Hogmanay

Scots use the word hogmanay to refer to New Year's Eve and the rich
heritage of traditions and customs associated with New Year celebra-
tions. Ever since I arrived in Scotland in late 2003, I have heard around
this time of year people in the land referring to hogmanay. Edinburgh
is known worldwide for her hogmanay celebrations of New Year's Eve
and the New Year. Over 80,000 people pour into the city to welcome
in the New Year with festivities and fireworks. The modern celebration
of Hogmanay taps into ancient customs and traditions associated with
the pagan festival of Hogmanay.

The linguistic roots of the word hogmanay are difficult to determine.
Flemish, Anglo-Saxon, French, Norman, and Scandanavian languages,
each have been reckoned to be the source of the word. But the wild and
festive customs of hogmanay appear to have come from the pagan Vik-
ing settlements in Scotland. From the 17th century to the 1950s, Christ-
mas as a Christian festival was banned in Scotland by the Scottish Pres-
byterian Church, the official church of Scotland. Christmas was seen as
too Catholic for Protestant Scotland. Many Scots worked on Christmas
but celebrated hogmanay in grand style. Hogmanay was a big holiday
filled with family, friends, parties, and gift exhanges. It was a special
time for children.

Having experienced a number of Christmases in Scotland since 2003,
it is difficult for me to imagine that Christmas was ever banned by the
Scottish Church. I have enjoyed immensely the Scottish Christian tra-
ditions of Christmas. But over the years I have grown increasingly
aware of the rich Scottish customs that are uniquely associated with
hogmanay. It is a tradition to welcome friends, family, and strangers
into one's home on New Year's Eve and offer them warm hospitality.
Another Scottish New Year's tradition is to sing Robert Burns's For
Auld Lang Syne immediately after midnight.

In Edinburgh and other cities of Scotland, fireworks and torchlight pro-
cessions are planned in order to welcome in the New Year. They carry
on with the spirit of ancient Scottish pagan festival customs from cen-
turies ago. Thus the New Year is welcomed in on a festive note. Cities
throughout the world use the hogmanay New Year celebrations in Edin-
burgh as a model for their own New Year festivities. January 2nd is al-
so designated as an official holiday in Scotland. I have not heard of that
being used anywhere else in Britain or the world.

But the sense I have as I talk to people is that the season of New Year's
Eve and New Years is an opportunity to clear out the vestiges of the old
year and welcome in the New Year. People hope to make a clean break
with the past and enter into a time when new things will happen. There
is something to be said for that. This week I have been clearing out the
vestiges of 2010 and preparing for 2011. I hope to share more about
that as I post in the New Year.

I close wishing you a blessed hogmanay

Blessings to you and yours,

midnight

Christmas Greetings!

Uppermost on my To Be Done list is to wish you a blessed Christmas.
The season of Advent-the four Sundays leading up to Christmas-has
always been a special and rich time for me throughout the years. This
year especially, I have been delighting in this season and am eager to
plunge into the riches that are woven into Christmas Eve and Christ-
mas Day. In a few hours I will head out into the cold and snow for the
family Christmas Eve service, savour Christmas treats after the ser-
vice, and then later attend a Watchnight Service at 11:30 pm.

Tomorrow, Christmas Day, I will attend a morning Christmas Day
Family Service and then go with a family to their home for the rest
of Christmas Day. I'll be with good friends Jason and Chrissy and their
four children, with a fifth due in early February. I have been babysit-
ting the children-who range in age from three years old to nine years
old-so that Jason and Chrissy can go out for a date night every so of-
ten. The kids are great and we have a lot of fun together.

The time between the first Sunday in Advent, through to Christmas,
and continuing to Epiphany on January 6 is a special time for me. For
just over 30 days we hear and often see acted out the Big Story of God
sending God's Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to die for the forgive-
ness of our sins. Behind the Manger is the Cross. Christmas and Easter
are meant to be together. Both are essential themes to understanding
the Big Story. My prayer for us all is that we would come to compre-
hend more keenly God's Big Story.

In my previous blog posting I shared that on December 12 I would be
conducting a service and preaching before a minister search commit-
tee at a neutral pulpit. Let me fill you in on what happened on Decem-
ber 12. After the service, I was interviewed by the committee and then
after the committee voted, I was invited to preach as 'sole nominee' at
the church with the vacancy. I accepted the invitation, and will preach
as sole nominee at St. Fergus Parish Church on January 16. I am ex-
cited about the church and the position, and look forward to preaching
there on that date. After the service, the congregation will then vote
whether or not to extend to me the call to be minister of St. Fergus Par-
ish Church. I am very excited, and am eager to lead in worship at the
church on January 16. As always, I covet your prayers.

Festive Christmas Blessings to you and yours,

Advent and an Advent Prayer

I can't recall Advent being mentioned at all when I was growing up in my
home Presbyterian church in Kelso, USA. I do not have any memories of
an Advent wreath, of lighting Advent candles, or of hearing any mention
of the word 'Advent' and all that it signified. But it might have been be-
cause I was a kid (believe it or not, I was a kid once) and it just did not
connect with me. But what I enjoyed was the Christmas season, which in
my book started in late November and went to a few days after Christ-
mas. I have many fond memories of singing Christmas carols, receiving
and giving Christmas gifts, attending Christmas parties, and decorating
Christmas trees. Christmas was by far my favorite season of the year.
But I don't remember anything about Advent.

Even though Christmas is still my favorite season of the year, there
have been some changes in my views. I now view Christmas as the
twelve days between Christmas Day and the sixth of January. It has
a special place in my heart because it is an opportunity to focus less
on Christmas activities (as important and fun as those are) and more
on celebrating Jesus and why he came into the world so very long ago.
I take more seriously the good saying that Jesus is the reason for the
season. I love to re-read the Old Testament stories of God's people
yearning for God to come among them and bless them with the divine
presence. Through the Old Testament prophets, kings, and priests
God promised that God would come to Israel, forgive their sins, and
dwell with them forever. The people of ancient Israel yearned for this
to happen.

I can't prove it, but I believe that we humans have two basic needs that
only God can satisfy. The first is our deep desire for God to come to us
with God's unrelenting redeeming love for us. Even more than we need
the love of our mothers, I believe that we need God and God's love in
our lives. We all yearn for God to come to us because God created us
for an intimate relationship with the Lord God. The second basic need
is connected to the first: we all have the need to receive God's forgive-
ness of our sins. That is the very heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Intimate communion with God is established only by God's forgive-
ness of our sins.

I see three advents, or three comings, of Jesus Christ. Jesus' first com-
ing was when he was born in a manger in Bethlemen on that first Christ-
mas Day. The second refers to the Second Coming of Christ when Jesus
returns to earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords at the end of time.
I also have come to recognize a third coming of Jesus when a person in-
vites Jesus into his or her life. I encourage you during this special season
of Advent to remember Christ's first coming on Christmas Day, to look
forward to Jesus' coming again in the future, and to invite him to come
into your life or to invite him back once again.

I offer this prayer to help us prepare for the coming of Jesus into our
world:

Calm us to wait for the gift of Christ;
Cleanse us to prepare the way for Christ;
Teach us to contemplate the wonder of Christ;
Touch us to know the presence of Christ;
Anoint us to bear the life of Christ.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.

This week I have faced three challenges. First, since late last week all
of Britain has been hit by severe winter weather which has included
arctic temperatures and significant accumulation of snow. Things still
have not gotten back to normal. Second, I experienced the joy of a hard
drive failure on my laptop last Monday. It had been out of commission
until today. It made me realize how much I depend on my laptop to do
all that I need to do. Third, I have been invited to conduct a worship ser-
vice and preach at a neutral church before a vacancy committee of a con-
gregation that has attracted my attention. I would appreciate your
prayers on my behalf as I seek a pastoral position in the Church of Scot-
land.

Blessings to you and yours,

My American Thanksgiving Day in Scotland

In Britain there is nothing quite like American Thanksgiving. Many
churches here in Scotland have a Harvest Thanksgiving service some
time after harvesting is completed in late September or October. The
church where I now attend, Cupar Old Parish Church, had a Harvest
Thanksgiving service on October 3rd. It was a special service and I look
forward, God willing, to leading such a service in a church next year. I
have had people ask me about the special American tradition of Thanks-
giving. It is fun for me to share fond memories of Thanksgiving over the
years; they seem to sense my excitement about Thanksgiving. During
my first five years in Scotland I had great community Thanksgiving din-
ners with American students at the University of St. Andrews. Most of
us were connected with the theological college at the University, but we
invited friends who came from all over the world to be with us. Indeed,
those were special times.

Last Thursday, Thanksgiving Day in the USA, I was invited over for an
American Thanksgiving Day meal at the home of Harry and Fay. Harry
is a recently retired Church of Scotland minister who has been hired
by Cupar Old Parish Church to be a part-time assistant minister. Both
Harry and Fay are from Northern Ireland where they were active in
the Methodist Church there. The short story is that Harry, Fay, and
their two sons were moved to Scotland. Harry sensed a call to ministry
in the Church of Scotland, and he served as minister in three parishes
since the mid-1990s. Last year, just after Harry had retired, he and Fay
spent three months in Portland, Oregon, with their son, his American
wife, and two children (Harry and Fay's grandchildren). There they
learned about the American Thanksgiving meal and took a lot of notes
and gathered a lot of recipes, with a stress on the latter. Fay and Harry's
son is a chef. He must have picked it up from his dad, because Harry, as
I had the great pleasure of experiencing, is an excellent chef himself.

David and Joan were also invited to the American Thanksgiving dinner.
They are an amazing couple who have been a great support to me over
the last two years I've been in Cupar. They both grew up just south of
Cupar, got married, lived in East Africa for a time, and then returned to
the area when their three boys were in their teens. David and Joan are
two of the friendliest people I have ever met. They are great at welcom-
ing people to church and greeting visitors. David and Joan also have a
heart for older children and teens. While Fay kept Joan, David, and me
entertained in the sitting room, Harry was doing his chef thing in the
kitchen. And, boy, did he do his chef thing. We started out with a sweet
potato soup before going to the main course of turkey, dressing, pota-
toes, and a variety of vegetables fixed in different ways. It was so deli-
cious; excellence in fine cuisine! It was a great American Thanksgiving
meal with great friends from Northern Ireland and Scotland.

After Christmas Pudding (a more English dessert) we sat and talked
for more than four hours. We shared about ourselves and heard and
told stories about experiences in Africa, Scotland, Northern Ireland,
and on ships at sea. It was a great way to get to know one another bet-
ter. What a delightful afternoon and evening of food, fellowship, and
fun! For me it was a great way to celebrate an American Thanksgiving,
and it meant a lot to me. David and Joan gave me a ride home. As we
passed through town we saw that the civic Christmas decorations were
up and the Christmas lights lit. It is now officially the Christmas season.
Last Sunday was the First Sunday of Advent. Attendance at Cupar Old
Parish Church was low because Cupar, like much of Scotland, was bat-
tered by heavy snowfall. A lot more is expected later in the week.

Remember, Jesus is the reason for the season!

Blessings to you and yours,

Sozo and SOLAS

For a number of years now, I have had two key interests: Christian heal-
ing and the renewal of Christ's Church. Those two interests have only in-
tensified in me as I have been in Scotland, especially the last two years
as I have committed myself to ministering here longterm. Last Saturday
I had an opportunity to develop those two interests in the reality of liv-
ing in Scotland. It made for a long but rewarding day.

Saturday morning I went to a training session put on by the leaders of
the Healing Room ministry in Cupar that I am a part of. Our small group
of eight people has been offering prayer to persons in the town of Cupar
since early in the year. We meet every Thursday at 6:30 pm for prayer
and praise. From 7:30 until 9:00 we break up into twos and threes and
pray for people who come into the YMCA. We have been averaging two
people a night coming into Healing Rooms for prayer. I have witnessed
people's lives being changed and healed over time.

Saturday the team members and several people interested in healing
gathered to listen to the first DVD of a program called Sozo. The pro-
gram comes from the healing ministry of a church in Northern California.
There are four training DVDs, and we heard the first one on receiving
God's forgiveness and forgiving others. The Greek word sozo means to
save, deliver, heal, and preserve. That's our aim every Thursday night
as a group of us gather for our weekly Healing Room. For over ten years
now I have yearned that healing in all dimensions would be a vital part
of my pastoral ministry in a local congregation. So the training on Satur-
day and, indeed, the past year has been a wonderful time for me to devel-
op in healing ministry.

Then in the afternoon I went to a conference co-sponsored by Ravi Zach-
arias International Ministries and a group called SOLAS. The conference
focused on Jesus bringing light and life to all people in Scotland. I have
always admired the evangelistic and apologetic ministry of Ravi Zacha-
rias and his large international team. What Francis Schaeffer was for
generations of Christians emerging in the 1970s and 80s, Ravi is for the
younger Christians coming of age in a whole different world. I had ex-
pected that only 50 people would turn up, but there were over 600
people in attendance. SOLAS, a Scottish ministry, was the main spon-
sor of the conference. Solas is a Gaelic word meaning light and the min-
istry seeks to be light in the darkness by promoting the proclamation of
the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Scotland, the United Kingdom, and Europe.
SOLAS emphasizes that the Cross of Jesus Christ is central to the procla-
mation of the Gospel. I left the conference with a renewed focus on what
God did through Christ on the Cross and with a bigger view of what God
is doing here in Scotland, the UK, and Europe.

The singing at the conference was out of this world. People really sang
from their hearts. The conference ended with In Christ alone my hope
is found, one of my favorite songs. I end this posting with the first stanza:

In Christ alone my hope is found,
he is my light, my strength , my song;
this cornerstone, this solid ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all,
here in the love of Christ I stand.

Blessings to you and yours,

The BBC and Me

Ever since I made the decision just over two years ago to remain perma-
nently in Scotland, I have endeavored to learn more about Britain in
general and Scotland in particular. I find that I and many Americans
have been confused about what Great Britain, the United Kingdom,
Scotland, and England refer to. The concept of Great Britain is com-
plex and fascinating. Essentially it is made up of three countries: Scot-
land, England, and Wales. There are also some islands that are consid-
ered part of Great Britain. I have found that we Americans often use
'England' when we really need to use 'Great Britain'. People in Scotland
and Wales tend to view England as domineering in the relationship. The
former have taken the initial steps to disconnecting from England, thus
ending Great Britain. But that is for the future. However, never refer to
a person from Scotland or Wales as English! The United Kingdom refers
to Great Britain (Scotland, England and Wales) plus Northern Ireland.
But enough of that!

The BBC (the British Broadcasting Corporation) has helped me to get to
know more about this great land. I try to listen to an hour of BBC news
podcasts each day. By downloading the news onto my iPod I can listen
to the news as I walk, do errands, or cook my meals. I learn a lot about
the British people by listening to the news podcasts. The BBC is also
world renowned for its global newscasts. I do appreciate BBC news, but
I do find the BBC's left-of-center slant a bit much at times, especially
when it comes to their coverage of US politics and foreign affairs. I lis-
ten to podcasts of conservative talk show hosts Michael Medved and
Hugh Hewitt in the US for a different perspective. But I really appre-
ciate hearing these contrasting points of view.

Early last year I stumbled across the BBC's i-Player which allows view-
ers to watch shows online seven days after they were presented on TV.
I had wanted to watch a series on the history of Scotland, but I was un-
ble to watch its scheduled airings. Somehow I found out that I was able
to watch it at any time during the next seven days on the i-Player. It
was brilliant! For over a year now I have scanned the schedule looking
for programs on British history and culture, focusing on Scotland. I
watched series on the history of Scotland, the history of Britain in the
20th century, and the contributions of the people of Scotland to the
world. I've watched shows on favorite drives by car, trips by train, and
hikes on foot throughout the beautful land of Britain. I have especially
enjoyed a series called 'Coast' which explores different portions of the
coast of Britain. This year there have been programs on the Battle of
Britain and the evacuation of Dunkirk because it is the 70th anniver-
sary of both of those significant events during the Second World War.
This past week I have watched shows about the First World War, cli-
maxing in Remembrance Sunday.

There is a rich history here in Britain, the land is beautiful, and the Brit-
ish people are a great people. I have really enjoyed getting to know this
great land and its people.

Blessings to you and yours,

We Will Remember Them!-Remembrance Day 2010

During the last two weeks or so, people all across Britain have been wear-
ing an artificial poppy in remembrance of those who died in Britain's wars
since the First World War. Members of the Royal British Legion offered
the bright red poppy as they collected funds for helping British war vet-
erans. The poppy only flowers in soil that has been disturbed and over-
turned. Death and devastation were all that soldiers in Flanders saw
from their muddy trenches during the horrendous fighting of the First
World War. The soldiers themselves were the only living things. But at
the first hint of warmer weather, the poppy sprang up! It became a sign
of hope and life amidst all the destruction and carnage of war. Last week
it seemed everybody I saw was wearing a bright red poppy.

In 1918, at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month,
four years of carnage and bloodshed of what we now refer to as the First
World War came to an end. Ever since that first Armistice Day, the hour,
the day, and the month have become a special time to remember those
killed during the First World War. After the Second World War, Novem-
ber 11 became Remembrance Day in Britain and Canada. It was a day to
remember all those who were killed during the two World Wars and other
conflicts. In the USA, it has become known as Veterans Day when all mil-
itary veterans are recognized.

Last Thursday, November 11, I was in St. Andrews to visit a good friend
who is minister at one of the churches there. He also served as a chap-
lain with the Royal Marines, a military group that is very similar to the
US Special Forces. Around 11 my friend led a short Service of Remem-
brance in the church garden. Right at 11:00 there were two minutes of
silence, followed by his playing the bagpipes. Then he recited the fourth
stanza of the poem 'For the Fallen' by Laurence Binyon:

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Today is Remembrance Sunday, the Sunday closest to November 11.
This morning, there were Remembrance services at war memorials
and churches throughout Britain. I attended one at the War Memorial
here in Cupar at 10:30 this morning. A good sized crowd gathered de-
spite the cold rain. Cupar, like most communities in Britain, was devas-
tated by the loss of sons and daughters in the two World Wars, especi-
ally the First World War. Each town and village has a war memorial with
marble tablets engraved with the names of the fallen. The lists for those
killed in the First World War are usually much longer than those for the
Second.

Military cadets from the schools around Cupar stood in formation before
the war memorial. We sang 'The Lord's My Shepherd'. Then Scripture
was read by two of the four ministers in town. A bugler played the'Last
Post' to introduce the two minute silence. The silence was broken by
another bugler playing 'Reveille'. A minister then led us in a time of prayer
before a veteran recited the poem 'For the Fallen'. Wreaths were laid be-
side the memorial by families, clubs, and societies. The service ended with
everybody singing 'God Save Our Gracious Queen!' It was a very moving
service for me and many others. We do remember them!

At 11:30 I attended another Remembrance Service at Cupar Old Parish
Church where I served as assistant minister last year. Again there were
two minutes of silence followed by the poem 'For the Fallen'. Wreaths
were placed at the marble tablet of names of church members who were
killed in both World Wars. The list of names was much longer for the First
than for the Second. The service again ended with the singing of the na-
tional anthem, 'God Save Our Gracious Queen!'

Today is the eighth Remembrance Sunday in which I have participated.
I am struck by how much Remembrance Day and Remembrance Sunday
are woven into the very fabric of the British soul. Several British Chris-
tians I have talked to are concerned about what they consider the unholy
alliance between the British military and the Church. They fear that the
Church is being used to justify British involvment in Iraq and Afghan-
istan. At this point in time, I do not desire to state my position. I am
aware of how American I am and how I must listen more and speak less.
I have been seeking opportunities to learn more about the First World
War. All this week I have been watching BBC programs on the Great War.
It was horrendous. So, I have been wearing my poppy and participating
in events of remembrance. We will remember them!

Blessings to you and yours,

The Thesis Is In! Now Back to Blogging!

I resubmitted my thesis Wednesday afternoon, 3 November, the day
after the important midterm elections in the USA. The past three years
have been extremely challenging for me regarding the thesis, but it has
been a remarkable period of time for me. I'm grateful to the Lord for
being present with me during this time and providing for me in every
way. The thesis proved to be far more work than I had planned on, but
that was my decision. I was committed to completing what the Lord
had called me to do at the University of St. Andrews. I finished strong
and I finished well. Thank you so much for your prayers and encour-
agement.

Now I turn from the thesis to the search for a pastoral position. Again
I ask for you prayers and support. I put the church search on hold for
the past six months so that I could focus on the thesis. But now that
the thesis is resubmitted, I am focusing on church vacancies. I intend
to be as focused on finding a ministry position as I had been for the
thesis. I covet your prayers on my behalf. I am eager to get back into
fulltime pastoral ministry again! I have really missed it. I enjoyed my
twelve months at Cupar Old Parish Church as assistant minister, but
I desire to move on to the next stage in my ministry.

I was also very pleased with the results of the recent midterm elections
in the US. I was able to follow the run up to the elections and the results
of the elections online. It would have been extra special if strong incum-
bent Democrat US Senators in California, Nevada, and Washington had
been voted out of office. But it was not to be. California voters even with-
stood the Republican surge by voting in a Democrat for governor, thus
setting the stage for what many foresee will be a financial disaster. It is
hard to believe. But life goes on. Onward and upward.

Blessings to you and yours,

Signing Off for a Season

For several weeks now I have been jacking up my thesis writing so that
I can submit as quickly as possible. My goal is to have it completed and
submitted before I am installed in a ministerial position. I could, if I
wanted to, complete the thesis soon. But I am enjoying working through
some tough issues regarding the Church's mission, and I won't have an
opportunity like this again. So, I keep plodding along. I am grateful to
the Lord for the time with my thesis that has been granted to me by the
university. I sense that the time for a church ministry placement is near.
I am conversing with one vacancy now. If that one is not the place I go,
I expect that a call from some parish position is in the nearer future
rather than later in the year.

But I am not certain of anything. Over the decades of walking with
Jesus I have learned that God is a God of Great Surprizes. There have
been times I feel very well taken care of, and so I continue to rest in
God's loving hands. There have been times that I have felt like I was
close to sheer panic. In those situations I take a deep breath, remem-
ber all that the Lord has done for us and for me, and move on in the
hope that only Jesus can provide all that I need. The last three years
have been very challenging and difficult for me, yet now that I look
back, they were pure gold, and I wouldn't trade those hard years for
anything else.

But right now I have to focus like a laser beam on two things: my thesis
and a church placement. So I am signing off from the blog for a length
of time that is yet to be determined. I may post something occasionally,
but I may not. Just know that I am doing very well, and I look forward
to posting again at a later date.

As always, blessings to you and yours,

I Don't Care for ObamaCare

It has been over a year now that I have been following closely the health-
care debate in US politics. I have become a news junkie of sorts. The
BBC, Hugh Hewitt, Albert Mohler, and Michael Medved are the main pod-
casts that I listen to daily. So while I walk, cook a meal, wash my dishes,
and take a break, I can listen to podcasts. I listen to the BBC's Global
News and Newspod religiously every week day. But I have come to value
the different perspectives of the other three programs. I do appreciate
the BBC, but Hewitt, Mohler, and Medved - three distinguished talk-
show hosts in the US - are breaths of fresh air to me. I'd go crazy if all I
had to listen to were the BBC and the major US media outlets.

Last Sunday I followed the healthcare debate in the House, but because
of the time difference most of the significant action took place while I was
asleep. Just before I went to bed, I read that Pro-Life Democrats were
close to making an agreement with President Obama to change their no
votes to yes votes. While I was asleep, the President issued an executive
order that federal funding would not be used for abortions. Even though
an executive order is not legally binding, the Pro-Life Democrats changed
their no votes to yes votes, and the Healthcare bill passed the House by a
very narrow margin. I foresee that the executive order will not stop fed-
eral funding from being used for abortions.

I was deeply distressed. I am also deeply disturbed by the shady back-
room deals, the wheeling and dealing behind closed doors, the payoffs,
and the legislative gymnastics. I was deeply disturbed that the bill was
rammed through the House without scrutiny or study and against over-
whelming opposition. No Republicans voted for the bill, not because it
came from Speaker Pelosi or President Obama, but because it was a
monstrosity and disaster that puts our nation in economic peril.

I want to see serious healthcare reform, but I cannot see how this bill will
help. Even though the President vows the bill will reduce the debt, I fear
it will increase the debt and bankrupt the nation. Even though President
Obama claims the bill will add jobs, I fear it will not address the critical is-
sue of unemployment. The Democrats foresee that the bill will help small
business owners, but small business owners expect that there will be soar-
ing costs and higher taxes. The President claims that insurance premiums
will go down, but the best authorities on the matter expect the premiums
to rise sharply. The Dems promise that the quality of healthcare will go up,
but almost everybody else foresees it getting worse.

But most of all it was the vanity and arrogance of the President, the
Speaker, and other Democrats that shocked me. The Democrats were
so obsessed and fixated on universal healthcare coverage that they did
nothing about the critical issues of national security, the national debt,
high unemployment, and rising taxes. They wanted to etch their names
into the history books, and showed complete disregard for what the ma-
jority of the American people wanted. Never have I seen so much oppo-
sition to a political venture. The President, the Speaker, and the Congress
have acted in a wreckless way that has put the nation in economic peril.
I am still in shock of what the Obama administration and the Congress
have done and the manner in which the legislation was jammed through
the process. I shake my head in utter disbelief.

But despite all these horrors, God still reigns!
Peace and blessings to you and yours,

How Jeff Is Trying to Get His Preaching Groove Back

One serious challenge I faced when I came to Cupar Old Parish Church
in November, 2008, was my preaching. I have always loved to preach
and have sought every opportunity to do so. I have experienced so
much joy in preaching from the Bible about Jesus. When I was in Bos-
ton from 1981 to 1998, I had plenty of opportunities to preach, both in
English as well as in Spanish. The preparation and the delivery of ser-
mons gave me much pleasure. The highpoint was in 2002-2003 when
I pastored two great churches in South Dakota. I got to lead worship
and preach twice every Sunday for one short year.


But upon arriving in St. Andrews, Scotland, in 2003, and for the follow-
ing five years I was at the University, I did not receive any opportuni-
ties to preach. I was very involved in different ministries at the local
church I attended, but there were no invitations to preach. That was
the case until I arrived at the Parish Church at the end of 2008. After
preparing and delivering my first sermon at the church soon after I ar-
rived, I realized just how rusty I was after five years of not preaching.
Since then I've preached over twenty times. I have cut down on my
preparation time and have grown more confident in my delivery. I de-
sire to get back into preaching on a weekly basis, hopefully in the very
near future.


I have wondered if my heart valve replacement surgery in late 2006
had injured some of my mental functions I draw upon in preaching. I
have sensed some recovery of these functions, but it seems slow. After
listening to recordings of my preaching, I asked the Church of Scotland
for a voice coach. I twice met with a coach who provided me with great
feedback. I have also been listening to other preachers, preparing prac-
tice sermons, and actually preaching out loud up in my room. Ziggy the
house cat has been a frequent visiter when I practice my sermons, but
has a tendency of yawning and falling asleep as I get into the first point
of my sermon. He often gets up, stretches, and walks out before I get to
my sermon conclusion.

Since I am no longer on ministry staff at Cupar Old, I don't have oppor-
tunities to preach. I have put my name forward to the Presbytery to do
pulpit supply, but have not yet been called upon. But I still take time
each day to work on some part of preparing and delivering a sermon. I
am starting to feel again a fire in my bones to preach. I'm slowly getting
my preaching groove back again!


Blessings to you and yours,

In the Wilderness

Christian musician Michael Card is one of my favorite singer/songwrit-
ers because he gives rich musical expression to profound biblical truth.
His song 'In the Wilderness' has been a constant refrain in my heart
for the past twenty-one months of my journey in life. The words pow-
erfully convey in a way I cannot what is going on in my heart at this
time of my life.

'In the Wilderness,' composed and sung by Michael Card

Chorus:
In the wilderness, in the wilderness/
He calls his sons and daughters to the wilderness/
And he gives grace sufficient to survive any test/
And that's the themeful purpose of the wilderness.

In the wilderness we wander, in the wilderness we weep/
The wasteland of our wanting where the darkness seems so deep/
We search for the beginning, for an exodus to hold/
We find that those who follow him must often walk alone.

Chorus

In the wilderness we're wandering for a way to understand/
In the wilderness there's not a way, for the way to become a man/
And become the exodus, the way to holy ground/
But wandering in the wilderness, is the best way to be found.

Chorus

Groaning and growing amidst the desert days/
the windy winter wilderness can blow the self away.

Chorus

And that's the themeful promise of the wilderness.

The past twenty-one months have been especially challenging for me,
but I have learned so much about myself and about God. In the wilder-
ness I have been shaped, and continue to be shaped, for my next step
in life. I sense that is coming very soon. And as Michael Card sings in
another song of his, there is joy in the journey.

Blessings to you and yours,

Jesus, Alive and at Work in Margaret

Margaret is the primary caregiver for Ziggy the Cat, and the person
who offered me lodging in her home when I first came to Cupar in No-
vember of 2008. She is an active member of Cupar Old Parish Church
where I served as assistant minister last year. I have enjoyed having
her as a friend and watching her grow in leaps and bounds as a follower
of Jesus Christ. Recently Margaret has been encouraging me as I face
the challenges of discerning God's next step for me. Since I arrived
here in Scotland in late 2003, the Lord has blessed me with wonderful
friends, one of whom is Margaret. Ziggy, her cat, also has a special place
in my heart.

Margaret was born in one of the small mining villages outside Kirkcal-
dy, a large town on the east coast of Scotland. The wee village is not too
far away from Cupar where she has lived for most of her adult life. She
takes great delight in reverting back to the Scottish dialect of her youth
and throwing me for a loop. Margaret chuckles when I confess I have no
idea of what she is saying. She has been a tremendous resource for me
getting to know my way around Cupar, understanding the strange cus-
toms of some people, and finding just the right word to use at funerals.
I often go to her when I encounter words and phrases I don't under-
stand.

Margaret has worked hard all her life doing cleaning and caregiving.
Until last week one of her jobs was cleaning the church. Over the
years she has rented out a room to students doing short term studies
at a nearby vocational college in town. This helped her earn a little ex-
tra income. I have been tremendously blessed by the accommodation
she has provided for me the last 15 months that I have been here in
Cupar. The rent is very reasonable, I have everything I need, and I
have full use of the kitchen to do my own cooking. Margaret and I get
along very well and are sensitive to allowing each other our own space.

Margaret's husband died of a heart attack fifteen years ago. She is well
taken care of by her two sons and one daughter, all of whom live here in
Cupar. Her daughter just presented Margaret with her first grandchild
five weeks ago, giving Margaret great joy in her life. She had been wait-
ing a long, long time to be a grandmother. Now she is! Margaret has
been blessed with a great family and a nice home.

Margaret has told me, and her friends have confirmed it, that she was
very depressed four or five years ago. But several years ago she met
Jesus at an Alpha course at the church, and Jesus has been giving her
new life ever since. Now her face and her life reflect that new life that
only Jesus can give.

I often see Margaret studying her Bible. When she sees me she likes to
ask me questions about what she's reading or share with me something
God has been teaching her. I see by her countenance and actions that
Jesus is mightily at work in her. She is hungry for Bible study and Chris-
tian fellowship. Thus she goes to two and sometimes three different
house groups over a two week period. She is always helping out at dif-
ferent church events. Just over a year ago Margaret started a social
group in the church for women from the church and the community who
were on their own. Several months ago she started a weekly coffee time
for people who are the primary caregivers for family members.

Earlier this year the church announced the position of host or host-
ess for the church center. A person was sought who would represent
the church to the many people from the area who use the church cen-
ter. I and many other people thought Margaret was just the right per-
son for the position and encouraged her to apply for it. She went back
and forth about whether to apply or not, but finally did. There were
five or six other applicants, and she did not think she would get it. But
two weeks ago Margaret was chosen for the position! She is just the per-
son for the position: she loves meeting people and making them feel at
home. Yesterday was her first day and she came back all fired up about
the new position. She sees it as a ministry to the people of the commun-
ity. I am so excited for her. Because God has so richly blessed her, she
will be a blessing to so many people.

Blessings and all the best to you and yours,

At home in Cupar with Ziggy the Cat

Ziggy is the house cat and Margaret the landlord of the house in which
I live in Cupar. Cupar is a town of 8000 people in the Kingdom of Fife,
Scotland. For nearly 16 months I have enjoyed getting to know the peo-
ple of this ancient Scottish town and exploring its streets and byways.
Over the winter I've seen more snow than usual fall on the streets of
Cupar and the surrounding hills.

I have enjoyed getting to know Ziggy the cat, who also lists the place
where I live as his residence. I could say that Ziggy is a ferocious guard
cat, but his gentle and friendly nature would never allow for that in any
way. It has been quite an adventure sharing living space with Ziggy,
about whom I have written in one or two previous blog postings. He has
made a mighty effort to train me to respond to his every request. In
this endeavor, Ziggy has been quite successful.

Ziggy has figured out that Margaret, in her room down the hall, will
not open her door for Ziggy when he paws and scratches her door at
5AM. That's because Margaret is smart and knows her cat. She takes
out her hearing aids when she goes to sleep so she won't hear Ziggy de-
manding her immediate attention. But Jeff, on the other hand, is not
smart like Margaret. Because he is usually up fairly early, is tender
hearted, has been well-trained by the cat, and still has his hearing left,
Ziggy knows that the human will respond immediately when summoned
by his meowing and scratching at the human's bedroom door.

Last summer Ziggy spent a lot of time outside, often until early in the
morning. In the spring, he would be let out around 8PM and stay out
all night. At daylight Ziggy would camp out at the kitchen window,
waiting for me to come down from my room around 6:15AM. Then he
would get my attention and head to the back door to be let in.

But the winter is a different story. Ziggy still wants out around 8PM,
but doesn't stay out the whole night because it is so cold outside!
Trouble is, he wants in when Margaret has gone to sleep and I am up in
my room. No one is in the kitchen to see him and let him in.

Poor, poor Ziggy.

But Ziggy has figured out that he can get up on the roof of a nearby ga-
rage and then jump some ten feet or so to the ledge outside my bed-
room window. It may be late at night and I'm still at my desk, or early
in the morning when I'm asleep, I'll hear a thud at my window followed
by a pathetic little meow. I open the curtains and see Ziggy hugging the
narrow ledge, staring at me, wanting to be let in. I am astonished by his
nerve at the demands he puts on me, but I marvel at his amazing leaping
ability.

During the daytime, Ziggy often takes long naps on my bed as I work
at the desk in my room. Or he settles down on my desk and paws at my
different notes and papers. He's fascinated by such things as paper clips,
iPod earphones, and blue pens. If Ziggy wants some personal attention,
he plops himself down on the keyboard of my laptop and challenges me
to continue working. Almost all the time, he wins. I am such a wimp! In
situations like that we stare each other down, and then give each other
an affectionate little headbutt. Such is life with Ziggy the cat.

Blessings to you and yours,

Another Closed Door

On Monday aftenoon, yesterday, I got the news that a church I had ap-
plied to last week had just called a new minister. The candidate was in-
vited to preach last Sunday, and then was called by the congregation in
an election after the service. In the Church of Scotland, he or she -the
candidate- is referred to as the 'sole nominee.' If he or she is elected,
the candidate is said to be 'successful.' I really desire to be a success-
ful sole nominee, but all the doors I have tried have been closed to me.

Late in 2009, I sensed that the Lord was calling me to be willing to
serve in any linked parish with two or more congregations way up
north in Scotland. I had heard that churches were having difficulties
attracting ministers to come way up there to pastor churches. I identi-
fied five parishes with vacancies. One had been vacant for seven years
and another for ten years. I made contact with the five. I was not a
good match for two of them; one was not yet seeking a permanent min-
ister; and the other two had just called successful sole nominees. The
vacancy that had been vacant for ten years was one of the two that
had just called a minister. All the doors were closed up north.

So I started looking for vacancies elsewhere, and soon found myself
looking for vacancies in urban Glasgow. I was attracted to one partic-
ular church that expressed a love for Jesus, expected biblically-based
preaching, and was reaching out to the people around them. It was
the type of church that I wanted to serve. I went over to Glasgow to
visit the church and check things out. I was excited about the people
there and submitted my application last week. So it was a real downer
to receive the news that a sole nominee had been successful there last
Sunday. I was happy for them, but felt a bit disappointed.

But just last night I read about another church in Glasgow that might
be a good match for me. They, too, love Jesus, seek biblically-based
preaching, and are reaching out to the people around them. Plus there
are several other things about them that attract my attention. They
will be accepting applications until March 29, and then make a decision.

Ever since early January when I began to seriously look for pastoral
positions I have been learning a lot about God, about trusting God,
and about my own calling as a pastor. I am being reminded daily about
what it means to trust God. Friends here in the area have been encour-
aging me that there will be closed doors, but God has just the right place
for me. Those are good words. Meanwhile I am reminded that whether
I am in a pastoral position or waiting for a call, I am to trust and obey.

As always, I ask for your prayers.

Blessings to you and yours,

24-7 Prayer: Prayer, Mission, and Justice

Last Saturday, February 6, I again travelled down to Edinburgh to join
750 other Christians at an Alpha Scotland Vision Day. The theme for
the day was 'Let's Make Jesus the Talk of Scotland.' It was a long and
busy day, but one that both refreshed me and excited me. A growing
number of churches here in Scotland have been using the Alpha course
to introduce the claims of Jesus Christ in a friendly manner. I have wit-
nessed how meeting Jesus in the course has changed lives, families, and
churches.

There were seminar tracks for those who lead Alpha courses, for those
who wanted a basic understanding of Alpha, and for people who wanted
to know about Alpha courses on family life. But I signed up for the track
on 24-7 Prayer. There are churches and ministries that have someone
praying every hour of a day, everyday for some period of time. Some
churches do this over a weekend or for three or four days, and others
do this for a week, a month, or some longer period of time. Several cen-
turies ago the Moravians practiced 24-7 prayer for 100 years! It seems
to be bringing new life to people, and revival to God's people here in Scot-
land.

I am increasingly aware of a mighty move of God coming upon the
Church in Scotland. There are more and more churches joining the
24-7 prayer movement. I have also come across Pray for Scotland
that is calling Christians to pray for the nation every day at 12 noon.
There are other ministries arising that are calling God's people to
prayer. I like the key words of the 24-7 prayer movement: Prayer,
Mission, and Justice. Prayer is not an end in itself, nor is it a private
affair. Rather it propels God's people out in mission and action for jus-
tice in the Name of Jesus.

Back in the mid-1990s I experienced mighty things happening at the
daily early morning prayers at New Covenant Christian Center in Bos-
ton. Over 100 believers from different churches in the city gathered
at New Covenant for 5 am and 6 am prayer sessions. The main topic
of prayer was racial reconciliation. And now I hear exciting things are
happening at Northlake Baptist Church in my hometown of Longview,
WA, where a large number of believers from different churches have
been meeting early in the morning every day for the past three years.
Now that is exciting! Many of us here in Scotland are starting to sense
that the Spirit has been doing amazing things here, too. I feel privileged
to be here to experience it.

There should be material on 24-7 Prayer in your nation on the web. The
same is true regarding Alpha. I also recommend Pete Grieg's Red Moon
Rising and Punk Monk.

Blessings to you and yours,

Two Afternoons at the Movies

I really enjoy going down to Edinburgh! It is not often that I get down
there, but when I do have an opportunity, I go by bus. It takes 90 min-
utes to go from Cupar to Edinburgh. The bus is much cheaper than the
train, is not as crowded as the train, and allows me the precious oppor-
tunity to chill out. I know right where the seats with extra leg room are,
and they are usually vacant, but not always. However, that is ok. In
many bus trips to Edinburgh I rarely have had a person in the seat next
to me. On the bus I can leave the driving to the driver and enjoy the
Scottish scenery passing by, or read, or listen to my iPod, or nap, or do
nothing!

I was down in Edinburgh for two meetings on two separate days last
week. I decided that each day I would go to my meeting and then
treat myself to a movie and a good meal. One of my favorite places in
Edinburgh is the FilmHouse,with its excellent selection of films from
around the world. The cafe serves homemade meals at a very reason-
able price. I have often lingered in the cafe after watching a film, sip-
ping on a hot chocolate and writing my reflections in my journal. I had
a lot to ponder last week after seeing The Road, a newly released film
about the travels of a father and his young son through a post-apoca-
lyptic America. It is a disturbing film that is both horrifying and beau-
tiful at the same time. Survival is a daily struggle for the pair. It is a
film that will stay with me for a long time to come.

On the other day last week I went to another cinema to see The Book
of Eli, a film that is also set in post-apocalyptic America. I had read
about both this film and The Road, and was interested in them. Plus
both films were showing at matinee prices. I try to see films at reduced
prices if I am able. I often consult Rotten Tomatoes online to read re-
views of movies that interest me. It is a resource that I have found
very useful in discerning which movies I see. Despite the negative re-
views of The Book of Eli and its poor ratings among movie reviewers,
I went to see it anyway. I figured that if so many reviewers trashed it,
it must be good. And it was.

Denzil Washington excels in the role of Eli, a man called by God to guard
the last Bible on earth. He protects it through a 30-year journey over a
violent and bleak post-apocalyptic landscape. All kinds of bad guys
threaten to keep Eli from fulfilling his God-appointed mission, but they
all meet their death in all kinds of wildly-creative ways. The violence was
a bit much for me, but I hung in there. What I especially appreciated was
an underlying Christian message that gradually seeped onto the surface
of the film. The ending was ingenious and intriquing, one that I will pon-
der for a long time to come. The movie definitely had its faults, but it did
not deserve the bashing that so many critics gave it.

I thought a lot about The Book of Eli after I left the cinema. I had some
time before I caught my bus to Cupar, so I sought out a place to eat. I
don't go there often, but I always enjoy going to the golden arches, to
MacDonalds. I am certain that many of you do not know that it is a fine
Scottish eating establishment that has spread all over the world, and is
especially strong in North America. Every so often, a Big Mac and gold-
en fries make my day!

Blessings to you and yours,

Healing in the Streets

A week ago at this time I was winding up a three-day conference put on
by a ministry called 'Healing in the Streets.' A ministry team from the
Causeway Coast Vineyard in Northern Ireland came to Edinburgh, Scot-
land, to conduct training for the program that emerged out of their
church. The team has done similar conferences throughout Britain, Ire-
land, Europe, and North America. The conference focuses on taking the
healing gifts of Jesus out of the church and to people outside the church
building. The conference was thus called 'The Church Has Left the Build-
ing.'

I really learned a lot at the conference and enjoyed it immensely. It was
also a special time of refreshment for me. I do have a special interest in
both physical and inner healing. I have been part of a team of people
from several churches in the area who started a 'Healing Room' ministry
three weeks ago. I was encouraged to attend this conference to get fur-
ther training in the ministry of healing from a slightly different, yet com-
plementary, perspective.

But I especially appreciated the seminars geared to church leaders for
equipping churches for ministry to the poor and needy of the commun-
ity. Thus the reason for calling the conference 'The Church Has Left the
Building.' I benefitted from seminars on 'Embracing the Value of Graci-
ous Hospitality,' 'Building an Outward Focused Church,' and 'Tackling
Poverty on Our Doorstep.' The conference stretched me and challenged
me to pray, think. and act outside the box. I am serious about reflecting
critically on the mission of the Church, and the conference contributed
greatly to my thinking about the Church's mission. It shaped me in ways
I probably will not realize for some time to come. I continue to mull over
what I saw, heard, and picked up at the conference.

Over and out for now. Blessings to you and yours,

A Slice of My Life

I am rushed for time, so this will be short. I leave for Edinburgh soon
for 'The Church Has Left the Building' conference. It will start tonight
and run through Saturday evening. It is sponsored by a Vineyard church
in Northern Ireland. The conference enables the participants to explore
ways that believers can take more seriously the reality of the Kingdom
of God and to reach out in mission to people around us, especially the
poor and the sick. It should be quite a challenging time for me and I ex-
pect to be stretched to the limit.

Last Thursday a small group of us from various local churches put on the
first Healing Room ministry time here in Cupar. For the past four months
we had been meeting together for prayer every Thursday and receiving
teaching at workshops. Despite it being our first time doing this, and de-
spite the snow and ice on the ground, one person came by. We will be
meeting every Thursday evening for two hours. I have been committed
to healing ministry for over ten years now, and I was grateful to be able
to express that area of ministry here in Scotland. One track available at
the conference I am going to in the next few days presents the 'Healing
in the Streets' ministry. I hope to be able to talk with other Christians
about the gift of healing and ministry of the local church.

I have been busy with many things: the thesis, searching for church
positions, and the essential tasks of daily life. As always, I covet your
prayers.

Blessings to you and yours,

In the Dark, Cold Mornings

Early mornings are quite challenging for me, especially when it is dark
and cold outside. Most mornings I am up by 6am. Often Ziggy the Cat
scratchs at my bedroom door and meows well before that. I quickly let
him in and either go back to sleep until my alarm goes off, or I slowly be-
gin to enter into the new day.

As I ponder what I need do in the hours of the new day and in the com-
ing months ahead of me, I can become quite discouraged. I still do not
know what my next step will be. I also wonder whether I have it in me
to complete my thesis, and whether a church will call me to be their min-
ister. And in recent days my heart has been heavy for the people of Haiti.

In the fall of last year I was struck by Psalm 143:8, and I memorized it.
Now I find myself meditating on it throughout the day. It forms the foun-
dation of my prayers as I begin each new day. It has a gentle way of
calming my anxious heart and giving me a sense of direction, even
though the way is not clear.

Psalm 143:8 reads:

Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

I always seem to focus on God's steadfast love. It refers to Yahweh's
unrelenting, redeeming covenantal love, to God's love that will never
let go of us. I am struck that David lifts his heart up to God. It never
fails that when I reflect on God's steadfast love, my heart takes cour-
age.

As always, I ask for your prayers, and let us especially lift up to the
Lord the people of Haiti.

Blessings to you and yours,

Good Words from Proverbs

One biblical text that Mom did not underline was Proverbs 3:5-6. But
ever since I first took notice of it some time in the mid-1970s, it has al-
ways meant so much to me. It reads: Trust in the LORD with all your
heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways
acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths (ESV). I mem-
orized the passage way back then and it has been engraved onto my
heart ever since.

Through all these years these verses have been important to me, but
more so the last couple of weeks. There are times when I personalize
the verses so that I address the Lord: I trust You, O LORD, with all my
heart, and do not lean on my own understanding. In all my ways I ac-
knowledge You so that You will make straight my paths. I do confess
that there are many times when I don't trust or acknowledge God. By
meditating on this passage my heart starts to be re-aligned and put
back on course again.

There have even been a few precious times when I have heard in my
heart God addressing me, especially when I am feeling downcast about
the current situation: My dear Jeff, trust in me with all your heart, and
do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge
me; I will make straight your paths. That really blesses me and knocks
my socks off!

During the past month I have realized just how much I seek the glory of
my own name, the building up of my own kingdom, and the doing of my
own will. The Lord is hard at work corraling my wild and still unbroken
bronco heart. God has certainly gotten my attention and I can sense that
God's heart surgery is giving me new life in Jesus. I just wish it were a lot
easier than it has been!

Blessings to you and yours,

From My Mother's Bible

The snow that first fell the week before Christmas is still frozen on the
ground, and new layers of fresh snow are being added every day. Weath-
er forecasters expect the arctic freeze to remain in Britain into next
week. It is the most snow and the coldest temperatures here in over 20
years. I have not experienced anything like this in the six years I have
been in Scotland.

Ken, the minister of Cupar Old Parish Church (the church where I
served as assistant minister for twelve months last year), is on holiday
from December 28 until January 8. I was asked to provide ministerial
cover for him while he is away. As a result I made a funeral visit last
week, visited a stroke victim in the regional hospital a few days ago,
and led an Epiphany-themed service at morning worship on Sunday.
I will conduct a funeral on Wednesday and visit another person in the
regional hospital who is not doing well. I have enjoyed having the op-
portunity to be active in pastoral ministry once again. I have missed it.

Now that Christmas and New Year festivities have passed, I am resum-
ing my search of church vacancies for a ministerial position. I have iden-
tified three churches (two in Glasgow and one way up north in Wick)
that interest me. I am the most interested in the one in Wick and will be
enquirying there first.

Perhaps because of the recent Christmas season just ended, the length
of daytime darkness here in winter, and the challenging process of dis-
cerning where God would have me minister, I often feel I am on the
verge of discouragement. It seems to me that I have been taken out
of action since 2003 and told to wait for further orders. I'm tired of
waiting. I have been eager to get into action. But I feel I am being put
on hold repeatedly. So, I spend a lot of time in the Psalms.

I use my mother's Bible to read through the Psalms once every month
or two. I take a special interest in the verses of Psalms she highlighted
or the notes that she placed in the margins. One that she highlighted
has become special to me in the last few weeks. I have memorized it
and constantly reflect on it, especially when I sense panic is starting to
rear its ugly head in my heart.

Psalm 27: 14 (RSV) reads: 'Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your
heart take courage; yea, wait for the Lord!' That verse has become so
significant to me in the last few weeks, especially in calming me down
and seeing my life from God's perspective rather than my own. My
heart is uplifted as that verse is translated from my memory into my
life.

As always, I welcome your prayers as you remember me.

Blessings to you and yours,