Dateline: New Year's Eve

As I write this posting, the rapidly rising tide of darkness floods into the area I see outside my
windows. Christmas lights on houses still radiate energy and color that even the week after
Christmas cannot dispel. The world seems hushed and calm; it must be true that people are
getting ready to celebrate the coming of the New Year. I look forward to the year 2012 be-
cause it is the year I return to Scotland to be pastor of St. Fergus Parish Church. But I really
can't get excited about the New Year's celebrations that will commence in just a few hours.
By then I hope to be asleep in bed. At 4:20 am I will be setting up for early morning prayer
at 5 am.

I'm still savoring Christmas and all that it means. I can't get enough of Christmas. But this
year, the Christmas season has a companion. Hanukkah (some people spell it as Chanukah)
is an eight day Jewish festival. Because of the differences between the Jewish calendar and
the one commonly used in this era, Hanukkah, based on the former calendar, does not always
occur during Christmas time. This year it was observed from December 20th to the 28th. The
festival commemorates the time when, nearly 150 years before Christ's birth, the Maccabees
(a small band of faithful Jews) defeated the Greeks and their army (at that time, one of the might-
iest armies of the world), stymied Greek influence among the Jewish people, and reclaimed the
Jewish Temple in Jerusalem by cleansing it and rededicating it to God.

Hanukkah especially commemorates the miracle of the oil that took place when the Temple
was being rededicated. The Maccabees found only enough pure olive oil for the Temple can-
delabrum to last for one day. It truly was a miracle that the scant supply of oil lasted for eight
days until more consecrated oil could be found. Hanukkah has come to be known as a festi-
val of light because it celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and purity over adulterat-
ion. Purity and dedication of God's faithful people shed light into the darkness of the world.
That small band of Jewish people refused to compromise. They remained faithful to God and
committed themselves to being God's light in a dark and ungodly world.  

The story of Hanukkah is a great story, a Jewish story that Christians should be more aware
of. Although God plays a part in the miracle of the oil, the story is mainly about the actions of
a small group of courageous and faithful Jewish warriors over 2100 years ago. But my atten-
tion is focused on Christmas because it is about what God has done on our behalf in order to
save us from sin and death. God's Son, the second person of the Triune God, was made hu-
man and dwelt among us. Jesus is the true light who came into this world to give us life (John
1:9). He is the Word made flesh and born of Mary in Bethlehem. Behind the manger is the
cross upon which he was later crucified. Christ died at Calvary for our sins in accordance with
the Scriptures. Jesus was buried and raised on the third day, also in accordance with the Scrip-
tures. More than 500 people witnessed their Risen Lord and Savior (I Corinthians 15:1-8).

I like the story of Hanukkah, but it doesn't compare to the Christmas Story because the latter is
Jesus Christ's Story. Jesus' birth in a manger prepares us and sets us up for the Mystery of Faith
when we proclaim that Christ has died, Christ is Risen, and Christ will come again. I can never
get enough of the Gospel Story.

A blessed New Year to you and yours,

A Christmas Time to Savor and Remember

It is the day after Christmas, and I am laying back to enjoy the past week, the week leading
up to and including Christmas. The week was Jesus-focused and people-rich, and I feel satis-
fied and  content. I really couldn't ask for anything more. The week began with a wedding last
Saturday, December 17, in Astoria, Oregon. I caught a ride with dear friends to see the beauti-
ful daughter of a best friend of both of us marry her best friend and the love of her life (don't
worry, that's one guy, not two). After the wedding ceremony, the proud father of the bride
wowed the guests with a bold and energetic dance routine with his darling daughter. Great fun
was had by all!

Then I was able to lay low until Thursday when things started happening again. A small group
I've had the pleasure of being part of since I returned to Longview prepared a dinner for guests
at a shelter in town. About 13 of us prepared pancakes and sausages for about 110 people. We
were challenged by a stove that did not provide a consistent surface for cooking over 200 pan-
cakes and broiling enough sausages. But perseverance and ingenuity prevailed and we were
successful! I found out I haven't lost my talent for knowing when to flip good-looking pancakes.
Later that night I met with a guy with whom I've been meeting with every Thursday since April
to discuss the basics of the Christian life. It is the first Christmas in his lifetime that he recognizes
that Jesus is the reason for the season.

Since mid-March I have been attending morning prayer between 5 and 7 am at a Christian com-
munity center in town. I try to attend five or six days a week because it provides me with the
spiritual foundation for my time here. It has meant a lot to me, especially during the Christmas
season. So, that was where I was Thursday morning. That night some close friends took me to
a Mexican restaurant that we enjoy. Great food and great friends! A family friend with whom I
had lost contact saw me come into the restaurant and came and talked to me. I was saddened to
hear that her husband had passed away just the month before. But now I know where she lives
so that I can visit her. Later I was able to finish up and send off two emails to the church I'll be
pastoring in Scotland. The first was a short message to be read to the congregation at the Christ-
mas Eve service, and the other was to be read to them at the Sunday Christmas service. Next
Christmas I will actually be with them in person!

I woke up early on Christmas Eve to go to Morning Prayer, but felt sick as a dog. I had felt
something bad coming on the day before, but thought I could carry on. I thought about sleep-
ing in, but pulled on my clothes and went to Morning Prayer. I really struggled through Morn-
ing Prayer and crashed as soon as I got home. I slept for nearly four hours and came close to
canceling all that I had planned for later that day. When I first arrived at a Christmas Eve get-
together of a family that is very dear to me, I felt lousy and completely out of it. But the time
together eating, talking, and exchanging gifts really put some life back into me. I had such a
great time. I went back to my place and napped another two hours or so. I felt much better
when I went to my church's Christmas Eve candlelight service. I was a narrator for a dramatic
reading of the Christmas Story. I felt renewed and energized by again hearing the Christmas
Story.

I had been invited to two family gatherings after the service. Earlier in the day, I had thought
on passing up the opportunities because I was feeling sick and tired. But I felt good after the
service. I couldn't decide which one to go to, so I chose to go to both. And so I did. I enjoyed
talking with friends and munching on Christmas goodies. It made for a late night, but a very
enjoyable one at that. Despite the late night, somehow I was up for Christmas Day Morning
Prayer at 5 am. There was barely a handful of us there. After enjoying a quick nap, I was off
to a short Christmas service at church. Then in the afternoon I was invited to a Christmas Din-
ner at the home of dear friends and their extended family. It was such a delicious ham dinner
with a lot of great things to eat. I got to meet new people and talk with people I knew from be-
fore. But five-year old twin girls and their 10-month old sister were the center of attention. It
was just a great time on Christmas Day.

The last three Christmases in Scotland, and indeed, the last three years there, were very diffi-
cult for me. For the past several years I have felt squashed and battered, and the twelve-month
visa refusal only contributed to that state of affairs in my life. But the Lord has richly blessed
me by leading me here for this period of time.  I have enjoyed being with dear friends again
and being back at the church I grew up in. It has been good to be home for Christmas. I will
always treasure this time.

Continued Christmas blessings to you and yours,

George

Last Sunday morning, Keri (the seminarian intern at our church) and I led the congregation
through a Chrismon's service. We read Advent Scripture passages, led the congregation in
singing Advent hymns, and gave the congregation instructions on decorating the Christmas
tree with ornaments symbolizing Jesus Christ. I gave a message on the meaning of Christ's
coming that probably went longer than it should have. My general tendency is to preach long
sermons, especially during special times of the Church year. The season of Advent leading
up to Christmas is always a special time for me. It is festive, joyous, and expectant. So I may
have spoken longer than I usually do.

After the service I walked down the hall to the fellowship hall for coffee hour. The lineup for
the refreshment table was long, so I surveyed the room. I noticed one guy all alone at one end
of a table and two people sitting at the other end. He was eagerly working on a plate heaped
full of goodies. There were only a few people sitting down at tables, so he must have been one
of the first ones to get down to the hall for cookies, cheese, crackers, and sweets. He certainly
was not shy or bashful, and quickly made himself at home. As he ate from his plate he had a
big grin on his ace. It was that big grin, almost a silly grin, that I noticed as I surveyed the con-
gregation as I gave my message. He had been sitting towards the back of the left hand side of
the sanctuary. There wan't anybody around him. But he always had that big, silly grin on his
face. Now here he was at coffee hour, chomping away on his snacks, with that big grin on his
face.

I left the refreshment line and went and sat with him. I introduced myself and he told me that
his name was George. He looked to be in his forties, but I was not sure. Besides the ever-pres-
ent grin, there was a sparkle in his eyes. Then he took a big bite of a cookie and chewed quick-
ly as if he was in a hurry to say something. I got the impression he wanted to share something
big with me. So I waited. When he was good and ready he told me that in 1997 he had had
brain surgery so that he was not so violent. Then in a lighthearted way, he spent several min-
utes listing all his medical conditions, surgeries, broken bones, and treatments that he had ex-
perienced since 1986. George expressed a deep sense of accomplishment for everything that
he had undergone. He seemed happy and content in his own little world. When we got up from
the table I noticed that everyone had left except for the those cleaning up. George had been giv-
en a bag full of goodies to take home with him. He seemed to be a happy camper.

It says a lot about our congregation that George felt comfortable enough to stay through the
service and come to fellowship time. He picked up on God's hospitality that characterizes our
congregation. I think that many congregations struggle with how to work that out in their life
and mission. I have always struggled with how a congregation can be hospitable to people
who inhabit the margins of society. I often feel helpless, not knowing how to relate to people
who live out on the street and are homeless. I wondered whether the Holy Spirit had spoken to
George through my message or the hymns, prayers, and activities of the service. I blessed him
as we parted and he quickly disappeared from sight. I wondered if I would see him next Sun-
day or ever again.

Blessings to you and yours,

Two Radically Different Perspectives on Things

In the last blog posting I wrote about TheCall: Detroit that took place November 11 in the heart
of the city. As I watched portions of the 24-hour assembly where Christians prayed for the city, I
was touched by how Christ-centered and Spirit-inspired it was. The assembly was characterized
by lively faith, anointed prayer, and powerful praise to the Triune God. The attendees reflected a
loving heart for the city of Detroit. The tension, conflict, disorder, and disunity that have come to
characterize the Occupy Wall Street people were not evident among the 30,000 or so people who
took part in TheCall: Detroit.

There were religious leaders in Detroit who opposed what TheCall and its promoter Lou Eng-
els were attempting to do at the prayer assembly.The pastor of an historic Black church in De-
troit charged that TheCall would divide rather than unite with its message of hate. It was label-
led anti-Muslim, anti-homosexual, and anti-abortion. A Muslim cleric was concerned that the
attendees of the assembly would go into the city's streets to vandalize mosques and persecute
Muslim people. Apparently there was a group of Christian pastors who denounced Engels as
un-Christian, un-American, and idolatrous. They even criticized the pastors of some of Detroit's
largest African-American churches for being deceived by Engels. Engels and TheCall move-
ment were charged by a small group of religious leaders with being connected to the radical re-
ligious right and bringing divisiveness and fear into the city by its politics of deception.

An African-American cleric organized a small group of protesters that marched from Occupy 
Detroit to where people were gathering for TheCall assembly. Nearly fifty demonstrators pro-
tested at the entrance of TheCall,  displayed protest signs, listened to the minister give a speech,
and then left after an hour. I am saddened by the conduct of the ministers and their little flocks
of protesters. They represent the slow decline of the historic mainline Christian denominations.
They are fixated on fighting injustice, racism, the loss of reproductive rights, homophobia, ex-
clusivism, and so on. It is most unfortunate that they are blind to Christ's death for the forgive-
ness of sin, his burial, his resurrection from the dead, his ascension into heaven where he sits at
the right hand of theFather as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and his coming again in power
and glory.

It is hard for me to understand the protests against Lou Engels and TheCall. Where I perceived
a mass outpouring of Christian unity, love for Jesus Christ, and love for all people, there was a
small group of Christian leaders, people of mainline denominations, and other protesters who on-
ly saw hatred and bigotry.  The result was that they went berserk. Two radically different per-
spectives on things were exhibited. It makes me wonder where their hearts are. I stand with
TheCall, not with the protesters.

Blessings to you and yours,

A Tale of Two Movements

Early one Saturday morning not too long ago, I went to the daily city-wide Morning Prayer at a
local church. I noticed more cars than usual in the parking lot and more people than usual in the sanctuary. Several young people looked as if they had been there all night. They were watching
a live feed of the 24-hour solemn assembly of prayer, fasting, and calling on God that was taking
place at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. The assembly, called TheCall: Detroit 11/11/11, began
at 3:00 pm on Friday, and would conclude at 3:00 pm Saturday. There wasn't Morning Prayer
that day, but I stayed and watched the live feed of TheCall: Detroit. That meant that the 24-hour
program of the assembly was broadcast live over the internet. Even though we were in Longview, Washington, we could take part to some extent in what was happening in Detroit at TheCall.

Later I searched the internet and found out more about TheCall Movement. For over ten years,
hundreds of thousands of Christians have been called to solemn assemblies for times of prayer,
fasting, repentance, and worship. Sponsors of TheCall have recognized that in view of the self-centeredness, idolatry, and sin in the land, there is a desperate need for God's mercy upon the
people. They hope in Christ that Christians across the nation would unite and experience anoth-
er great spiritual awakening. Lou Engle, the visionary co-founder of TheCall Movement, has or-
chestrated seventeen assemblies across the nation over the past decade. The first one took place
in the year 2000 when 400,000 people showed up for TheCall: Washington, DC. Between 10,000
and 35,000 people, and sometimes more, have been in attendance at the other assemblies. There
have been a variety of themes for the assemblies: a cry for justice, righteousness, and compas-
sion in our nation; a call to end abortion and to promote Pro-Life issues; prayer for revival and
the nation's turn to a biblical worldview; and a plea to God for righteous government leaders and
social justice in the USA.

Even though Morning Prayer was cancelled for the day, I continued to watch the solemn assem-
bly on live feed from Detroit. The cameras panned the crowd that had assembled. Since it was a
24-hour affair, people came and went. I read later that upwards to 40,000 people had attended the assembly. The cameras showed a diversity of people, but I was struck that teens and twenty-
somethings composed the majority. People were reading their Bibles, praying, and raising their
arms in worship. On stage there were different praise leaders and teams every two hours. The
singing was worshipful and peaceful. Also on stage were different groups of people leading the
assembly in prayer for Detroit and the world. People from all over the USA were there to pray
for the people of Detroit as they faced the challenges of economic collapse, racial tension, the
growing presence of Islam in the Detroit area, and the shedding of innocent blood on the streets
and in the womb. People prayed to God for forgiveness, revival, Christian unity, and social jus-
tice. The focus was on Christ and it was evident that the Holy Spirit was powerfully present
among them.

In contrast to the ten-year TheCall Movement (TCM) is the now two-month old Occupy Wall
Street Movement (OWS). I have a strong sense of Christian kinship with the former and no re-
spect for the latter. TCM abides in the love of the Father, stands with Christ crucified, and lives
in the power of the Holy Spirit. OWS stands for misguided  and misinformed people who bring
conflict, tension, envy, and disorder in whatever place they choose to occupy. They are a people
without God and without hope. The 30,000 or so people who took part in TheCall Detroit gath-
ered together to pray for the peace of the city and to see life in Christ manifested there. They
were united because they were focused on praising and worshipping Jesus Christ. Tens of thou-
sands of people in Detroit and across the USA were united together for the cause of Christ and
his kingdom. But only disunity and conflict have been manifested when thousands of OWS peo-
ple across the cities of the nation and the world have come together to occupy city centers. I pray
that Jesus would capture the allegiance of the Occupy Wall Street protesters, that they would re-
ceive life in all its fulness that only Jesus can give, and that they would commit themselves to
Christ and his kingdom. May it be so, Lord Jesus.

Blessings to you and yours,

A Time to Mourn

Recently I was saddened to read accounts in a federal grand jury report of the sex-
ual abuse of eight boys by a former assistant coach of the Penn State football team.
It was especially disturbing to me that there were several witnesses connected to
the university's athletic program who observed various acts of rape and sodomy of
the boys by the assistant coach. Even though a witness did report what he saw to
university authorities, they took no action. The grand jury found that university ath-
letic officials had first-hand and other credible knowledge of the sexual abuse of
boys by the coach, but failed to put a stop to what he was doing. Nor did they re-
port him to the police. Thus Penn State University was found to have been harbor-
ing and enabling a serial child sex abuser for over ten years.

As a result, the former assistant football coach was arrested by the police and
charged with forty counts of sexual abuse involving young boys. Since the ear-
ly 1980s, he had directed and raised funds for a non-profit organization for boys
from troubled families. He had frequently brought boys to the university campus
to use the athletic facilities. The university's board of trustees fired the university's
legendary and beloved head football coach and the university's president for fail-
ure to contact police, even though they were aware of the tragic situation. Two
other university officials were arrested and charged with failure to report the abuse
and for perjury.  The students and staff of Penn State and many people throughout
the USA are stunned by what has been revealed to have taken place on the cam-
pus. It is a time to mourn, especially for the young boys who were abused. Sever-
al of them are now in their mid-20s.

I think of the Roman Catholic Church, both here and abroad, that has been devas-
tated by cases of sexual abuse by clergy. I observe that Christian churches have
been seriously engaging with issues of sexual misconduct, especially the sexual
abuse of children. The consequences of such acts on children are devastating. It
is a serious concern in both the Presbyterian (USA) and the Church of Scotland.
Unfortunately, sexual abuse is at the forefront of issues confronting the Church
in our times, and well it should be. I have read about Christian leaders rightly call-
ing churches to be on guard against sexual abuse taking place in the Church. I
agree with that.

But still I am disturbed. The assistant coach's sexual abuse of boys is sin. Period.
I would contend that based on Scripture, any sexual activity outside the bounds
of the marital relationship between husband and wife is sin. Period. But that is
not why the assistant coach is being charged with the sexual abuse of boys; he
is charged with abuse of power. He is accused of misusing his power as a privi-
leged adult over powerless boys. This abuse of power is wrong; but from my per-
spective, it is much more than that. What he did is sinful. But sin does not enter in-
to the conversation of our society. It is all about power and the abuse of power.

When I was 17, I committed myself to celibate chastity until I married, and then
I would commit myself to marital chastity. It is woven into my identity as a disci-
ple of Christ. When I was 17, there was more support for that position in the
Church and in society. But now there is no social support from society and even
from parts of the Church. The support that used to be there has eroded away.
Casual sex, hooking up, living together, pornography, homosexuality, and gay
marriage are now the accepted norm, or at least on their way to being so. But in
the not-too-recent-past, all of those were shunned and considered sin. All of
this has come about since the Sexual Revolution in the late 1960s. Recently
both the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Church of Scotland (the two
Churches I am involved with) made ordination to ministry more accessible to
practicing gays and lesbians. The PC (USA) even did away with the vow that
ministers be faithful in marriage between a man and a woman and celibate in
singleness. I still uphold that vow, but many of my ministerial colleague are of-
fended by such a vow.

In view of the rapid deterioration of long-held biblical norms of morality, even in
parts of the Christian Church, how long will it be before sexual acts of adult men
with boys are accepted as a normal option by society? How long will it be before
what was once referred to as sexual abuse of boys will merely be referred to as
 pederasty? How long will it be before those of us who see this as sin are called
pederastiphobs and marginalized by society? It must be ten years ago now that I
read about groups demanding civil rights for men who seek the normalizing of
sexual relations with boys. US society still seems solidly against such behavior,
as evidenced by the Penn State situation. But with the rapid decline of biblically-
based morals, what is to prevent our society from regressing back to the times of
the ancient Greeks and Romans and a few contemporary societies in which rela-
tions between men and boys were deemed acceptable by a society? I fear that it is
only a matter of time before anything goes and everyone does what is right in his
or her own eyes.

Blessings to you and yours,    

Ransomed

After five years and four months of solitary captivity by Hamas, on October 18
Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, 25, was ransomed and allowed to return home to a
jubilant Israel. He was an 18-year-old active duty soldier when he was kidnap-
ped in a cross-border raid from Gaza by Hamas. All during that time he was
kept hidden and not allowed to see any people other than his Hamas captors.
Not even the Red Cross was allowed to visit him.

The price for Gilad's release was quite high: over 1000 jailed Palestinian terror-
ists, including 60 convicted of multiple murders of Israelis, were exchanged for
the one Israeli. Officials from the USA and Egypt brokered negotiations be-
tween Israel and the terrorist organization Hamas. In order to get the ball going,
US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta made a deal with Hamas to downgrade
its ties with Iran, Syria, and Hizballah, and loosen its hold on the Palestinian peo-
ple in return for greater patronage from the USA. Hopefully the way has been
opened for continuing and more fruitful dialogue between Israel and the Pales-
tinians.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu faced a tough dilemma in agreeing
to the release of the young soldier. On one hand there was the absolute commit-
ment of the Israeli government to saving the Israeli captive, and on the other hand
there was the serious challenge of protecting Israel's national security. The Prime
Minister demanded an unanimous endorsement from his governmental ministers
to authorize the exchange. It is a high Jewish priority to ransom the captive. There
was unanimous consent and the exchange took place.

The ransom of 1000 Palestinians for Gilad Shalit is a glimpse into what Jesus
Christ, our ransom, does for us. In Isaiah 43:3-4, the Lord God proclaims:

I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as
your ransom, Cush and Seba in exhange for you. Because you are precious in 
my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in 
exchange for your life. 


In Mark 10:45, Jesus said: For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but 
to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. 


Just as Israel was willing to exchange 1000 political prisoners for one Israeli,
God loves us so much that He gave his Beloved Son in exchange for us. God
pays a heavy price to ransom us from sin and death. I pray that in the near future,
both Israeli and Palestinian would come recognize the Great Exchange when God
ransomed the life of His Son for us all.

Blessings to you and yours,
 

Big John, People Who Live on the Street, and Bed Bugs

Big John has lived a pretty hard life. He has fifteen or sixteen brothers and sis-
ters. Incest was sown into the very fabric of his family, and so Big John and
many of his siblings, especially his sisters, were wounded and traumatized. He
has had many doors slammed in his face as he has tried to seek forgiveness and
reconciliation in Jesus. Since he came to Christ, he been being transformed by
the Holy Spirit as a man and as a disciple of Christ. Big John tells people that he
is a registered sex offender who was released from prison late last spring. He is
required to check in with a corrections officer every few days. His whereabouts
are closely monitored and he has to request authorization to go out of the area to
go to the VA hospital. He has had no success finding a job. Big John understands
that employers do not trust a registered sex offender.

Despite the challenges of his offense, he has sought every opportunity to better
himself. While in prison he enrolled in Bible correspondence courses and partici-
pated in the prison chapter of Toast Masters; he has continued with those two ac-
tivities in the area after being released from prison. Every Tuesday he leaves Morn-
ing Watch early to go over to an early bird Toast Masters group. He has worked
himself up the public speaking ladder in hopes of better equipping himself for preach-
ing. Big John volunteers for a local ministry that provides services to disabled and
elderly people. He contributes to the leadership of an AA group that meets in the
church he attends. But most of all, I admire Big John's love for and service to the
people who live on the street who come to the building while we have Morning
Watch. His manner blends compassion with tender authority. He has been on the
street and knows what it is like.

There's not too much keeping Big John off the street now. He relies on God to
provide for his needs; he also takes every opportunity to put himself in a better po-
sition. But yesterday he shared with me that he didn't get much sleep the night be-
fore because bed bugs kept him awake at night. He's told the manager of the place
he lives in about it, but there's not much happening. As I listen to Big John and
the people who live on the streets I feel so utterly helpless; there's really nothing
I can do. It seems many of the street people have lost hope and will not move out
of their condition; Big John is an exception. Yet I see him struggle to find work
and deal with the bed bugs. Lord Jesus, be with Big John; provide for his every
need. But the more difficult challenge is what I would do. Lord Jesus, help!

Blessings to you and yours,

Big John

Big John (that may or may not be his real name) reminds me of a character
of Robin Hood lore who, I think, went by the name of Big John. Or was it
Little John? Regardless, he's an imposing figure, but with a gentle spirit. He
is a bit shorter than I am and just a few months younger than me. There re-
mains the remnants of a military bearing of service years before that was con-
firmed in a recent conversation. So the first time I saw him, I named him Big
John.

I have been attending Morning Prayer Watch at a local church center since
late March. For over five years people have been gathering together to pray
from 5 to 7 in the morning, seven days a week.  They have been praying for
different topics and concerns each day. One day in late April I saw a new per-
son whom I later named Big John approach the open mic and pray for the heal-
ing of the pain of broken relationships in his family. He prayed publicly several
days a week for reconciliation. Later he shared with us that things had not
worked out as he had hoped. But that did not slow down Big John.

I don't think Big John finished his high school education, but now he has such
a hunger to learn. While people are praying in the sanctuary of the church, the
front part is open to people who live on the street. Between 5 and 7 there is a
warm place where they can get coffee and sometimes a little breakfast. There
are nice, comfortable chairs in which people can have a nap in safety. There's
clean men's and women's restrooms and places to take a shower. John started
hanging out there in the lobby in order to provide security and offer a listening
ear. He was there for them, but he also give them space.

Big John knows the people who come in because he's been there and done
that. He expresses a beautiful mix of compassion, respect, and firmness. The
lobby has become Big John's place of ministry. He's been through a lot, and
Jesus' healing work is very evident in his life. Jesus has been slowly changing
and transforming Big John's life. People feel safe around him. I have often seen
him on a laptop somebody gave him at a table with three or four men and wo-
men crowded around. Sometimes all of them are chatting; other times they are
just sitting. I will share more about him in the next few days.

Blessings to you and yours,

A Birth Announcement of Sorts

It's a pleasure for me to announce the safe delivery of the nine-page conclusions
section of my thesis. Last Monday evening, October 17, I submitted by email to
my two thesis readers in Britain the revamped final conclusions of my thesis. For
the previous three weeks or so I had been putting in eight and nine hour days, ex-
cept on Sundays. My problem was that I had too much material, so I had to do a
lot of cutting out of stuff I had written. Plus I was always having insights or mak-
ing connections in my mind as I was waking up in the mornings. I jotted the in-
sights down on paper as I got out of bed. It took a while for my mind to shape my
thoughts for inclusion in the thesis. I was under pressure because this was my last
chance for my thesis to be accepted in full.

About a week before I resubmitted, I sent my first draft to an academic advisor
at  the University of St. Andrews. He thought two sections were fine, and made
a few suggestions on the other two. I re-wrote the two sections and sent them
back to him. I thought that I would have more work to do to craft the final two
sections, but the advisor emailed me that the two sections were very well done
and that I should wrap up the conclusions and submit them. He even congratua-
lated me for the thesis meeting the qualifications.  

A part of me wanted to keep working on the conclusions, shaping it until it was
perfect. But another part of me was telling me to put it down as it was and sub-
mit it. So, I did the latter; I really did not struggle with the decision. I emailed it
off to the two readers and then got a good night's sleep. The next day, the main
reader emailed me that he had received my conclusions and that he had for-
warded them to the other reader. He wrote that they would get back to me just
as soon as they could. Despite the congratulations of the advisor, only the two
readers can make the decision whether it qualifies or not.

I feel at rest with what I wrote. Things fell into place the two weeks before I sub-
mitted my conclusions. At the end,  I felt a click like when two pieces made for
each other snap together. I feel content and satisfied with my work. There is a pos-
sibility that it won't be accepted, but if that is the case, so be it. I am grateful to the
Lord for giving me this time to work through some critical issues in my mind. The
last two years have been wonderful for me as I have worked through the thesis.
My two readers gave me more opportunities than I deserved to do what they asked
me to do. I would not have done all this work without their prodding me. It is as if
they saw something in my thesis that needed more time to mature, and they gave me
the additional time. It was just what I needed. So, now it is not only out of  my mind,
but out of my hands.  That feels so good! I hope to get back to my real life. I hope to
be able to get back to blog writing.

Blessings to you and yours,

Concluding the Conclusions

In late July I had an oral examination by Skype with the two readers of my resub-
mitted thesis. Skype is a way to have a conference call over the internet. One of
the readers was near Oxford, England, and the other was in St. Andrews, Scot-
land. We were not able to connect with one another when we first tried back in
March,  so we had to wait until late July to finally try again. This time we were
successful.

We went over my thesis for a little over one and a half hours. They were satisfied
with the main bulk of the thesis, but disappointed with my conclusions. Because
I had been running out of time to resubmit my thesis, I had hurried the conclu-
sions and did not do the job I had wanted to do. Neither I nor my two readers were
satisfied with my conclusions section.  That could have been sufficient grounds for
my thesis not to have been accepted, but they granted me two months to re-write
the concluding section. They did not have to do that. I can only wonder if they
saw some value in the thesis that warranted one last opportunity. I did not request
additional time; they encouraged me and offered it to me. It is pure grace and mercy
for which I am extremely grateful.

I do sense that the two readers take my work seriously and see it as a contribu-
tion to discussion of the Church's mission to the world. Their comments on my
research have been extremely invaluable to me. I am not in this for a PhD de-
gree. I firmly believe that the Lord has called me to this task and that He has sus-
tained me  and provided for me these seven years. It has been a long and difficult
road, but I am grateful to the Lord for putting me through it. I have received what
I wanted: not a degree, but critical attention and feedback on my research from two
Christian scholars who are committed to theology and the Church's mission. For
the past seven years I have been working through the Church's mission from the
perspective of Orlando Costas, the Latin American missiologist who is the sub-
ject of my thesis. The two readers focused on my thesis and gave me solid critical
feedback on it.

I now have about a month more to work on my thesis. I have many thoughts and
insights that I desire to put in my conclusions. Plus I am reflecting on the insight-
ful comments of my two readers in July and will incorporate them into my final
submission. If I am successful, I will be granted a PhD; if not, it will be an MPhil
degree. Regardless of what happens, the past seven years have been formative in
my life.I would appreciate your prayers in remembering me as I write these final
conclusions.

Blessings to you and yours,

Class Reunion

I attended my R.A. Long High School Class of 1971 reunion August 12 and
13. There was a class picnic on the 14th, but preaching obligations that Sunday
kept me from attending. When I first received notification of the reunion late last
year, I anticipated that I would be in Scotland at the time of the get together. But
the visa refusal meant that I was here in the USA for the event and I was thrilled
that I was able to make it. I doubt if I would have come if I had to have travelled
all the way from Scotland to attend the reunion. I would have had the desire to
come, but not the finances to make it possible.

I must admit that I had to work up my courage to attend two previous reun-
ions; I never knew what to expect. But at the same time I wanted to see peo-
ple who were part of my life growing up. The latter always overcame the
former. I went to an informal get together on  Friday night. I went back and
forth about whether to go or not, but I am glad I went. After some initial feel-
ings of awkwardness, I plunged into the crowd and chatted with former class-
mates, several whom I had not seen since we graduated. I had some short chats
and a few talks that were long and deep. I actually enjoyed them all. I had two
significant conversations that night that I can only describe as divine appoint-
ments. I had not been particularly close to either person when we were high
school classmates, but both of them became dear to me as they shared deeply.
Unfortunately, I still had some sermon preparation to do, so I left still wanting
to see other people. Fortunately, there was still the main reunion event the next
day.

The next day, Saturday, I went through the same emotional process that I had
the day before: fear, anxiety, and then plunging in. This would be the third re-
union I attended, and the the third time I went through the process. I went,
took a deep breath, and started talking to people. As the night before, there
were short chats and a few deeper, more personal conversations. I couldn't be-
lieve how much some classmates had changed; yet there were a few I was able
to recognize immediately. Once I heard a last name, however, I was able to re-
connect with memories of our school years. But again, I bowed out after  a
few hours in order to finish my sermon preparation for the next day. I enjoyed
being at the reunion, but preaching is a higher priority for me.

Now for some general comments. I still find it hard to believe that we are 50-
somethings now. When we gather together again in five years, we will be 60-
somethings! That does not compute, but most of us look our age. I couldn't be-
lieve it! I still have fond memories of us in our high school days. I was sad-
dened by how many of my classmates whom I wanted to see did not show up.
We silently remembered the 26 out of a class of 285 or so who have passed
away. The first one drowned when we were 8th graders and the most recent
died just three weeks before the reunion.  I was thrilled by several classmates
whose lives had been transformed by Jesus Christ. The change in their lives
was simply amazing. I could see it in their eyes. The people I remember fond-
ly as teens are now, for the most part, well established, settled, and mature.
Most of them have kids in college or grandkids. Some had planned wisely for
retirement and are now taking advantage of it after thirty years of solid employ-
ment or service. I am quite impressed with the career and financial accomplish-
ments of some of my classmates.

As for me, well, I 've never been married and I don't have any children. Kissin'
cousins are all the family I have left. I don't have any financial or employment
security. I have been through the wringer the past eight years being prepared
for only God knows what. I don't have any desire to retire because I firmly be-
lieve that the best years and the most fruitful years of my life are still ahead of
me. I feel like I am just getting started. I feel like I did as a twenty-something,
when I was in my early adulthood, looking boldly into the future. I love the
Lord and am committed to serving him and his people; that is what is most im-
portant to me. I found it difficult to share that about myself at the reunion, per-
haps because  I spent my time listening to people who mean a lot to me. I hope
that at our reunion in five years I will be able to share that with others.

All for now. Blessings to you and yours,    

Taking on a Preaching Challenge

I felt challenged when I accepted the invitation to preach at a local church Sun-
day, August 14. Since my arrival back in the Longview/Kelso area in late Janu-
ary, I have had the pleasure of preaching at my home church, Kelso Presbyter-
ian Church. So I was a bit surprised when I was invited by Pastor Mark of North
Lake Baptist Church to preach one Sunday when he was to be on vacation. I
have the highest respect for Pastor Mark and the people and other leaders of the
church. The church is large, dynamic, and growing and her people are actively
serving God, God's kingdom, and other people. I know that I am not suppose to
do this, but I did not consider myself in their league.

However, I was confident that the Lord had called me to preach there on that
date whether I felt out of my depth or not. I had two weeks to prepare, more
time than I usually have to develop a sermon. I based the sermon for North
Lake on the sermon I had delivered at my home church on July 24, a message
that revolved around Psalm 23. But as I prayed about the upcoming sermon,
the message took off in a direction that was different from the one I had given
at the Kelso church. I coupled Psalm 23 with John 10:1-11, viewed the Psalm
from different perspectives, and figured out ways to have the congregation par-
ticipate. There have been few times when I have experienced sermon prepara-
tion time as rich as when I was preparing for this latest preaching assignment.

I was not as concerned about my message as I was about my delivery. When
I began preaching assignments at Cupar Old Parish Church in late 2008, it had
been five years since I had last preached. Plus in 2006 I had undergone major
cardiac surgery to replace my aortic heart valve. When I got back to preaching
in 2008, it was clearly evident that I was not only rusty in preaching, but some
of the mental capabilities that I  needed for preaching were not there for me as
they once had been. At times during the last two and a half years it has been
agonizing for me as I have struggled to recover my preaching skills.

I began the sermon by reciting Psalm 23, and then asking those in the congre-

gation who knew it to join with me. I talked about Psalm 23, and then recited 

the Psalm as if God were using the words of the Psalm to comfort King David. 

Next I read and commented on John 10:1-11. Then I recited Psalm 23 as if Jesus 

the Good Shepherd were saying it to us with verses ten and eleven of John 10 

mixed into the Psalm. My main point was actually a question: Do you know 

Jesus the Good Shepherd who gave his life for you? I concluded by asking the 

congregation to repeat after me Psalm 23 and direct it to God. I had never done 

anything like this before, nor have I ever encountered this way of preaching a 

text. Even though I had fun with it, I don't know if I could ever pull this off 

again with another text. 

I am not sure how I was received by the congregation, but I felt comfortable 

with my delivery and style. I preached for around 45 minutes, which is the 

longest I have ever preached. I usually preach for 23-28 minutes, even though 

I have been told to preach for 15-18 minutes. With this congregation I was told 

that 45 minutes was the norm. I had planned for 40 minutes, and came out pretty 

close. I did not have any sense that I went too long, which l am afraid I have a 

tendency of doing. They seemed to be with me right up to the end. I did not
preach from a manuscript, but had a firm grasp of an outline in my head. 

I was very concerned about the pitch of my voice and the pace of my delivery,
and so I tried to monitor that as I preached. I sensed that the people were track-
ing with me from beginning to end, and were with me when I came to my main
point.  I felt it was the best I had preached in a long time and I felt comfortable
and relaxed. But I have learned over the years that my perceptions are not always
reflective of reality. I did feel that I have made solid progress after over two years
of hard work on my preaching. I was relieved. I realized, however, that I still have
a lot of hard work ahead of me in terms of preaching.

After the service I was asked to preach at an afternoon service at an apartment
complex for senior citizens. I cut down the sermon and tailored it for a different
community. I enjoyed delivering a shorter message on Psalm 23 to a dear group
of people, a message that was just for them. I am glad I was able to do it. But I
look forward to soon having the privilege of preaching year round at St. Fergus
Parish Church in Scotland where I have been called to serve as pastor. As always,
I ask you to pray for that on my behalf.  May it be so, Lord Jesus.

Blessings to you and yours,
   

Keepin' On Keepin' On

I have not posted to my blog since mid-July. I have been focusing on several efforts that have
demanded my attention. I preached at my home church two weeks ago and preach at another
church next Sunday. Each time I preach I never use what I preached before, but seek to do
something fresh and personal. It is nice not to have the heavy demands of parish ministry on
my plate right now. I have more time to put into home cooking of fresh sermons. I won't have
as much time when I get going as pastor of St. Fergus Parish Church. Meanwhile I have con-
tinued to address the visa issues to return to the United Kingdom and keep in touch with the
St. Fergus congregation. I also have a little bit more work to do on my thesis.

My weekly schedule has become routinized. Five or six days a week I arise at 4:30 so I can
attend Morning Watch at 5 am and Israel Watch at 6 am. I usually walk to the church, praying
for the town during the 15 minutes it takes me. If it is raining hard, I drive.  There are usually
15 to 20 people at Morning Watch, some of whom stop by before going to work. They come
from no one church in particular, but from a variety of churches in the area. As a vocalist ac-
companied by guitar or keyboard sings mellow worship songs, people take turns at an open mic
reading Scripture or offering prayers that focus on the theme for the day. I have been attending
since mid-March and have found it refreshing. I especially pray in preparation for my return to
Scotland. Thursday mornings I meet with local Christian leaders and ministers to pray for each
other and for the area. It has been a rich time of fellowship for me since I arrived in January.

I always stay for Israel Watch that follows on from Morning Watch, but a number of people
leave at 6 in order to go to work. Usually there are 10 to 12 of us, but occasionally there are
just three of us. Taped messianic Jewish music is played over the sound system and people
take turns praying and reading Scripture at an open mic. We pray for various messianic Jew-
ish ministries in Israel as well as for the tremendous troubles that confront the people of Israel
in these challenging times. An abiding concern is the sustained efforts by nations that seek to
do Israel harm, seeking to reduce Israel to indefensible borders. These are challenging times,
indeed. On Wednesday morning at 7 am, a small group of us have a Torah study by Skype
with a messianic rabbi in Israel. Then on Saturday mornings I meet with another group to study
the Bible from a messianic Jewish perspective. I have always enjoyed studying the Old Testa-
ment and the Jewishness of Jesus and the New Testament. It has been a fun and refreshing time
for me.  

The two Prayer Watches shape my day. They  take place early in the morning when I used to
have my most restful stretches of sleep. But I firmly believe that these times of prayer are criti-
cal to my time of 'exile' while I am away from St. Fergus. If I have the time, I take any oppor-
tunity to take a long nap in the late morning or in the afternoon. Meanwhile, I always have
meals to prepare, dishes to wash, groceries to buy, laundry to do, and my small studio apart-
ment to keep clean. For the past four years I have listened to podcasts downloaded to my iPod.
While I walk to places, cook, eat, wash dishes, or rest, I listen to podcast of the likes of Ravi
Zacharias, Hugh Hewitt, R.C. Sproul, Michael Medved, The White Horse Inn, or two BBC
podcasts on great figures, great ideas, and great events in history. Since I don't have a TV or
radio, I go to online news from the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today,
the BBC, and Fox. Plus there are several blogs and websites (conservative in orientation) for
news analysis. I am also trying to find more time to take pleasure in reading just for the fun of it.

I find great enjoyment in meeting with other people. I meet with four close friends every Tues-
day morning at 6:30 for breakfast. On most Wednesday evenings, I have enjoyed the Life
Group that my best buds Steve and Ellen attend. Thursday evenings I go over the basics of
the Christian life with a guy who just came to know the Lord. On Sunday evenings I attend
a small men's group at my home church. Throughout my week there are always what I call
divine appointments when I have amazing conversations with people I meet on the way. To-
night I went to a training session for those who have been cleared to be ministry volunteers
in the local jail. It is scary to me, but I believe the Lord is calling me to that. I'll be working
with a good friend of mine who is a pastor of a local church and involved in weekly minis-
try in the jail. I am also working with a good friend who is gifted in the ministry of Deep Heal-
ing. Perhaps the only things I would ask God for are opportunities to see a number of close
friends in the area whom I haven't been able to see. That's a great desire of mine.

I have my hands full of activities. There is plenty for me to do in terms of Christian minis-
try, service, and fellowship. My time has quickly filled up. I sense that much of it is prepar-
ing me for serving the people of St. Fergus Parish Church and the people of that area of Scot-
land. Perhaps it is providential that I have not been offered opportunities for work or pastoral
ministry in a congregation. I am doing ok financially and have found community resources
that can help me out. I am at a good place for the time being. It seems to me, however, that I
can pack up and leave at a moment's notice if the opportunity comes for me to head back to
Scotland. So be it, Lord, so be it. Meanwhile I keep on keepin' on.

Blessings to you and yours,

A Crash Course in the Ways of God

As I announced in an earlier blog posting, I failed to stop at a red traffic light and
was involved in a collision. Neither I nor the other driver involved were hurt, but
my car was totaled. The car that hit my car had minor damage. The only other
time I had been involved in an auto accident was thirty years ago in Boston when
a car speeded through a red light and and rammed into my car, totaling it. But this
time it was completely my fault. I didn't stop for a red light and travelled into the
path of traffic crossing at an intersection.

As the shock of the accident wore off, I tried to reconstruct from memory the
events leading up to the accident. Less than 15 minutes before the accident, I had
 been in the dentist's chair having a tooth prepared for a crown. I was given an an-
esthetic. The dental work was not painful, but I was in the chair for over an hour as
the dentist did all that he needed to do for the crown. I was in my car on my way
home. I was not lightheaded or sleepy. I have always driven responsibly and honor
stop signs and traffic signals. I remember an instant of blackness and then watching
a car traveling in slow motion coming from my right and crashing into the front pas-
senger side of my car. Then things happened quickly: my hood buckled, the airbags
inflated, and steam poured from the engine. My car was turned by the oncoming car
so that I faced the direction of the one-way street that intersected the direction I was
going. I looked up and saw the green light turn to yellow and then to red. Then I
knew for sure I had run a red light.

Everything happened so rapidly after that. No one was hurt. The police responded
quickly and took control of the situation. A flatbed truck came and collected the
wreckage that was once my car, and dropped me off at my place. I reported the ac-
cident to my insurance and they took it from there. Progressive Insurance provided
me with excellent service. It took a couple of days -if not longer- to work through
the shock of the accident and what I had done. My major concern was that I might
have blacked out just before the accident. I was afraid that I might have to take my-
self off the road for fear of blacking out and causing serious injury or loss of life.

Shortly after the accident I went to see my doctor. My blood pressure was low and
my pulse was racing. I have been taking medication for high blood pressure. The
doctor made an adjustment to my medication. Everything else about my heart and
circulation checked out ok. I had been using a British prescribed high blood pres-
sure medication until just a few weeks before the accident. When I ran low, I had
my doctor here in the USA prescribe an equivalent US medication, which he did.
He saw that the British brand was not available in the US and substituted an Amer-
ican brand. It is not easy to translate the dosage for the British medication into the
right dosage for the US brand. I saw him two weeks later and my blood pressure
was spot on and my pulse normal. It is possible that I had low blood pressure after I
changed medication. The low blood pressure coupled with the anesthetic at the den-
tist might have set me up for a blackout. When I first visited the doctor after the ac-
cident, he recommended I purchase a blood pressure and pulse monitor, so I did. I
recorded my blood pressure and pulse readings for two weeks and showed them to
the doctor when I went back to him. He was quite pleased with the readings and
could not find anything of concern regarding my heart or circulation. I was relieved
that I had a good bill of health and could feel confident about driving.

My best bud Steve perceived the accident and the loss of the car as a divine wake
up call. I think he's right. The accident could have been serious with somebody
killed or injured. As a result of the accident I was made aware of my low blood
pressure. It shocked me out of a rut I had been in for several months and made me
take my life here more seriously. In a strange way God got my attention when I
had been growing somewhat complacent. As a result of this trying situation, I feel
much closer to God than I had been earlier in the year. It is a good place to be. I am
grateful to the Lord that no one was hurt in the accident, but wish I had not lost the
car. I really enjoyed the car. Meanwhile I continue onward and upward.

Blessings to you and yours,

Under Orders: Standing Down Again

Recently I was disappointed when the Member of Parliament who was advo-
cating for me informed me that her efforts to reverse my visa refusal to return
to Scotland had not been successful. I had guarded my expectations, but still
I had hoped that she would be successful. She promised to try one other ave-
nue, so there is still some hope. But I don't  expect to return to parish ministry
in St. Fergus, Scotland, until early next spring. I must admit that I felt let down
and disappointed.

Last April I was invited to attend a four day Christian Leaders' Prayer Summit
on the Oregon Coast. There were twenty-three of us there and on the first night
we each had an opportunity to share what was happening to us. I told them about
my situation and the first visa refusal. The next afternoon one of the women lead-
ers said she had a word for me. She saw me in a dugout at a baseball game. I was
all alone at the far end of the bench watching my teammates playing ball out on
the field.

She knew I was a talented player and that I loved my teammates and the game.
It was very evident how much I wanted to be out on the field and in the game.  
Then she saw the coach come over to me and sit down right beside me. She
looked closer and recognized that the coach was Jesus. Jesus then began to
teach me how he placed the players and what he did in certain situations. He
commented on the batters from the other team and what to do when batters
got on base. One of my colleagues at the the Summit piped up that the best
coaches made it a habit of listening and learning. Their words struck deeply
into my heart and encouraged me.

I love Jesus and I marvel at the way he is building his kingdom. I only do as I
am ordered by him; I am under orders. But I wanted Jesus to send me out onto
the field so that I could play the game with my teammates. It seems that for the
last five years, I have been sitting on the bench and out of the game. I have ex-
perienced setbacks, disappointments, and challenges that have knocked the stuf-
fing out of me. There were several times when things seemed to be opening up
for me, but quickly disappeared. But I know for certain that I have been called
to minister at St. Fergus Parish Church. Nothing will deter me from serving the
people there as their minister.

Since the Prayer Summit in April, I have experienced a change in my atti-
tude. I see my extended stay here in the Longview/Kelso area as a time of
blessing rather than a negative ordeal to go through. It all seems infused
with a sense of God's wise love for me. I have developed a whole new set
of relationships in the area. I always seem to have something to do or some
place to go and I often yearn for free time when I have nothing that I need
to do. My relationship with the Lord and my knowledge of myself have
never been better. I feel like I have moved up to a new spiritual level that I
had never reached until now. I believe that this time here at home is a divine
appointment meant to prepare me for pastoral ministry at St. Fergus Parish
Church. I feel myself royally blessed by God.

As always, I covet you prayers.

Blessing to you and yours,

Unexpected Setbacks

A week ago I suffered two setbacks. I was involved in an auto accident that

totaled my car and I received disappointing news that a Member of Parliament's 

appeal of my visa refusal was not successful. I do not view these two setbacks
as defeats, but as challenges that I must engage with. 

The car accident occurred on Thursday, June 23. Just 15 minutes before the ac-

cident, I was in the dental chair. The dentist was preparing one of my molars for

a crown. A local anesthetic was used, but it still was not a pleasant experience.
I was in the chair for over an hour. When I was released, I did not sit down or
rest, but got in my car and headed home. The preparatory work was an ordeal,
but I felt fine. I did not feel drowsy or faint, but steady and alert. 

I remember driving, listening to the radio, and paying attention to traffic signals 

for the next three blocks. The next thing I remember was a car coming from my 

right, the sound of a crash, my hood buckling, the air bags expanding, and steam 

venting out of the engine. I couldn't believe what I was going through. My car
was pointing down the cross street. I looked up and saw the green light turn to
red, and I knew I was at fault in the accident. I was shocked. I couldn't believe
what was happening to me.  

I got out of the car, walked to the corner, and saw that the other driver was ok.
A passing motorist called 911 and soon the police were on the scene. They
made sure we were ok and took reports from us. While the police were doing
what police do in these situations, I stood at the corner, watching traffic go by,
and looking at the wreckage that just minutes before had been my car. I was
stunned, but not confused. The police were great and took control of the situa-
tion. The truck driver who moved my car gave me a ride home. I reported the
accident to my insurance. They have taken great care of me. As I went through
what had happened, all that I could think of is that I had blacked out. I will write
more about that in a future posting.  

The next day I received disappointing news from the Member of Parlia-

ment who has been appealing my visa refusal. She reported that her ap-
peal on my behalf had not been successful, but declared that she was try-
ing another route of appeal. I was not surprised that the government had
rejected the appeal, but I was saddened to learn that I must wait 12 months
from the date of the March visa refusal  to apply again for a visa to return
to Scotland. That means I must wait two months more than I had thought
to apply for the visa. I will also write about that  in a future posting.  

In these trying circumstances, I keep looking to Jesus and walking forward in
faith. As always, I covet your prayers on my behalf.

Blessings to you and yours,   

Game-Changer

The Oxford Dictionary defines a game-changer as 'a person, an idea or an
event that completely changes the way a situation develops.' The Macmillan
Dictionary defines game-changing as 'completely changing the way some-
thing is done, thought about, or made.' For four days in May I participated
in an event that completely changed the way I viewed my time here in the
USA before returning to Scotland. The event was game-changing in the way
I live through this time of 'exile'; it is a game-changer in terms of how I live
through the remaining months (or perhaps even weeks) that I am back here
in my hometown. This event is pivotal as I pass through this period of my
life.

Twenty-two women and men gathered together May 9-12 for the 23rd An-
nual Kelso-Longview Leadership Prayer Summit at the Cannon Beach Con-
ference Center on the Oregon coast. Every year since 1988, Christian leaders
from the greater Kelso-Longview (Washington state) area have been spend-
ing time together worshipping God, building relationships among themselves,
seeking unity in service to Christ and his kingdom, and reaching out in love to
the lost and needy.

The schedule was flexible so that people could participate as they saw fit.
People enjoyed times of rest, reading for pleasure, and walking along the
beach. The facilities were outstanding, the meals were nutritious and deli-
cious, and the scenery was spectacular. Only the weather could have been
better. The first and last days were so-so, the second day was beautiful, and
the third was literally a washout.

A few of the persons in attendance were at the first Prayer Summit in 1988.
I was told that the first years of the Summit were characterized by conflict
and disunity among those first participants. But in recent years there has
been  a growing sense of unity and cooperation. Although this year's Sum-
mit was smaller than usual, there was a greater sense of fellowship and un-
ity that had not been experienced before. We concluded the three nights we
were there with the Lord's Supper. These times of communion were, for
many of us, the highpoint of each day.

The Prayer Summit was a time of refreshment for me. I had felt like I had
been through the wringer the past two months. Plus I felt battered during
the past five years that I had lived in Scotland. The Summit was the right
event at the right place at just the right time for me to chill for a few days.
I spent many hours in conversation with other people. It seemed that I
and the person I was talking with were always the last persons to be
leaving the dining room after our meals. I treasure those long and deep
chats that I had with some amazing people who have been serving the
Lord in the Kelso-Longview area for many years.

But what I cherish most is that dear brothers and sisters allowed me to
share from my heart about the ministry the Lord has called me to in St.
 Fergus, Scotland. They heard me, spoke into my life, prayed for me,
and supported me in my desire to return to Scotland as soon as the Lord
opens the door. Just before communion at our last evening session togeth-
er, they  gathered around two of us, laid hands on us, and prayed over us.
Dave, who has been a Nazarene pastor in the area for thirteen years, is
taking a new charge up in Seattle. As for me, they prayed for my quick
return to Scotland as soon as possible. Some of them joked that they like
having me around, but they want me out of here and back in St. Fergus.
I can't say that I would argue with them.

The Prayer Summit was a game-changer for me. I truly sensed there
that the Lord has called me to Scotland, specifically to St. Fergus. My
companions at the Summit recognized that calling and affirmed it in me.
I will return to Scotland with their full blessing upon me. Most of all, I
made connections with people who have experience and skills in areas
that I believe I will need when I am back in St. Fergus. I will talk to
Larry about how the Lord worked mightily among the churches in the
Kelso-Longview area the past thirty years. I will ask Mark about how
sustained area-wide prayer has been the foundation of what God has
been doing in the area in the last five years. I want to glean from Terri
and Jim about Deep Healing ministry and from Russ about ministry to
people in jail.

I sense that the time I have here is a time for me to be prepared for min-
istry back in Scotland, and so I am taking quite seriously how I use my
time and energy. The Prayer Summit was game-changing because I be-
gan to see my stay here from a whole different perspective, one that is
oriented to serving Christ and his kingdom in Scotland. As always, I
covet your prayers on my behalf.

Blessings to you and yours,

Memorial Day 2011

For the last four months I have been here in the Longview/Kelso area, I have
been struggling to be disciplined with my time. I have a long list of things to be
done, but I don't seem to be able to manage the use of my time very well. I have
found that a Sabbath rest every seven days injects a sense of God's perspective
into my life. Last Monday, Memorial Day, I took a second Sabbath in order to re-
ceive a double portion of God's perspective. In my early teens I developed a ritu-
al every Memorial Day of reading in the local newspaper a long list of the names
of men and women from the area who died in four major US wars in the 20th
century. Last Monday, Memorial Day 2011, I did what I had not done since I
was a teen: I slowly read through the long list of area war dead published in the
The Daily News. I did not know where it would take me, I just knew that I had
to do it.

I did as I used to do long ago: I began with the list of 43 men killed in Vietnam,
almost all of whom died in the second half of the 1960s, but a few in the early
1970s. When they died, most of them were kids just a few years older than me.
Besides those killed by hostile fire, there were a few killed by friendly fire. There
were two who are still MIA (missing in action). During my high school years, I
followed the war closely. Some of the names of the places where they fell were
still familiar to me: Pleiku, Kontum, Tay Ninh, Bien Hoa, Quang Tri. I remem-
ber reading about the young men when their death notices were published in The 
Daily News. I did as I did way back then, I read their names and remembered
them.

I used to go from the Vietnam War to the Second World War, and so I did that
last Monday. The list of war dead from the area is staggering, so much so that I
still feel overwhelmed by the losses. There were submariners, pilots, foot soldiers,
sailors, mapmakers, airmen, bombardiers, POWs, nurses, and more. They died all
over the world: Belgium, France, Italy, Holland, Germany, Britain, North Africa,
India, Burma, the Aleutian Islands, islands and coral atolls in the Pacific,  Correg-
idor, Tarawa, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Luzon, Normandy, and in the air over France
and Germany. Nine local men were lost in the attack on Pearl Harbor, four from
the USS Oklahoma and three from the USS Arizona. At least four area men who
were POWs were killed when US war planes sank the Japanese ships on which
they were being transported to Japan and a few were killed when their ships
were attacked by kamikaze planes.  Others were on submarines lost at sea or on
planes that never returned from their missions. One was killed in an auto accident
and several in training accidents. One soldier died of food poisoning and another
from a heart attack. The Army, Navy, and Army Air Corps have long lists of
local personnel who lost their lives in World War II.

I also read the names of those lost in the Korean War and the First World War.
The list for the Korean War is the shortest of the four US wars and there was
no town of Longview until five years after the end of the First World War. Still,
the list for the latter conflict is a long list. I feel it is important to recognize each
name and to remember them. But a lot has changed since I read those lists over
40 years ago. My father passed away June 30, 1979, and my mother on Septem-
ber 30, 2001. So this Memorial Day I went out to the cemetery where they are at
rest and I remembered them and honored them. Near them are the graves of my
Uncle Ole and Aunt Mave, and I remembered and honored them as well. I get
emotional when I am so close to them in terms of space, but so far apart from
them in time and physical relationship. Then I started thinking about my other
uncles, aunts, cousins, and a long list of friends I have known throughout my life,
all of whom are no longer alive. I remember them all.

Blessings to you and yours,

It Wasn't the End of the World as We Know It

A song by R.E.M. has been going round and round my mind for the last several
weeks. The chorus goes something like this: It's the end of the world as we know
it / It's the end of the world as we know it / It's the end of the world as we know 
it, and I feel fine. Well, in the days immediately preceding and following May 21,
it wasn't the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine.

During the days leading up to Saturday, May 21, I was fascinated with Harold
Camping and his warnings that May 21 would be the Day of Judgment when
Christ would return to earth. The 89-year old Bible teacher was absolutely cer-
tain that his careful study over a lifetime pointed to that date for the end of the
world as we know it. He broadcast the message over his Family Radio net-
work, sent teams of followers far and wide to warn people, and erected thou-
sands of billboards across the USA and around the world to warn people of
their imminent doom. He and his ministry were sincere about their beliefs;
they certainly were not in it for the money or the publicity.

All kinds of thoughts and feelings were racing around in me as May 21 came
closer and closer. As a believer in Jesus Christ, I eagerly await his coming
again. I proclaim the Mystery of Faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, and
Christ will come again! Christians throughout the centuries have awaited his
coming again as King of Kings and Lord of Lords to judge the world. But
I have to confess that I often hope he doesn't come soon. I am enjoying my-
self too much. I do yearn for Christ to come again, it's just that I want him to
return later rather than sooner.  I want to get back to Scotland. That's how I
feel much of the time, and that saddens me. It grieves me when I feel that way.

I remember back to an earlier time when Harold Camping and Family Radio
predicted that Christ would come on a certain date in 1994.  He even published
a small book detailing how he got to that date. But when his prediction proved
to be wrong, many of us thought he would have learned his lesson. Scriptural
texts such as Acts 1:7 and Matthew 24:36 warn Christians against setting the
time of Christ's Return. And now this time he was absolutely certain that Christ
would return on May 21, 2011. How terribly foolish of him to do that.

Since 6 pm on Saturday, May 21, I have been doing a lot of praying for those
who were related to this whole situation. I have been praying that the Lord
would bless Harold Camping and all those who put their hopes in the foolish
teaching. May they not reject the faith in their great disappointment, but be
strengthened in the truth of who Jesus Christ is and what God did through him
on the cross. I also have been praying that the Lord would bless those who
scoffed, mocked, and ridiculed all those who got caught up in the false teach-
ing. May they come to trust what Jesus did for them on the cross when he came
the first time, and be ready for him when he really does come again. May they
not scorn nor mock that.

I pray that we, the Church, we who confess Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour,
would not only eagerly await his coming again, but also go about the Father's
kingdom business until he does come again. May we be found faithful at his
coming.  Maranatha! Come! Lord Jesus. Come!

Blessings to you and yours,

My Heart Full of Sadness

On Tuesday, May 10, the Presbytery of the Twin Cities cast the deciding vote to
change the constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA). The presbytery was
the 87th of 173 presbyteries in the PC (USA) to vote in favor of the constitutional
change, thus making presbyteries supporting the change the majority. As a result,
presbyteries can now ordain persons as ministers, elders, and deacons without re-
gard to sexual orientation. Ordained people are no longer obligated to affirm faith-
fulness in marriage between a man and a woman and chastity in singleness. All
barriers to homosexual persons serving as ministers, elders, and deacons were re-
moved.

From Monday, May 9, until Thursday, May 12, I was attending the 23rd Annual
Ministers' Prayer Summit at a Christian conference center on the Oregon coast.
One of the themes that kept arising in our time together was that of sexual puri-
ty in our lives as Christian women and men who hold positions of church lead-
ership. We had a marvelous time and I will write about the conference in the near
future. When I returned to my apartment and got caught up on the news, I learned
about the deciding vote cast by the Presbytery of the Twin Cities.

I cannot say that I was surprised; I knew that it would happen sooner or later. In
one sense I was surprised that it took this long. I had thought that the Presbytery
of the Twin Cities would have cast their vote in favor of the change well before
now. The Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota) are known for their
more liberal positions concerning social and theological issues. The sexual revo-
lution and the cry for liberation from all forms of oppression exploded into the
consciousness of the USA and entered into the theological scene in the late 1960s.
Since then the Episcopal Church in the US, the United Church of Christ, and the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America have affirmed persons who are openly
homosexual and welcomed them into church leadership.

For 33 years, there have been Presbyterians who have been unrelenting in their
efforts to remove every obstacle that prevented gay and lesbian people from serv-
ing in positions of leadership in the PC (USA). I remember as if it were yester-
day when the issue first came before the General Assembly in 1978. Little did I
realize then that it would lead to intense debate among Presbyterians for over
three decades. I witnessed the heated debates and the failed efforts by the pro-
gay lobby in 1997 and 2001. But I had an ever-increasing sense that it was inev-
itable that they would be successful. There was another failed effort in 2008, but
more and more conservative evangelical Presbyterians and churches left the de-
nomination. Then on May 10, the long struggle to ordain openly gay and lesbian
people was successful. I found it odd that it took this long for there to be enough
presbyteries to form a majority for change of the constitution.

I know many Presbyterian colleagues who are celebrating what they see as a
great victory for gay and lesbian people and for the PC (USA). The struggle
was hard-fought and long, but they persevered and were successful. I perceive
that the slow and gradual decline of the denomination continues, and that grieves
me and saddens me. The dike of biblical authority has been breached and sexual
integrity and purity in marriage and singleness have been swept away. It is only
a matter of time before those of us who question and oppose what has happened
will be labelled homophobic, exclusionary, and unloving. If so, so be it. Such key
biblical concepts as fidelity in marriage, chastity in singleness, and repentance for
sin have been swept aside and cast into utter darkness. I expect that very soon
same-sex marriage will be brought forward and approved without any opposi-
tion.

I am deeply saddened that there are fellow members in the PC (USA) who inten-
tionally walk in a way that is contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am dis-
turbed that the confession of Jesus Christ as Lord is divorced from the authority
of Scripture. But as a disciple of the Lord Jesus and as one who recognizes the
authority of the Scriptures,  I re-affirm fidelity in marriage between a man and a
woman and chastity in singleness. I also re-affirm that those who refuse to repent
of breaking these standards should not be ordained and/or installed as church of-
ficers. Such is the ground upon which I stand.

Blessings to you and yours,




 

Getting Up to Speed

The last three weeks have been challenging for me. When I left the USA for Scot-
land and the University of St. Andrews in 2003, I had no sense that I would end up
taking a pastoral position in the land of Braveheart. For close to three years -ever
since I made the decision to remain in Scotland- I have been disconnecting myself
from living in the USA and setting up  a new home in Scotland. I love living in the
USA, but I firmly believe that God has called me to serve there in Scotland. Plus I
really do enjoy living in that new land where the Lord has led me and the people of
St. Fergus Parish Church to whom the Lord has called me to serve. I would never
have considered it even four years ago, but now I am grateful to God for leading me
that way.

But the refusal of my application for a visa to enter the United Kingdom as a minis-
ter of religion threw me off balance. I felt as if the rug had been pulled out from un-
der me.  When I received the refusal letter and realized that I would be here in
Longview until early next year when I could apply again, I scrambled to arrange
my life here. Fortunately I had the support of great friends who provided me with a
place to stay and a car to get around in for close to three months. But over the past
three weeks I have found a nice studio apartment to rent, bought a good used car
with the help of great friends, enjoyed being back at my home church, and made
contact with the Presbytery of Olympia about ministry opportunities.

It has been fun being back in my home town for longer than just a visit. But adjust-
ing to the change of plans has worn me out: I have been busy. When I left Scotland
in late January, I  was intending to buy a MacBook to replace my aged PC notebook
Well, I did that, and I am struggling to convert from PC to Mac. Already I have seen
the substantial benefits of the Mac over the PC, but it is still a challenge for me. I
have been shopping around for car insurance and medical coverage. Through this
all I have had to have my mail redirected to my new address, get basic furnishings
for my place, go through bags of mail from the last three years, and find out where
I could be of service at my home church. I have enjoyed old friends and made new
friends. The biggest challenge has been bringing order to my small apartment as
well as to  my life. My To Be Done list was long, but slowly I am whittling it down.
Still there are so many small things I need to do, but at least the list is more man-
ageable now.

When I first arrived here, I was encouraged to consider attending a four-day Min-
isters' Prayer Summit out on the Oregon coast. I was told that for the past 13 years
it has been a time for ministers from the area to rest, relax, and seek the face of the
Lord. I was very interested, but expected to be back in Scotland by then. But here
I am still, and I look forward to attending the Prayer Summit. It is exactly what I
need at this point in my 'captivity' here in the good ol' USA. I hope to get God's per-
spective about this era of my life. As always, I covet your prayers on my behalf.

Blessings to you and yours,

It's Friday, But Sunday's Comin'!

Holy Week is my favorite time of the year. Nothing during the year, including Advent
and Christmas, compares to the spectacular glories of Good Friday and Resurrec-
tion Sunday. Last night I went to a Maundy Thursday service at a sister Presbyterian
Church in town. Tonight I am doing the voices of Pontius Pilate, Peter, Luke, and
John in a Good Friday cantata in my home church. Then on Easter Sunday we will
meet for an Easter breakfast and morning worship. All this week I have been reading
the Easter narratives from the four gospels. It is such a glorious time for me because
my attention is focused on what God has done for us in the Cross of Jesus Christ
and his Resurrection from the dead. The eyes of my heart look to the work God has
done through Jesus Christ, not on any work that I do to earn God's favour, the for-
giveness of our sins. That is the very heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the mes-
sage we proclaim to the nations. 

This week has been a very hectic week for me. The Cross and the Empty Tomb
have provided me with stability and security in a very chaotic time. I ordered a Mac
Book that just arrived today. So now I have to make the uncomfortable switch
from Microsoft to Mac, although I have heard that the latter is far easier to learn
and operate than the former. I recently signed a rental agreement for a studio
apartment, and now I face the challenge of finding furniture and furnishings. My num-
ber one priority has been locating an extra long twin bed and bedding for it. I pick
up the bed today or tomorrow. Meanwhile people have been supplying me with
stuff to fill the apartment. My greatest challenge has been finding a used car that is
priced just right and one that I can fit in without my knees up under my chin when I
drive. I think I have found one that fits the bill. I am running here, there, and every-
where.

I do feel stressed. With so many things to do and arrange and so many places to
go, I feel overwhelmed. I am suddenly being uncoupled from my life that was cen-
tered around the University of St. Andrews. Now God is starting the process of
coupling me to the people at St. Fergus Parish Church in Scotland. In a way that
only God could arrange, I find that it means being placed here in the Longview/-
Kelso area until early next year. It's quite a challenge, and I feel like I am growing
by leaps and bounds. It may be a while before I am again online posting blogs. I
don't know what to expect timewise in setting up the Mac. I hope it won't be too
long before I am posting again, but I am not sure. I have quite a few challenges be-
fore me. As always, I ask you for your prayers.

An abundance of Easter blessings to you and yours,