Jesus Christ as our Saviour and submit to him as Lord of our lives. Of course our spiritual growth only begins here. We are to go on and live fruitful lives for Christ, to live “a life of good deeds which he has already prepared for us to do”. But it is the basis we start from and constantly renew. Let’s keep going “back to basics”!

Reading:; 

“Christ himself carried our sins in his own body to the tree, so that we might be finished with sin and be alive to all that is good.”  1 Peter 2:24

“Listen! I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into his house and eat with him, and he with me.”   Revelation 3:20

Prayer

God of all grace, who gave your Son to live, die and rise again for us, open our hearts to him so that our lives may always be grounded in his saving love and mercy. To you be the glory for ever. Amen.

God bless you and keep you in his love.

Midweek Reflection – Wednesday 23rd March:

Helping Ukraine

Since boyhood I have been a Hibernian supporter. They’re not doing so well at the moment, but that’s beside the point! This is the point – in 2005, when Hibs were playing Dnipro in Ukraine in a European cup-tie, some Hibs’ fans started a charity, “Dnipro Kids”, to help children in orphanages in that city. You may have heard that the same charity has managed to arrange for about 50 children from Dnipro orphanages to come to Scotland to escape their war-torn country. They are due to arrive in Scotland today, and soon will go to Edinburgh to live in family groups there. It is hoped that after the war they may return to their home country. They may all be Hibs’ supporters by then!

That is one practical way people have helped the victims of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. There has been an enormous outpouring of compassion for that nation and its people. Many people pray for that country. That is something we can all do: bring its needs and suffering to God, seeking his mercy upon them. We can give too. The Disasters Emergency Committee(DEC), comprised of leading charities including Red Cross and Christian Aid, have an appeal at present. You can give online. There is also an opportunity to give to DEC through a retiring offering at Craigellachie and Aberlour churches the next few Sundays. As Andrew stated last Sunday, the charities say this is the best way to give as they know what the greatest needs are at the time. Many have given clothes for refugees, which is fine, but the charities have to wash them all before they can be distributed. Some have even driven out to Ukraine or the border with Poland to distribute supplies to refugees. 

I’m reminded of the relevance of the story of the Good Samaritan, which Jesus told in response to the question “Who is my neighbour”, the neighbour whom God has commanded us to love. First, the man who came to the aid of the injured man was of another nationality. He was a Samaritan helping the man who we presume was a Jew. That relates to us helping the Ukrainian people. And secondly, after the Samaritan had treated the victim’s wounds and taken him to an Inn, he paid the innkeeper to look after the man. Then on his return he would pay any more money that he owed. 

We cannot all go to Ukraine to help, but we can see the charities in the DEC as the innkeeper to whom we pay money to help refugees and those still in Ukraine. 

Jesus calls us to “Love your neighbour as yourself”. Our neighbour is anyone, near or far, whom we are able to help. How do we respond?

Reading: Luke 10: 34-35

“…. Then (the Samaritan) put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’”

Prayer

Father, who has compassion for his children, look upon the people of Ukraine in their hour of suffering. Some of us do not have a lot to give, but show us all if there is some way in which we can help. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Midweek Reflection: Spring, Wednesday, 16th March

I’ll start with the gloom, but I won’t finish there! When we take a moment or two to reflect on what’s going on in the world, the picture appears extremely gloomy. There is the suffering of the people of Ukraine, we do not know how far Putin will go, and other European countries fear invasion too. There is the threat of a third world war, and even of nuclear weapons being used if that were to start. And just to deepen the gloom, what about the future effects of climate change, not to mention the continuing spread of the omicron BA2 sub-variant or the state of the British economy? Not too bright a picture!

BUT then I think of the natural world around us. Spring is coming again – that has not been stopped. The Spring flowers are delighting us, the daffodils in our garden are starting to flower, the birds have smartened up to attract a mate, and before very long the lambs will be playing in the fields. God’s creation is still doing its work. Our God is always working. No gloom there!

“BUT” is a crucial word to answer the gloom! How often in scripture we hear “BUT GOD”. The Israelites often rebelled against God and were defeated by their enemies. BUT GOD showed mercy towards them and when they called on him delivered them. This happened time and time again. In the New Testament we read of our condition prior to faith. “As for you, you were spiritually dead because of your disobedience and sins..…” then it goes on: “BUT God’s mercy is so abundant and his love for us is so great he brought us to life with Christ….. it is by God’s grace you have been saved”.

Let us remember the power of “BUT GOD”. This changes things radically. If our personal circumstances ever tempt us to despair, let’s look to him and say these words. They are a statement of our faith in him and in his love. They can really make a great difference to how we see things. They bring the most important factor into account, that God is there and is loving us. This is not to belittle any suffering we experience, but it helps us to see things from a different perspective.

In the world situation that seems so gloomy, let’s add the fact of faith – it is God’s world. He is Lord overall. It is ultimately in his hands. Only he knows the future but we can entrust everything to him. Hope can arise in the darkest of places.

Spring speaks of new life and new hope. That comes to us once again. God is still caring for his world. He loves it more than we do. Yes, there are grave problems in the world…… BUT GOD!

Reading: 1 Peter 2: 9-10

“But you are the chosen race….. God’s own people……. At one time you were not God’s people, but now you are his people; at one time you did not know God’s mercy, but now you have received his mercy”.

Prayer

Forgive us, Lord, that we often look at things from a merely human perspective, whether our own situation or the situation the world is in. Whatever the situation helps us to know the difference you can make, even to our suffering, and so come to know more deeply the BUT of your transforming power and love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

May God bless you and keep you.

Midweek Reflection Wednesday 9th March: Listening

Remember Rose Ayling Ellis, the deaf contestant in Strictly Come Dancing, who, with her partner Giovanni Pernice, danced wonderfully despite her disability, not only keeping in time to the music but winning the competition! She must have had some other way of “listening” when she couldn’t hear the music. Most of us do have a reasonable level of hearing, and listening is what we do with it.

We have been given ears to listen. Someone said, “we’ve been given two ears and one mouth, so we should listen twice as much as we speak.” Logically that wouldn’t work out in practicevery well, but the saying makes its point. 

How much do we listen to other people? Are we really listening when the other speaks, or are we thinking about what we want to say next? Sometimes people really need a listening ear. If you are really listened to, it makes you feel that what you say and feel matters. That you matter. This is especially true when someone shares what is important to them in their lives, what is hard for him or her at the time and what it is a relief to speak about. Listening, with occasional understanding responses, helps a person feel affirmed and valued. We are told for example that it is good for our mental health to speak about what we feel. Men especially are slow to do that. But when one does, a good listener is required. Only when we listen can we help another. Often no advice or suggestions are required, just the fact of being listened toand understood is what matters. Listening is an act of loving.

James, in his letter, teaches that “everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry…” (James 1:19).

As well as listening to other people, friends of Jesus are described as those who listen to his voice. But how do we do this? How do we know what he is saying to us? Surely by getting familiar with Jesus’ teaching and example. We do this by reading God’s Word. But for specific guidance we can also listen for the Spirit’s promptings. This is something we need to practise. There are so many other voices trying to get our attention it can be hard to discern what God is saying to us. But often, as we pray and read the Bible, we get a clear sense of what is being said to us. Then in faith we can act on it.

So let us, however good or bad our hearing, seek to be good listeners, both to one another and to the Good Shepherd of the sheep.

Reading: John 10:2-3

“The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and he leads them out.”

Prayer

Dear Lord, help us to be good listeners and help others in this way. Help us also to listen to you, to learn to discern your voice and in faith obey. We remember too those who are deaf or hard of hearing, that love from others would lessen the isolation they may feel. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

God bless you and keep you in his everlasting love.

Midweek Reflection, Wednesday 2nd March: Putin and Ukraine

It has been heart-breaking to learn of President Putin’s war on Ukraine, of the fear he has spread, and the suffering and death that he has caused. At the same time, it has been inspiring to hear of the Ukrainians’ resistance. They certainly slowed down the Russian forces’ advance. Russian lives have also been taken. Blood shed on both sides shows once again the terrible folly and cost of war. In fact many Russians are against the war.

We see God’s love at work in the welcome refugees from Ukraine have received in Poland and other Eastern European countries. We also see it in people from countries such as our own engaging in humanitarian relief. The world has opened its heart to that land.

There have been despots all through history. In more recent times there have been Hitler, Stalin and Pol Pot. We hear of power-mad kings and emperors in Biblical times too. But the conviction of the Biblical writers was that however powerful they were their power was limited, because ultimately they were under God’s control. He was, and is, the Sovereign God.

The New Testament book of Revelation is written in graphic and colourful style. It has been likened to a comic cartoon strip! John names some of these power-hungry individuals as ‘the beast’, who has been given its power by the dragon who is identified as the devil. Evil is embodied in them. We may not understand why God allowed such terrible evil as the Holocaust, but such episodes of history bring home to us the reality of evil in our world. 

God took an enormous risk when he gave human beings the gift of free choice. This choice led to the continuing battle between good and evil starting in our own hearts. This free choice has led to wonderful heroism and unselfishness, but also to such atrocious events as the cruel attack on Ukraine.

But although this freedom exists, evil will not have the final say. Though ‘the beast’ may triumph for a period, its doom is inevitable, and its empire bound to be destroyed. The gospel proclaims the victory of good over evil, love over hate, life over death, pledged through the cross and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We look forward to, and work with him for his kingdom of goodness, justice, peace, mercy and love – to the time when the kingdoms of this earth will become the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ (Revelation 11:15a).

It is right that we lament the war that is being waged in Ukraine, and have compassion for those who suffer there, but let us not despair. God’s call is for us, though our faith in Jesus, to pray and work for God’s kingdom which we now know in part but will one day know in allits fullness. 

Reading: Deuteronomy 30: 19-20

“I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life…..”.

Prayer

Father God, we praise you that You gave us the gift of freedom to choose, so we are free agents rather than puppets. Help us in the strength and love of Jesus to choose what is good and be ambassadors of your kingdom that will never end. Amen.

God loves you. May he bless and keep you.

Midweek Reflection on the Weather

I love the description in Psalm 14:16: “He spreads the snow like wool; he scatters the frost like ashes”.  The snow is soft like wool, and spreads over everything. Let’s reflect on the snow.

Snow can change our plans, a bit like lockdown. Meetings can be cancelled. We may choose to stay inside. We’ve not had a lot of snow for some time, and even if there is we can cope with it with four-wheel drives or winter tyres. Except sometimes when roads are closed, especially if you live in the country. Then normal life comes to a halt, and we have to wait and be patient. The hustle and bustle of life stop, and we remember our control over our lives is limited. “Be still and know that I am God” comes to mind. 

Strong winds, which we have had plenty of recently, remind us of the God we can’t control. They are wild and unpredictable. Stefanie Green, a three-time Paralympics medal winner speaks of how her childish understanding of God changed when she had a nasty accident. Her life was saved after losing lots of blood, but she had to have her right foot amputated. She says she realised then that a God who did exactly as she wanted wasn’t the God of reality. “I had to understand God is wild and untamed, but he’s good. I don’t control him. I can speak to him, and he will always be with me, but he’ll always be slightly mysterious. And that’s a good thing. I’d be bored and disappointed with a God I fully understood.” 

We cannot contain God’s Spirit. He is free and can disturb us out of our comfort and lead us in unexpected ways. The wind blows where it wills, Jesus said to Nicodemus, and so it is with those who are born of the Spirit. Remembering the God who is untameable and not under our control balances our knowledge of him as the loving Father with whom, through Jesus, we enjoy a close relationship.

Then there is the sunshine most of us revel in. People travel far to seek it. Jesus is the Greater Sun who shines in our lives bringing to us the warmth of God’s love and the light of his truth. There are times when we walk knowingly in this light, when we are very conscious of his presence with us, and of his will for us.  His love is not hidden from us. Then there are the times when the clouds hide the sun from us when God’s presence and his will are not so clear. But then we need to remember that the warmth and light of the sun are still reaching us when it is behind the clouds. So during difficult times his presence is still with us, and he continues to hold us in his love.  Let’s say “Halleluiah”!

Reading: John 3 vv7-8

“You should not be surprised at my saying, ’You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Prayer

Creator God, we praise you for wind, rain, snow and sunshine. Help us to learn lessons from your book of nature, as well as from your word in scripture, and from the Word made Flesh in Jesus Christ. In his wonderful name we ask this. Amen.

May God bless and keep you always. Amen.

Midweek Reflection 16.2.22

It’s the evening of Valentine’s Day as I begin writing. I did an unusual thing today. I wrote my wife a letter! I don’t know when I last did that, probably in our courting days, but she had given me a card and I hadn’t reciprocated…. so I decided to write instead to tell her what she meant to me.  Someone else said to me about Valentine’s Day, “We’re past that kind of thing”. But it is surely good to keep the spark of romance alive, and not take one another for granted.

I am aware that some people reading this may have lost their partner through death or a breakdown in a relationship. Or you may have wanted a partner, but it has never worked out for you. But there is an even more important relationship we can all enjoy and will last forever.

I am speaking of our relationship with our Lord which is offered to all of us. It is a relationship which can go deeper than any other relationship. It is one that meets our deepest needs. For he is the Bread of Life, as Andrew reminded us in Craigellachie and Aberlour on Sunday. No other human being can meet our deepest needs, only the one who made us, redeemed us, knows us better than we know ourselves, and loves us utterly. He is always knocking at our door, and offering love, meaning and purpose for our lives.

Romantic love is affirmed as a God given part of human experience in the Bible. This is true particularly of the Song of Songs which is in fact an amorous love poem. Christians have traditionally interpreted it as an allegory of the love between Jesus Christ and us, but this is not so commonly accepted today. Still God is passionate in his love for us, and longs for a relationship with us that is based on mutual and total self-giving. And in the New Testament Jesus is described as our husband and ourselves as his spouse (Ephesians 5:31-33).

Thinking of Valentine’s Day, it is not only a partner we may take for granted. So easily we may forget those who make our Church what it is. Perhaps they serve in the background, seeking no praise or thanks for what they do. Let’s remember them. People who serve in our community too. It would be a good idea to show our appreciation to someone like that, or to share a word of encouragement with them. So whether we make something of Valentine’s day or not, let’s seek to avoid taking anyone for granted especially within the Body of Christ, his Church. We are called to love, support and encourage one another.

Reading: Song of Songs ch8 vv6-7

“Close your heart to every love but mine; hold no-one in your arms but me. Love is as powerful as death; passion is as strong as death itself. It bursts into flame and burns like a raging fire. Waters cannot quench love; many rivers cannot drown it.”

Prayer

Father, we thank you for love of all kinds – between lovers, in families, and between friends. We especially praise you for your passionate love for us demonstrated in Jesus your Son, a love stronger than death. Kindle the flame of love for you in all our hearts. Inspire our love for one another, that your body here on earth might be built up in unity. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.

May God bless you and keep you in his love. 

Wednesday 9th February

Campaigns for justice are a regular feature today. People march for decent wages, for climate justice, for equal rights for women, against domestic abuse. There are calls to reduce the widening gap between rich and poor in our own society, and to end racism and discriminationof any kind.

Justice was a major concern of the Old Testament prophets. Not only did they denounce the worship of idols and false gods; they also exposed injustices such as the exploitation of the poor, or the taking of bribes. They had visions of a new society where justice and righteousness reigned. “Let justice roll like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream”, proclaimed Amos, the prophet. 

Jesus isn’t often reported using the term “justice”, but he did apply to himself the description of God’s servant in Isaiah ch 42:1, “I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justiceto the nations”.

Jesus was more than just. It was not a formal, external justice that Jesus was about. It was justice with a heart to it. He regarded and treated people in such a way that they felt they mattered and were of eternal value, and they were recipients of God’s attention and care –  the leper, or the woman of Samaria for example. Seeing people this way is at the heart of acall for justice where all are treated fairly. It is justice with love at the heart of it, and which refuses to accept any of God’s creatures being treated wrongly. Equally it opposes anyonewho exploits, abuses, mistreats or shows disrespect to others.

As Christians and as the Church we are called to “bring justice to the nations” and may experience a specific calling to fight for justice in a particular context. Climate justice, or justice for the poor for example. But the justice we seek is the justice with love at its heart.

God’s justice is seen supremely in the cross of Jesus. Humankind came under God’s judgement because we had rebelled against him. This is what the story of Adam and Eve is about. So we carried a burden of sin and guilt. In the fullness of time Jesus came and after his ministry of teaching and healing he died on the cross for you and me. He who was without sin “became sin for us” taking our sin and its consequences upon himself and paying its price so that we go free. “I felt a great burden lifted from my shoulders” said someone who realised for the first time that Jesus had done this for her. The Cross demonstrates the seriousness of our sin, that the price for it had to be paid, but in God’s love and mercy Jesus paid it. This is God’s justice with love at the heart of it. How grateful I am for this. Are you?

Reading: 2 Corinthians 5 vv20b-21

“We implore you on Christ’s behalf: be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to become sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Prayer

Lord God, we praise you that you are the God of justice with love at its heart. Show us how we can be your servants as you call us to share your love and engage in the struggle for justice in your world. We thank you most of all for the just reward of new life offered to all humankind through the sacrifice of your Son. In his wonderful name we pray. Amen.

May God bless you and keep you in his love

Wednesday 2nd February

Have you suffered a power cut in the last few days? The very strong winds we have been experiencing – Storm Arwen, Storm Malik and Storm Corrie – have brought home to us that extreme weather conditions are increasingly common in our part of the world. We may have been rather complacent, thinking that climate change was mainly affecting other countries of the world while we were largely unaffected. We may even have been pleased that there has been less snow than previously and so winters are easier to cope with! 

But the storms and power cuts have made us sit up. Yes, it is happening to us. Western civilisation through industrial development and use of fossil fuels has caused the bulk of climate change. Countries which have contributed the least to climate change have so far suffered the most as a result of it. There have been rising sea levels leading to Pacific islands becoming uninhabitable, and increased flooding in Bangladesh. There has been severe drought in African countries. Wild life has been threatened too: polar bears through the melting of ice in the Arctic and many species as a result of forest fires whether in Australia or California. But now we are tasting the consequences of climate change too.

For most of the decades of industrial development people were not aware of the dangers it would eventually bring to planet earth. But there have been warnings for a long time now, prophetic voices telling it as it is. Yet many have been in denial. They have not wanted to hear these voices and have tried to silence them. Now we are facing the truth, hopefully not too late to reduce the potential harm. 

How should the Church respond? First by confessing on behalf of our nation the harm we are causing and have caused; by repenting and asking forgiveness. Also by affirming human beings’ place in God’s creation. Being made in God’s image and likeness means we are given the mandate to share in God’s rule over the earth. The words of Genesis 1:26 don’t mean we can exploit the earth and do what we like with it, or that we can happily make its creatures extinct. Yes, we are to have dominion over the earth, and rule over animal life, but only as God’s representatives doing his will. Thus we express God’s likeness. And he declared time and again (see Genesis ch 1) that what he had made was ‘good’ or ‘very good’. Another reason why we should look after it. Then we can make changes in our own lives to reduce the carbon emissions we are responsible for. We can speak out to our politicians and others that we want the fight against climate change to be the national priority. And we can pray in faith, hope and love to the God who loves the world.

Reading: Genesis 1 v26

Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

Prayer

Father God, you love the world and all that is in it, and you revealed this love supremely in Jesus Christ your Son. We are sorry we have not been good stewards of all that you have made. We pray for a change of heart among all people, so that there will be a promising future for our children’s children and generations to come. Amen.

God bless and keep you in his love.

Wednesday 26th January

The other day I was filling up the bird feeders in our garden, and while I was doing this a robin came flying to the feeder to fetch some sunflower seed. When my hand was round the middle of the feeder the robin alighted within an inch of my fingers. If I had been patient, I think I might have trained the robin to eat from my hand.

St. Francis of Assisi, and many of the Celtic saints, were known to form close relationships with animals. They befriended them, and the animals grew to trust them. I don’t place myself in the same category – my neighbour’s dogs just bark at me when I try to befriend them! But these Christians won the animals’ trust. There are stories of animals co-operating with them, carrying heavy loads for them or guarding and protecting them.

It is good for us to relate to God’s world around us – the natural world with its creatures, its trees and plants, the weather above and around us. Some do this through gardening and so being in close contact with the soil and growing things. For many it is through walks particularly in the countryside. Or one can simply sit still, watch and listen.

During a walk, or resting somewhere, we can notice the sunshine and the breeze, and the formation of clouds in the sky. We hear birds sing and the sound of the flowing water in the river or tiny burn. We can smell the scents around us as well and breathe in the fresh air. It is good to stop and take note of all these things. We are relating to God’s world. As has often been said this is good for our mental health and can change our mood and feelings.

When I was able to climb the Scottish mountains, there was aways the temptation to think only of getting to the top and ticking one off on one’s list. I might say I climbed three peaks in the day, and feel proud of it, but did I take enough time to really appreciate what was around me? Did I spot the bird of prey, notice the wildflowers or take in the amazing grandeur of the mountain scene? It is so important to be still for a while and drink it all in.

Some people worship nature itself – they call it Gaia. But Christians believe that all is God’s creation and is distinct from him, its Creator. We don’t believe nature is God (pantheism). However, we find everything exists in him and he is in everything (panentheism), sustaining the earth and renewing its life. Psalm 104 v30 speaks of his breath (or Spirit) creating and giving new life to the earth. 

So let us escape sometimes from a manmade world, and take in, breathe in the wonder of creation, and be mentally and spiritually renewed. And let’s praise God, the great Creator!

Reading: Colossians ch1 vv16-17

“For by (Christ) all things were created ………. all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together”.

Prayer

Lord our God, you are over and above all things, yet you are also in everything. Help us to find you in your creation, and through it to let you refresh our spirits. We ask it through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God bless you.

Wednesday 19th January

The trees in winter might not seem so attractive to us, stripped as they are of their leaves – the deciduous ones at least! But there are advantages in seeing them this way. We may spot birds more easily as they cannot disappear among the leaves. But what strikes me most is that we clearly see the structure of their trunk and branches. We see their hidden, inner strength. 

In the “winters” of our life journeys, when we face testing times through illness, a broken relationship, bereavement, or coronavirus affecting our mental health for example, we may feel stripped bare like the trees. The things that normally bring enjoyment and satisfaction to our lives are no longer there for us. We are stripped as it were of our leaves.

All is not lost. We learn to rely on the inner resources within us, resources we are not normally aware of. We must rely on them. We have little choice. Along with support from others whose strength we borrow we find the endurance we require. We hold on.

But for those who believe, there is an awareness of more than this. We draw from the resources of the Spirit within us, the Spirit given to all who believe. In his letter to the Ephesians Paul prays for them, asking God to “give you power through his Spirit to be strong in your inner selves”.  The psalms constantly remind us that God is our Strength on whom we rely. 

But trees, despite their strength, can fall, as many did during the storm Arwen. And we are human, and sometimes we fail to rely on God’s strength within. Relying on our own strength can let us down. Remember Simon Peter, Jesus’ disciple, who swore confidently that he would never forsake his Lord. Yet, on his own and in the darkness of the night, when put to the test he denied three times that he knew Jesus. 

After the Resurrection Jesus met him again and gave Peter the chance to reaffirm his love for Jesus – again three times, one for each denial! He also recommissioned Peter as his disciple. Later, strengthened by the Spirit given at Pentecost, Peter became the rock on which Jesus built his Church. Now he relied on God’s strength rather than his own.

And God equally shows his grace and mercy towards us when we fail to rely on him. He forgives us and is ready in his love to strengthen us again so that we might follow Jesus.

Reading: Ephesians 3 vv14-16 (21)

“For this reason I fall on my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and earth receives its true name. I ask God from the wealth of his glory to give you power through his Spirit to be strong in your inner selves, and I pray that Christ will make his home in your hearts through faith…”

Prayer

Dear Lord, we thank you for your loving kindness towards us and the provision of all we need to be your followers. We ask you through your Spirit to make us strong in our inner selves that we might serve you faithfully in all the seasons of our lives. Amen.

May God bless and strengthen you.

Wednesday 12 January

I keep hearing about people doing their best to help refugees, whether those who have come into the UK, or those in refugee camps in other parts of the world. A near neighbour is continually knitting blankets, shawls, and baby clothes for refugees in such camps. I know the issue of refugees coming to our country is not straightforward. There need to be limits as we cannot take more than we can make room for and accommodate. But remember thatrefugees flee from their homelands because of war, because of discrimination and persecution or because of dire poverty. They are desperate as we can tell from the risks they take, and not having any certainty where their journey will take them. 

But one thing is sure. God has a big place in his heart for such people. In the Old Testament we read of his instructions to his people to welcome strangers and foreigners into their community. He wanted his people to show love and offer friendship. Jesus, speaking of the final judgement, said that when we welcome strangers into our homes we do this for him (Matthew 25: 27-40). And not long ago we were thinking of the family of Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus journeying as refugees into Egypt to escape the cruel sword of Herod. Jesus himself was a refugee!

Come to think of it many of our ancestors were refugees. During the Highland Clearances, people were forced to leave their land to make way for sheep. They crossed the sea to North America to make a new home for themselves. They relied on help from the people there. And think of the Pilgrim Fathers who left England for America to escape persecution.

As Christians we are called to be good neighbours to those close to home. But God’s love doesn’t stop there! If we have been reluctant to take the plight of refugees to heart, let’s ask ourselves, “What shapes my thinking?” Is it tabloid headlines, or populist politiciansappealing to our small mindedness? Or is it scripture, especially the example and teaching of Jesus? We are to “let God transform (us) inwardly by a complete change of mind. Then (we)will know the will of God…..” (Romans 12v2)

Let our attitudes be moulded by the Father heart of God, and by the compassionate love of Jesus. And let us pray that those who escape from danger may find a new homeland where they can settle and prosper, where they are welcomed and where they can make a positive contribution to society through their gifts and abilities.

Reading: Psalm 107 vv4-8

“Some wandered in the trackless desert and could not find their way to a city to live in.They were hungry and thirsty and had given up all hope. Then in their trouble they called to the Lord, and he saved them from their distress. He led them by a straight road to a citywhere they could live. They must thank the Lord for his constant love, for the wonderful things that he did for them.”

Prayer

Father God, we pray for refugees everywhere that they would find a new homeland where there is a welcome and support. Open our hearts to them in their need and show us what we can do to help. In Jesus name. Amen.

God bless you and them.

5th January 2022

Someone recently pointed out that there is an if at the centre of LIFE. And this is surely true. As we set out on our journey into the new year there are many ifs facing us. We might be making plans for a holiday we hope to have if coronavirus regulations allow it. We plan to meet up with other people depending on the same if. Even in “normal” years all our plans are subject to an if. It could be if our health allows it; if we have enough money for it, if nothing untoward stops us. Life is full of uncertainties.

Reminding ourselves of this keeps us aware of our limits. We are not totally in charge of our plans. These may or may not be fulfilled. Proverbs tells us that we make our plans but God directs our steps. Of course, when we sense that what we plan is right for us we want to stick to it and be resolute about it. We can check our motives, as Christians we can pray about it, perhaps consult others, but we remain dependent on God’s will.

James, in his letter, tells his readers to say, “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that”.  People used to say “d.v.” when describing what they would do – which means “Deo volente” or “God willing”.   

So we start our journey along the road of another year with uncertainty, this year more than most. But there is certainty for us in our Christian faith. It is the certainty of God’s love for every one of us, the certainty that he goes ahead of us and goes with us, the certainty that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever, the certainty of his promises to us.  We make our plans trusting in our Lord who will direct our steps in the way that is best for us. Solet us put our anchor down deeply in God’s love and faithfulness as we travel along the road of a new year. 

And a Happy New Year to you and yours.   

Reading: 2 Corinthians 1 vv 19-21

“For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was preached among you …. is not one who is “Yes” and “No”. On the contrary he is God’s “Yes”; for it is he who is the “Yes” to all God’s promises. That is why through Jesus Christ our “Amen” is said to the glory of God. It is God himself who makes us, together with you, sure of our life in union with Christ…” 

Prayer (from St. Patrick’s Breastplate)

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

Amen.

29th December 2022

Thanks to Andrew for giving me this space each Wednesday for a reflection which I pray will be helpful to those who read it.

A significant number of people are bothered with SAD each winter. It stands for Seasonal Affective Disorder. More hours of darkness and fewer hours of daylight lead to this seasonal depression.

Probably most of us, even though we would not describe ourselves as having this disorder, can understand it and sometimes feel our mood change in winter. Well the good news is that we are past the shortest day, and each day now there are four minutes more daylight! We are journeying  more and more into the light!

Christmas fulfilled the longing for light in a different sense. We rejoiced in the Son of God slipping into this world in human form. In his adult ministry he was to describe himself as “The Light of the World”, promising that those who followed him would not walk in darkness but have the light of life.

What is the result of walking in the light of Jesus Christ, and allowing his Spirit to work in and through us? According to our reading below it means we will reflect the glory of the Lord, and we will be transformed into his likeness to an ever-greater degree of glory. Eugene Peterson puts it this way: “our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him”.

Of course, it doesn’t always seem as straightforward as that. It can be more like stop and start, getting brighter then dimmer for a while. We can go through periods of emotional and spiritual darkness but let us trust that the Lord is always at work even then. And what greater goal can we have in life than to become more and more like Jesus?

What will that mean for us? Through life and its experiences surely it means we will be come more loving and caring for others as God is towards us. It will mean we are able to forgive more quickly as we realise how much we have been forgiven. We will be more patient as he has been patient with us. It will mean we will become more courageous, people of integrity, ready to stand for what we believe is true, compassionate and just, inspired by Jesus himself. But our faces need to be turned to him so that we can receive and reflect this light of his truth and love.

Reading: 2 Corinthians 3:18

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Prayer

Lord, help us to look to Jesus, become more and more like him, and reflect his glory in our lives. Use even the darkest times of our lives to form us into his likeness through Jesus Christ our lord. Amen.