This is a short blog posting, I hope. I had been working on two different postings over the past
three weeks, but the Christmas Season just kept plowing on. I wasn't able to put the finishing
touches on them. I was too caught up in this hectic time and did not have an opportunity to get
them on line. They were close to being ready to post, so maybe I can get both of them up dur-
ing the next few days. That would be something new for me!
During the past two weeks people have been wishing me a happy Christmas; a few people said
merry Christmas to me. Over the course of eight Christmas seasons here in Scotland, I have re-
ceived the former more often than the latter. But people have mentioned to me that the wishing
of a merry Christmas is becoming more common. It doesn't matter to me; I accept both of them!
It's the day after Christmas and I am laying low today, and perhaps tomorrow, too. I thought I
would be suffering from severe Post-Traumatic Christmas Syndrome, but I'm not. I actually feel
pretty good after seven and half hours of sleep last night. I do feel a little mentally worn out. I
churned out six messages and four services for the period between Friday, December 21, and
Tuesday, Christmas Day.
The Advent and Christmas seasons are theologically- and biblically-rich times that set the scene
for the proclamation of the beautiful and true reality of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I had fun
preaching about who Jesus was and why He came, especially to people who rarely come to
church during the rest of the year. I enjoyed preparing messages and crafting services, especial-
ly the Service of Readings and Carols at St Fergus Parish Church on Christmas Eve.
From Friday to Christmas Day I led or was involved in six services. I spoke at the St Fergus Pri-
mary School's Christmas Assembly at the church; twice at St Fergus Parish Church services; and
at three other church services in the area. There were three different themes that I kept referring to
in various ways: Jesus is the Reason for the Christmas Season; Jesus' birth in Bethlehem that first Christmas is God's Supreme Gift of Himself to us; and behind the Manger is the Cross of
Christ. During this past Christmas Season I kept repeating the sounding joy.
Happy and Merry Christmas to you and yours,
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Wednesday, December 05, 2012
I Can Feel It - Something's Happening Here
I was up early Sunday morning to finish preparing for the Sunday service. I looked out of my
bedroom window to a nearby streetlight. The light illuminated falling snow. I looked at my car
parked down below and saw the windshield caked with ice. My study felt like the inside of a
refrigerator and the whole house was cold. I turned on the heating and clothed myself in layers.
I still shivered as the room started to warm up. My first real taste of winter in the Land of Buch-
an. I have heard that there's not that much snow here and that it rarely gets below freezing. But
still, I would rather have Spring-like weather than the wet cold of a winter day in the North East
of Scotland. The increasing shorter hours of daylight only contribute to the feeling that winter is
here for the long-term.
But the colder and darker it becomes outside, the the more I become aware of what Jesus is do-
ing in the hearts of people at St Fergus Parish Church. Weather-wise, it was freezing cold and
icy last Sunday. I had expected that turn out for the church service would be lower than usual.
But it seemed as if people paid little attention to the bleak weather and came to church to wor-
ship the Lord and hear God's Word. For the past several weeks, and especially on Sunday, I
have strongly sensed that God was doing something in all of us. I feel it as I visit people in
their homes. It has been good to see several elders leaning forward during the sermon as if
they were drinking in what Jesus had to give them. I could see it in the eyes of the people in
the congregation. For some time now I have been sensing a softness in certain people who
seemed prickly and hard before. The Lord certainly has been at work in people's lives well be-
fore I came to St Fergus Parish Church. But now I can really feel it: something's happening
here. I covet your prayers for me and the people of St Fergus Parish Church.
Blessings to you and yours,
bedroom window to a nearby streetlight. The light illuminated falling snow. I looked at my car
parked down below and saw the windshield caked with ice. My study felt like the inside of a
refrigerator and the whole house was cold. I turned on the heating and clothed myself in layers.
I still shivered as the room started to warm up. My first real taste of winter in the Land of Buch-
an. I have heard that there's not that much snow here and that it rarely gets below freezing. But
still, I would rather have Spring-like weather than the wet cold of a winter day in the North East
of Scotland. The increasing shorter hours of daylight only contribute to the feeling that winter is
here for the long-term.
But the colder and darker it becomes outside, the the more I become aware of what Jesus is do-
ing in the hearts of people at St Fergus Parish Church. Weather-wise, it was freezing cold and
icy last Sunday. I had expected that turn out for the church service would be lower than usual.
But it seemed as if people paid little attention to the bleak weather and came to church to wor-
ship the Lord and hear God's Word. For the past several weeks, and especially on Sunday, I
have strongly sensed that God was doing something in all of us. I feel it as I visit people in
their homes. It has been good to see several elders leaning forward during the sermon as if
they were drinking in what Jesus had to give them. I could see it in the eyes of the people in
the congregation. For some time now I have been sensing a softness in certain people who
seemed prickly and hard before. The Lord certainly has been at work in people's lives well be-
fore I came to St Fergus Parish Church. But now I can really feel it: something's happening
here. I covet your prayers for me and the people of St Fergus Parish Church.
Blessings to you and yours,
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
How's My Bonnie Loon?
Agnes and Jim are my fantastic next door neighbours. Agnes keeps me well fed with the best of
North-East Scottish cuisine. She also has taken up the challenge of teaching me the fine points
of the Doric Tongue. She's a fine teacher, talking to me at least once every day. Jim, Agnes's
husband for nearly fifty years, is blessed with one of the nicest smiles on the face of any man.
He's always on the go, always doing something for one of their sons or grandchildren. They
also have taken on the assignment of keeping an eye out for me. They've helped me out in so
many ways. They are the best of neighbours. I've posted a picture of Agnes in a previous post.
Jim is shy about having his picture taken, even when he flashes his award-winning smile.
Rarely does a day go by that either Jim and I, Agnes and I, or the three of us, don't have a long
chat over the concrete wall that separates our two yards. For several weeks now Jim has been
using a different greeting than I have heard before. He asks: 'how's my bonnie loon?'It literally
means: how is my nice young boy? But in this situation, it means: how is my nice young man?
I reply with the standard North-East reply: 'nay bad' (not bad). Coming from Jim with his infa-
mous grin, I hear it is a term endearment. Sometimes I feel flattered that he refers to me as a
young man. But then I realise that from his vantage point of being nearly 70 years old, any per-
son younger than him is a young man or young woman. I am really humbled by the affection
and care that the two of them lavish upon me. What did I do to deserve that? Three weeks ago,
we had one of our two communion services of the year at the church. Agnes always comes to
the communion service, but Bill never has come, at least until three weeks ago. There he was,
sitting in a pew, and taking communion at the service. I really desire that both of them exper-
ience the depths of Jesus' love for them and enjoy him forever. I am glad they are my good
neighbours. I am truly blessed.
Blessings to you and yours,
North-East Scottish cuisine. She also has taken up the challenge of teaching me the fine points
of the Doric Tongue. She's a fine teacher, talking to me at least once every day. Jim, Agnes's
husband for nearly fifty years, is blessed with one of the nicest smiles on the face of any man.
He's always on the go, always doing something for one of their sons or grandchildren. They
also have taken on the assignment of keeping an eye out for me. They've helped me out in so
many ways. They are the best of neighbours. I've posted a picture of Agnes in a previous post.
Jim is shy about having his picture taken, even when he flashes his award-winning smile.
Rarely does a day go by that either Jim and I, Agnes and I, or the three of us, don't have a long
chat over the concrete wall that separates our two yards. For several weeks now Jim has been
using a different greeting than I have heard before. He asks: 'how's my bonnie loon?'It literally
means: how is my nice young boy? But in this situation, it means: how is my nice young man?
I reply with the standard North-East reply: 'nay bad' (not bad). Coming from Jim with his infa-
mous grin, I hear it is a term endearment. Sometimes I feel flattered that he refers to me as a
young man. But then I realise that from his vantage point of being nearly 70 years old, any per-
son younger than him is a young man or young woman. I am really humbled by the affection
and care that the two of them lavish upon me. What did I do to deserve that? Three weeks ago,
we had one of our two communion services of the year at the church. Agnes always comes to
the communion service, but Bill never has come, at least until three weeks ago. There he was,
sitting in a pew, and taking communion at the service. I really desire that both of them exper-
ience the depths of Jesus' love for them and enjoy him forever. I am glad they are my good
neighbours. I am truly blessed.
Blessings to you and yours,
Monday, November 12, 2012
Just Drop It, Get Over It, and Carry on
It is now six days after the election, and the loss by the Republicans still stings. A good number
of bloggers and commentators I respect are still stunned. There were reasonable expectations of
the Republicans taking control of the Senate and replacing President Obama with President Rom-
ney. Four years ago, there was no indication that Republicans would come this close. However,
strong Republican victories in the midterm elections of 2010 only stimulated a sense of hope.
But even six months ago, the prevailing narrative was that President Obama was safe in the
White House. Since the Republican National Convention there was a growing optimism that
the Republicans would do well this election cycle. There were a few vocal Republicans who
foresaw a landslide victory for Romney and the Republicans, especially in the Senate. But the
voices I trust the most spoke of a close race, perhaps one of the closest in decades, one that
could easily have gone either way.
But it was not to be the way I and many others had wished it to be. President Obama and the Democrats won a close election in terms of the popular vote and earned a decisive victory in
the Electoral College. They even strengthened their hold in the Senate. It is like I was watching
my favorite American football team playing in a championship game against an established team
that had an earned reputation for winning. It is a hard-fought game between my underdog team
and a team heavily favored to win. It comes down to the last minute of the game. Our hopes rise
as our team advances on the opponent's goal line. The other team leads by one point with just a
few seconds left. Our team kicks a three point field goal for the win, but it is blocked by a defen-
sive player from the other team. It was a very narrow margin of loss, yet it was a decisive win
by the other team. Their players are jubilant and celebrate their well-deserved victory. But the
players and supporters of my team feel great disappointment. Our team did well and played well
enough to win. Victory was in our grasp. We could see it. But how quickly it was gone. I and
many others feel the sting of defeat.
I have just a few comments to make about the election. I am deeply concerned about how easily charges of racism, greed, hate, religious fanaticism, and the waging of war against women and
the ninety nine percent spew forth from the mouths of Democrats. I would find it difficult to car-
ry on much-needed political conversation with someone who has been branded with one or more
of those charges. There has to be room for political dialogue without the fear of being accused of politically volatile charges. To many Democrats, Progressives and Liberals, Republicans and
Conservatives such as myself are labelled as racist, greedy, hateful, and even evil; to most Re-
publicans and Conservatives, politicians on the other side are viewed as wrong and misled, but
not evil or bad. Never has there been a sitting US president in modern times who has exercised
such a negative re-election campaign as President Obama. He had nothing else to run on. His
record is poor, and because of that, many Republicans were hopeful that the President would not
be re-elected. The negative campaign, however, was quite successful. It worked, and he was re-
elected to a second term. Some commentators suggest that the heavy negative messaging led to
voter suppression: indeed, it was a low turnout for election. People were put off by the negativ-
ity and stayed home rather than voting. I was relieved when I learned that the House of Repre-
sentatives had remained in Republican hands and did not go Democratic. It was an election that
favored incumbents of both parties. It preserved the status quo. Fortunately President Obama and
his fellow Democrats will not have the same control of the government that they enjoyed during
the first two years of President Obama's first term.
But enough of the election results. I am deeply disappointed at the outcome. I have vented my
feelings. Now it is time to just drop it, get over it, and carry on with life. I continue to pray for
President Obama, the Congress, and the Supreme Court; for the state governors and the state legislators; and for Her Majesty the Queen, her counsellors, Members of Parliament, and Mem-
bers of the Scottish National Parliament. I pray for and support human government at all levels,
but I do not put my trust in them. I trust in the LORD God, King of Kings and LORD of Lords,
and ruler of all the nations. Human government fails us, but the LORD God never does. Since
the election I have felt a deep abiding calm and sense of peace. I have a pastoral calling to care
for the dear people of St Fergus Parish Church. I enjoy politics, but pastoral leadership is my cal-
ling and vocation.
Blessing to you and yours,
of bloggers and commentators I respect are still stunned. There were reasonable expectations of
the Republicans taking control of the Senate and replacing President Obama with President Rom-
ney. Four years ago, there was no indication that Republicans would come this close. However,
strong Republican victories in the midterm elections of 2010 only stimulated a sense of hope.
But even six months ago, the prevailing narrative was that President Obama was safe in the
White House. Since the Republican National Convention there was a growing optimism that
the Republicans would do well this election cycle. There were a few vocal Republicans who
foresaw a landslide victory for Romney and the Republicans, especially in the Senate. But the
voices I trust the most spoke of a close race, perhaps one of the closest in decades, one that
could easily have gone either way.
But it was not to be the way I and many others had wished it to be. President Obama and the Democrats won a close election in terms of the popular vote and earned a decisive victory in
the Electoral College. They even strengthened their hold in the Senate. It is like I was watching
my favorite American football team playing in a championship game against an established team
that had an earned reputation for winning. It is a hard-fought game between my underdog team
and a team heavily favored to win. It comes down to the last minute of the game. Our hopes rise
as our team advances on the opponent's goal line. The other team leads by one point with just a
few seconds left. Our team kicks a three point field goal for the win, but it is blocked by a defen-
sive player from the other team. It was a very narrow margin of loss, yet it was a decisive win
by the other team. Their players are jubilant and celebrate their well-deserved victory. But the
players and supporters of my team feel great disappointment. Our team did well and played well
enough to win. Victory was in our grasp. We could see it. But how quickly it was gone. I and
many others feel the sting of defeat.
I have just a few comments to make about the election. I am deeply concerned about how easily charges of racism, greed, hate, religious fanaticism, and the waging of war against women and
the ninety nine percent spew forth from the mouths of Democrats. I would find it difficult to car-
ry on much-needed political conversation with someone who has been branded with one or more
of those charges. There has to be room for political dialogue without the fear of being accused of politically volatile charges. To many Democrats, Progressives and Liberals, Republicans and
Conservatives such as myself are labelled as racist, greedy, hateful, and even evil; to most Re-
publicans and Conservatives, politicians on the other side are viewed as wrong and misled, but
not evil or bad. Never has there been a sitting US president in modern times who has exercised
such a negative re-election campaign as President Obama. He had nothing else to run on. His
record is poor, and because of that, many Republicans were hopeful that the President would not
be re-elected. The negative campaign, however, was quite successful. It worked, and he was re-
elected to a second term. Some commentators suggest that the heavy negative messaging led to
voter suppression: indeed, it was a low turnout for election. People were put off by the negativ-
ity and stayed home rather than voting. I was relieved when I learned that the House of Repre-
sentatives had remained in Republican hands and did not go Democratic. It was an election that
favored incumbents of both parties. It preserved the status quo. Fortunately President Obama and
his fellow Democrats will not have the same control of the government that they enjoyed during
the first two years of President Obama's first term.
But enough of the election results. I am deeply disappointed at the outcome. I have vented my
feelings. Now it is time to just drop it, get over it, and carry on with life. I continue to pray for
President Obama, the Congress, and the Supreme Court; for the state governors and the state legislators; and for Her Majesty the Queen, her counsellors, Members of Parliament, and Mem-
bers of the Scottish National Parliament. I pray for and support human government at all levels,
but I do not put my trust in them. I trust in the LORD God, King of Kings and LORD of Lords,
and ruler of all the nations. Human government fails us, but the LORD God never does. Since
the election I have felt a deep abiding calm and sense of peace. I have a pastoral calling to care
for the dear people of St Fergus Parish Church. I enjoy politics, but pastoral leadership is my cal-
ling and vocation.
Blessing to you and yours,
Tuesday, November 06, 2012
USA Election Day 2012
Earlier this morning, I was in the waiting room of the regional health clinic, waiting for my flu shot.
I started chatting with the guy next to me. He quickly picked up that I was from across the Pond.
The Brits learn quickly that Canadians do not want to be identified with Americans. So he asked
me if I was Canadian or American. When he heard that I was an American, he started talking
about the US presidential election today. I sensed that he had assumed I was supporting Presi-
dent Obama for another four more years. I told him I had mailed in my ballot four weeks ago and
that I had voted for Mitt Romney. He seemed stunned, but to his credit, continued to talk to me
about the election. He typifies most Brits with whom I have talked with about American politics.
They have a love affair with President Obama, a deep hatred for George Bush, and contempt for
Romney, Republicans, and the Tea Party. They cannot conceive how anyone can vote for anyone
other than President Obama and the Democratic Party. It truly saddens me.
But the atmosphere here in Britain is nowhere as toxic and acrimonious as it is in the USA. I won-
der how much longer Hollywood, academia, public sector unions, the gay and pro choice advo-
cacy groups, and the alphabet arms of mainstream media will continue to drink the bitter cup of liberalism and progressivism. I do not want the USA to go the way of of spiritual impoverishment
that I contend that the societies of Western Europe, Great Britain, and Canada are following. I do
not want four more years of President Obama and/or at least two more years of a Democratically-
controlled Senate that squashes any hope of national economic, political, and moral recovery in
order to pursue their Big Government and social liberation agenda. Eight years of increasing po-
tical power of Speaker Pelosi, President of the Senate Reed, and President Obama have brought
us to the critically negative situation that the people of the USA now face.
President Obama is a good and decent man. I respect him as a man, a husband, and a father. But
I do not respect him in his ability to serve as President of the USA. Four years ago the people of
the USA elected him President because of his character and ability, not because of the color of
his skin. Now it is my hope that the people of the USA will vote for President Obama to retire
from office, not because of the color of his skin, but because of his inability to govern on behalf
of the people of the USA.
It is my deepest hope and my greatest desire that tonight the people of the USA will elect Mitt
Romney as the next President of the USA and Paul Ryan as the Vice President. I look forward
to the Republicans gaining control of the Senate. But the control must not be such that hinders
Democrats bringing their issues to the floor for discussion. President Obama spoke of cooper-
tion when he was running for President, and yet cut off the defeated Republican minority from
any participation in the democratic process. Then he vilified the Republicans for being obstruct-
tionists. I could not see a President Romney acting in that manner. Both as a business man and
as a governor, he facilitated discussion and interaction among various groups. I want Republi-
can majorities in both Houses, but I am against strong Republican majorities. The two parties
must govern together for the common good of the people. In so many ways, the Democrats
did not follow that path in four years of being in power in Congress and the Presidency. We
must fight against the Republicans doing as the Democrats did the last four years.
I have followed Romney with great interest ever since he came on the presidential scene six
years ago. He possesses the skills, character, and abilities to be a great President. If there has
been anyone who has been groomed to be at that position, it is Romney. In addition, he is a
good, decent, and kind man. I cannot understand the critical negative attacks that have come
his way from the mainstream media and the Democrats, including the President. Romney's
Mormon faith does not concern me. As Billy Graham has written, the people of the USA are
electing a President, not a Pastor in Chief. I firmly believe Romney will be a great President.
I am glad when I hear that fellow Evangelicals are enthusiastic about Romney. There is an
outpouring of support by Evangelicals for him.
I expect one of three scenarios today: either President Obama will win re-election narrowly;
Romney will win narrowly; or Romney will win going away. The Democrat narrative is
that President Obama has the election locked up. They would say that the polls show him
to be favored. The Democrat's organisers have succeeded in executing their ground game
that they carried out so brilliantly four years ago. That is the narrative that is being pre-
sented by mainstream media. It is so pervasive, that many supporters of Romney become
discouraged. Many of the polls are based on the turnout for the 2008 election when the
Dems soundly trounced the Republicans. Everything went right for them. It was like
the Perfect Storm for Democrats. Candidate Obama and fellow Democrats would have
won regardless of who the Republicans put forth. In 2012 pollsters used samplings from
that year, a year that heavily favored the Dems. But in 2010 the Republicans surprisingly
took control of the House and challenged the Dems in the Senate. The Republicans sent
a message that things would be changing. The Dems have given not attention to 2010.
The Republicans tend to pay more attention to the results of 2010. As a result, they see
the current political landscape differently. The Republican narrative is that Romney has
taken the momentum from the President. Voters were finally able to view a good and
decent Candidate Romney during the debates, especially the first one. People saw Rom-
ney for who he is, not in the way that the Democrats and the national media had selec-
tively presented him. Voters were impressed, and increasingly supported Romney. Yet
the polls still have been showing a slight lead for the President. There are problems with
the polls that have been favoring the President. Despite this bias, Romney is slightly
ahead or tied with the President. It could go either way, especially in the key battleground
states. But the Independent votes are swinging to Romney. I am expecting that Romney
will win this election, but it could go the other way for the President. If the President does
win, it would be a very ugly victory that would not serve the nation well. I pray the Presi-
dent and the Democrats are soundly defeated because the people of the USA cannot take
four more years of this.
Well, I have to cut this off. I have to leave for a big meeting tonight and I want to get this
off now rather than waiting until later tonight. There is no time to proof read or smooth
things out. But it is better than nothing.
Blessings to you and yours,
I started chatting with the guy next to me. He quickly picked up that I was from across the Pond.
The Brits learn quickly that Canadians do not want to be identified with Americans. So he asked
me if I was Canadian or American. When he heard that I was an American, he started talking
about the US presidential election today. I sensed that he had assumed I was supporting Presi-
dent Obama for another four more years. I told him I had mailed in my ballot four weeks ago and
that I had voted for Mitt Romney. He seemed stunned, but to his credit, continued to talk to me
about the election. He typifies most Brits with whom I have talked with about American politics.
They have a love affair with President Obama, a deep hatred for George Bush, and contempt for
Romney, Republicans, and the Tea Party. They cannot conceive how anyone can vote for anyone
other than President Obama and the Democratic Party. It truly saddens me.
But the atmosphere here in Britain is nowhere as toxic and acrimonious as it is in the USA. I won-
der how much longer Hollywood, academia, public sector unions, the gay and pro choice advo-
cacy groups, and the alphabet arms of mainstream media will continue to drink the bitter cup of liberalism and progressivism. I do not want the USA to go the way of of spiritual impoverishment
that I contend that the societies of Western Europe, Great Britain, and Canada are following. I do
not want four more years of President Obama and/or at least two more years of a Democratically-
controlled Senate that squashes any hope of national economic, political, and moral recovery in
order to pursue their Big Government and social liberation agenda. Eight years of increasing po-
tical power of Speaker Pelosi, President of the Senate Reed, and President Obama have brought
us to the critically negative situation that the people of the USA now face.
President Obama is a good and decent man. I respect him as a man, a husband, and a father. But
I do not respect him in his ability to serve as President of the USA. Four years ago the people of
the USA elected him President because of his character and ability, not because of the color of
his skin. Now it is my hope that the people of the USA will vote for President Obama to retire
from office, not because of the color of his skin, but because of his inability to govern on behalf
of the people of the USA.
It is my deepest hope and my greatest desire that tonight the people of the USA will elect Mitt
Romney as the next President of the USA and Paul Ryan as the Vice President. I look forward
to the Republicans gaining control of the Senate. But the control must not be such that hinders
Democrats bringing their issues to the floor for discussion. President Obama spoke of cooper-
tion when he was running for President, and yet cut off the defeated Republican minority from
any participation in the democratic process. Then he vilified the Republicans for being obstruct-
tionists. I could not see a President Romney acting in that manner. Both as a business man and
as a governor, he facilitated discussion and interaction among various groups. I want Republi-
can majorities in both Houses, but I am against strong Republican majorities. The two parties
must govern together for the common good of the people. In so many ways, the Democrats
did not follow that path in four years of being in power in Congress and the Presidency. We
must fight against the Republicans doing as the Democrats did the last four years.
I have followed Romney with great interest ever since he came on the presidential scene six
years ago. He possesses the skills, character, and abilities to be a great President. If there has
been anyone who has been groomed to be at that position, it is Romney. In addition, he is a
good, decent, and kind man. I cannot understand the critical negative attacks that have come
his way from the mainstream media and the Democrats, including the President. Romney's
Mormon faith does not concern me. As Billy Graham has written, the people of the USA are
electing a President, not a Pastor in Chief. I firmly believe Romney will be a great President.
I am glad when I hear that fellow Evangelicals are enthusiastic about Romney. There is an
outpouring of support by Evangelicals for him.
I expect one of three scenarios today: either President Obama will win re-election narrowly;
Romney will win narrowly; or Romney will win going away. The Democrat narrative is
that President Obama has the election locked up. They would say that the polls show him
to be favored. The Democrat's organisers have succeeded in executing their ground game
that they carried out so brilliantly four years ago. That is the narrative that is being pre-
sented by mainstream media. It is so pervasive, that many supporters of Romney become
discouraged. Many of the polls are based on the turnout for the 2008 election when the
Dems soundly trounced the Republicans. Everything went right for them. It was like
the Perfect Storm for Democrats. Candidate Obama and fellow Democrats would have
won regardless of who the Republicans put forth. In 2012 pollsters used samplings from
that year, a year that heavily favored the Dems. But in 2010 the Republicans surprisingly
took control of the House and challenged the Dems in the Senate. The Republicans sent
a message that things would be changing. The Dems have given not attention to 2010.
The Republicans tend to pay more attention to the results of 2010. As a result, they see
the current political landscape differently. The Republican narrative is that Romney has
taken the momentum from the President. Voters were finally able to view a good and
decent Candidate Romney during the debates, especially the first one. People saw Rom-
ney for who he is, not in the way that the Democrats and the national media had selec-
tively presented him. Voters were impressed, and increasingly supported Romney. Yet
the polls still have been showing a slight lead for the President. There are problems with
the polls that have been favoring the President. Despite this bias, Romney is slightly
ahead or tied with the President. It could go either way, especially in the key battleground
states. But the Independent votes are swinging to Romney. I am expecting that Romney
will win this election, but it could go the other way for the President. If the President does
win, it would be a very ugly victory that would not serve the nation well. I pray the Presi-
dent and the Democrats are soundly defeated because the people of the USA cannot take
four more years of this.
Well, I have to cut this off. I have to leave for a big meeting tonight and I want to get this
off now rather than waiting until later tonight. There is no time to proof read or smooth
things out. But it is better than nothing.
Blessings to you and yours,
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Jesus, The Lord of Time, and the Lord of My Time
Two weeks ago I was planning the upcoming week. I noticed that I had more than I usually do on
my plate of things to do. Planning the service for the upcoming Sunday was routine. But I remem-
bered that I had been invited to speak to the Baptist church seniors on Thursday. Since it was my
first time there, I did not know what to expect and I began my preparation the week before. I con-
nected Psalm 23 with Jesus' declaration in John 10:14-15 that he is the Good Shepherd who lays
down his life for the sheep. I thought about focusing the Sunday sermon on Jesus' proclamation
on the Son of Man in Mark 10:45. Little did I realise that my plate would soon have more for me
to do.
On Sunday evening as I surveyed the upcoming week, I remembered that I had also promised to
attend a Pray for Scotland consultation on Wednesday with some new friends from the North-
East of Scotland. It would be a 6 am to 6 pm time commitment made up of six hours of travel
time and six hours in conference. It would cut down on the amount of preparation time I had
planned on to prepare to speak to the Baptist seniors. But I was committed to going because I
believe that concentrated prayer is needed in this critical time in Scotland. No ifs, ands, or buts
about it.
But I received a stiff challenge when the local funeral director called me Sunday evening to ask
if I could take a funeral on Thursday at 2:00. It was with a great amount of relief that I informed
him that I was engaged elsewhere at that time (the Baptist church seniors). But that didn't stop
him. He came back at me with a 12 noon time for the service. Reasons to say no quickly flooded
into my mind, but all I could do was whimper a yes. I have vowed never to back down from an
opportunity to preach the Gospel or serve others if I am able. Even though I expected to be hard pressed in a way I never had been before, I took the funeral.
I spent the rest of Sunday night and early Monday morning asking God for help. I felt chal-
lenged in a way I had never been challenged before. Never before had I had to prepare three ser-
mons or messages and two services in a four day period. I was stretched beyond what I thought
were my limits. That's how I was feeling Monday morning when I received a second call from
the funeral director. He asked me to take another funeral on Friday morning. I chuckled to my
self and thought why not? Bring it on! I wanted to go for the gusto! I had my work cut out for
me, so I called the grieving families and made arrangements to visit with them on the next day.
Monday is my usual day off. I really needed to be re-energised and refreshed. I committed all
that I had to do in the next few days to the Lord. I put it all in his hands and rested.
Tuesday morning I was like a race horse shooting out of the gates. I visited the two families,
prepared the Thursday funeral service and message, and worked on the Thursday message to
the Baptist seniors. Most of the day Wednesday was spent traveling to and from the Pray for
Scotland consultation. It was a great time, especially the fellowship with my three travel com-
panions and fellow pray-ers. But I had to make use of every minute Wednesday evening to
be sure I was ready for Thursday's funeral service and the talk to the Baptists seniors. Things
went very well with both services. That evening I attended a Presbytery committee meeting
even though I wanted to be home preparing for Friday's funeral. I worked late on the service
and then got up early to finish it off. I took seriously the preparation of the Friday funeral, as
I do all funerals I conduct. The service went well.
By Friday evening I was starting to run out of steam. I still had to prepare a short meditation
on Psalm 1 for a prayer meeting I help lead at another Church of Scotland congregation in
Peterhead. I also had to prepare the service and sermon for that Sunday. The lectionary gos-
pel text for that Sunday was Mark 10:32-45. I focused on Jesus saying in Mark 10:45: For
even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom
for many. This verse is rich in proclaiming the heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I enjoyed
the Saturday prayer meeting and I was really engaged with worship on Sunday morning.
Mark 10:45 is one of the classic texts on why Jesus came into the world and what he did on
the Cross. I felt Sunday morning worship went particularly well. I was brimming with energy
until I went home and had lunch. Then I took a long, very enjoyable nap. I was worn out by
all I did that week.
I learned a lot about myself that week. I was stretched well beyond what I felt I could do in
terms of speaking and preaching. Never before had I preached or spoken five times in four
days. I was stretched beyond what I thought were my limits. I realise now that I spend more
time than I need in preparation for speaking and preaching. I over-prepare and waste time in
sermon preparation. But when I had several sermons or talks to prepare at the same time, I
had to be disciplined in my use of time. I felt I always had just the right amount of time that
I needed to do a good job that was honorable to the Lord. It was a big step forward for me
in my use of time. I was reminded again that Jesus is not only the Lord of time, but he is al-
so the Lord of my time.
Blessings to you and yours,
my plate of things to do. Planning the service for the upcoming Sunday was routine. But I remem-
bered that I had been invited to speak to the Baptist church seniors on Thursday. Since it was my
first time there, I did not know what to expect and I began my preparation the week before. I con-
nected Psalm 23 with Jesus' declaration in John 10:14-15 that he is the Good Shepherd who lays
down his life for the sheep. I thought about focusing the Sunday sermon on Jesus' proclamation
on the Son of Man in Mark 10:45. Little did I realise that my plate would soon have more for me
to do.
On Sunday evening as I surveyed the upcoming week, I remembered that I had also promised to
attend a Pray for Scotland consultation on Wednesday with some new friends from the North-
East of Scotland. It would be a 6 am to 6 pm time commitment made up of six hours of travel
time and six hours in conference. It would cut down on the amount of preparation time I had
planned on to prepare to speak to the Baptist seniors. But I was committed to going because I
believe that concentrated prayer is needed in this critical time in Scotland. No ifs, ands, or buts
about it.
But I received a stiff challenge when the local funeral director called me Sunday evening to ask
if I could take a funeral on Thursday at 2:00. It was with a great amount of relief that I informed
him that I was engaged elsewhere at that time (the Baptist church seniors). But that didn't stop
him. He came back at me with a 12 noon time for the service. Reasons to say no quickly flooded
into my mind, but all I could do was whimper a yes. I have vowed never to back down from an
opportunity to preach the Gospel or serve others if I am able. Even though I expected to be hard pressed in a way I never had been before, I took the funeral.
I spent the rest of Sunday night and early Monday morning asking God for help. I felt chal-
lenged in a way I had never been challenged before. Never before had I had to prepare three ser-
mons or messages and two services in a four day period. I was stretched beyond what I thought
were my limits. That's how I was feeling Monday morning when I received a second call from
the funeral director. He asked me to take another funeral on Friday morning. I chuckled to my
self and thought why not? Bring it on! I wanted to go for the gusto! I had my work cut out for
me, so I called the grieving families and made arrangements to visit with them on the next day.
Monday is my usual day off. I really needed to be re-energised and refreshed. I committed all
that I had to do in the next few days to the Lord. I put it all in his hands and rested.
Tuesday morning I was like a race horse shooting out of the gates. I visited the two families,
prepared the Thursday funeral service and message, and worked on the Thursday message to
the Baptist seniors. Most of the day Wednesday was spent traveling to and from the Pray for
Scotland consultation. It was a great time, especially the fellowship with my three travel com-
panions and fellow pray-ers. But I had to make use of every minute Wednesday evening to
be sure I was ready for Thursday's funeral service and the talk to the Baptists seniors. Things
went very well with both services. That evening I attended a Presbytery committee meeting
even though I wanted to be home preparing for Friday's funeral. I worked late on the service
and then got up early to finish it off. I took seriously the preparation of the Friday funeral, as
I do all funerals I conduct. The service went well.
By Friday evening I was starting to run out of steam. I still had to prepare a short meditation
on Psalm 1 for a prayer meeting I help lead at another Church of Scotland congregation in
Peterhead. I also had to prepare the service and sermon for that Sunday. The lectionary gos-
pel text for that Sunday was Mark 10:32-45. I focused on Jesus saying in Mark 10:45: For
even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom
for many. This verse is rich in proclaiming the heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I enjoyed
the Saturday prayer meeting and I was really engaged with worship on Sunday morning.
Mark 10:45 is one of the classic texts on why Jesus came into the world and what he did on
the Cross. I felt Sunday morning worship went particularly well. I was brimming with energy
until I went home and had lunch. Then I took a long, very enjoyable nap. I was worn out by
all I did that week.
I learned a lot about myself that week. I was stretched well beyond what I felt I could do in
terms of speaking and preaching. Never before had I preached or spoken five times in four
days. I was stretched beyond what I thought were my limits. I realise now that I spend more
time than I need in preparation for speaking and preaching. I over-prepare and waste time in
sermon preparation. But when I had several sermons or talks to prepare at the same time, I
had to be disciplined in my use of time. I felt I always had just the right amount of time that
I needed to do a good job that was honorable to the Lord. It was a big step forward for me
in my use of time. I was reminded again that Jesus is not only the Lord of time, but he is al-
so the Lord of my time.
Blessings to you and yours,
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Gettin' Back in the Preachin' Groove Ag'in
Last Sunday and Monday I had the pleasure of speaking three times. Two of them were ser-
mons: at St Fergus Parish Church's Sunday morning service, and at the Fishermen Mission's
Sunday evening service. Then Monday evening I spoke to the St Fergus Parish Church Guild.
It was the first time in nearly ten years that I have spoken that many times in two days. I really
enjoyed it. I felt like I was getting back into a preaching groove. It is important to me to be pre-
paring sermons weekly and in a disciplined way. My goal is to prepare nutritious and Christ-
focused messages based on Scripture that feed growing believers in Jesus.
I never use material from one sermon or talk for another at a later time. I firmly believe in 'home
cooking' for each speaking engagement. It means that I spend time pacing back and forth in my
study in order to discern what the Lord would have me say. Now that I am preaching at St. Fer-
gus Parish Church every Sunday and often speaking to some other group, I can't spend as much
time as I used to listening and discerning what God would have me say. I often find myself think-
ing through a text of Scripture while doing something else. It gives me great pleasure to be back preaching every Sunday. I haven't done that since I was pastoring two churches in South Dakota
ten years ago.
Having to prepare for three speaking engagements in two days, I had to discipline the use of my
time. I realise that I have a habit of spending too much time preparing and, as a result, I have too
much material. Over the course of a twenty to twenty-five minute sermon, I have found that I of-
ten use half of material I had prepared. I would like to preach for longer periods of time, but that
would not be received well by people. Hopefully I can do that further on down the line. So, I have
been cutting down on the time I spend in sermon preparation. As a result of more experience
preaching recently, I am learning what material to cut out and what to use in support of my main
point of a talk or sermon. I am also finding ways to cut corners without jeopardising nutritious con-
tent of my message. Plus I am rediscovering my own style of preaching.
I really do enjoy preaching and consider it one of the most significant skills and gifts I have. But
as much as I enjoy it, I have much room for improvement. So it is nice to realise that I am com-
ing back up to speed after not being able to exercise this gift as much as I wanted for over eight
years. It's great gettin' back into the preachin' groove again.
Every blessing to you and yours,
mons: at St Fergus Parish Church's Sunday morning service, and at the Fishermen Mission's
Sunday evening service. Then Monday evening I spoke to the St Fergus Parish Church Guild.
It was the first time in nearly ten years that I have spoken that many times in two days. I really
enjoyed it. I felt like I was getting back into a preaching groove. It is important to me to be pre-
paring sermons weekly and in a disciplined way. My goal is to prepare nutritious and Christ-
focused messages based on Scripture that feed growing believers in Jesus.
I never use material from one sermon or talk for another at a later time. I firmly believe in 'home
cooking' for each speaking engagement. It means that I spend time pacing back and forth in my
study in order to discern what the Lord would have me say. Now that I am preaching at St. Fer-
gus Parish Church every Sunday and often speaking to some other group, I can't spend as much
time as I used to listening and discerning what God would have me say. I often find myself think-
ing through a text of Scripture while doing something else. It gives me great pleasure to be back preaching every Sunday. I haven't done that since I was pastoring two churches in South Dakota
ten years ago.
Having to prepare for three speaking engagements in two days, I had to discipline the use of my
time. I realise that I have a habit of spending too much time preparing and, as a result, I have too
much material. Over the course of a twenty to twenty-five minute sermon, I have found that I of-
ten use half of material I had prepared. I would like to preach for longer periods of time, but that
would not be received well by people. Hopefully I can do that further on down the line. So, I have
been cutting down on the time I spend in sermon preparation. As a result of more experience
preaching recently, I am learning what material to cut out and what to use in support of my main
point of a talk or sermon. I am also finding ways to cut corners without jeopardising nutritious con-
tent of my message. Plus I am rediscovering my own style of preaching.
I really do enjoy preaching and consider it one of the most significant skills and gifts I have. But
as much as I enjoy it, I have much room for improvement. So it is nice to realise that I am com-
ing back up to speed after not being able to exercise this gift as much as I wanted for over eight
years. It's great gettin' back into the preachin' groove again.
Every blessing to you and yours,
Monday, September 24, 2012
Everything's in a Whirl
I have had the best of intentions of posting frequently on the blog, but, alas, I have not been suc- cessful. I will keep trying though. I am doing very well, but everything's in a whirl. Probably it is
best that I give you small snapshots of what's been happening with me. Even though the pace of
life here in St. Fergus is pretty laid back, things come at me pretty quickly. There are times I feel
like I am trying to take a drink of water from a high-pressure fire hose. It is very hard to do.
I enjoy preaching weekly (hopefully not weakly) again after being away from it since August,
2003, when I left pastoring two churches in South Dakota in order to study at the University of
St Andrews in Scotland. From that time to late 2008 I did not have opportunities to preach. As a
result, my preaching became quite rusty. Plus, I think that major heart surgery in 2006 had a neg-
ative effect on my preaching and critical thinking skills. Slowly I have been regaining my confi-
dence and skills that are needed for preaching. Since mid-July I have been using the lectionary
readings from Mark 6-8 and John 6 as my preaching texts each Sunday. I have been enjoying
focusing on who Jesus is. My desire is to encourage that we at St Fergus Parish Church have a
closer walk with Jesus.
I go into Peterhead frequently. It is only an eight-minute drive into the town centre. Two fel-
low ministers have become close friends. One of them, Abi, is minister of one of the three
Church of Scotland congregations in Peterhead. He is from the Democratic Republic of the
Congo, studied and taught at a theological school in Kenya, and then came to the University
of Aberdeen to do a PhD in the Greek Old Testament. After finishing his thesis, he was en-
couraged to remain in Scotland to minister with the Church of Scotland. Abi oozes love for
Jesus as well as for people. He's a brilliant preacher. He was seen as quite a catch for churches
with vacant pulpits. I can imagine there were a lot of broken hearts at several churches when
he sensed God calling him to a church in Peterhead. I am glad the Lord sent him here. He has
quickly become a dear friend and ministry colleague.
Then there is Isabel who is the minister at the Methodist church in town. She came to pastoral
ministry in the Methodist Church after she and her husband had been serving in ministry to sea-
men and deep sea fishermen since the mid-70s. She has been at the Peterhead church for just
over a year, taking over a congregation which had been in serious decline in recent years. It is
already starting to shows signs of life under Isabel's pastoral leadership. Like Abi, she has a love
for Jesus and a love for people. I am attracted to the way she speaks with her Scottish lilt. I could
listen to her pray and preach for hours. Isabel and her husband Bob have become close friends
and dear ministry colleagues.
On Saturday mornings Isabel, Bob, and I attend a growing prayer group that Abi started recently
in his church. Then early Tuesday morning Isabel, Bob, and I attend a layperson-led prayer group
that has been meeting in the Methodist Church for many years. The four of us are committed to
praying long-term for revival to breakout here in the North-East of Scotland. It has been my plea-
sure and privilege to find them so quickly and to be so quickly drawn into a network of prayer
here in Peterhead.
There's so much to share with you. I hope to do a better job of posting on the blog.
Blessings to you and yours,
best that I give you small snapshots of what's been happening with me. Even though the pace of
life here in St. Fergus is pretty laid back, things come at me pretty quickly. There are times I feel
like I am trying to take a drink of water from a high-pressure fire hose. It is very hard to do.
I enjoy preaching weekly (hopefully not weakly) again after being away from it since August,
2003, when I left pastoring two churches in South Dakota in order to study at the University of
St Andrews in Scotland. From that time to late 2008 I did not have opportunities to preach. As a
result, my preaching became quite rusty. Plus, I think that major heart surgery in 2006 had a neg-
ative effect on my preaching and critical thinking skills. Slowly I have been regaining my confi-
dence and skills that are needed for preaching. Since mid-July I have been using the lectionary
readings from Mark 6-8 and John 6 as my preaching texts each Sunday. I have been enjoying
focusing on who Jesus is. My desire is to encourage that we at St Fergus Parish Church have a
closer walk with Jesus.
I go into Peterhead frequently. It is only an eight-minute drive into the town centre. Two fel-
low ministers have become close friends. One of them, Abi, is minister of one of the three
Church of Scotland congregations in Peterhead. He is from the Democratic Republic of the
Congo, studied and taught at a theological school in Kenya, and then came to the University
of Aberdeen to do a PhD in the Greek Old Testament. After finishing his thesis, he was en-
couraged to remain in Scotland to minister with the Church of Scotland. Abi oozes love for
Jesus as well as for people. He's a brilliant preacher. He was seen as quite a catch for churches
with vacant pulpits. I can imagine there were a lot of broken hearts at several churches when
he sensed God calling him to a church in Peterhead. I am glad the Lord sent him here. He has
quickly become a dear friend and ministry colleague.
Then there is Isabel who is the minister at the Methodist church in town. She came to pastoral
ministry in the Methodist Church after she and her husband had been serving in ministry to sea-
men and deep sea fishermen since the mid-70s. She has been at the Peterhead church for just
over a year, taking over a congregation which had been in serious decline in recent years. It is
already starting to shows signs of life under Isabel's pastoral leadership. Like Abi, she has a love
for Jesus and a love for people. I am attracted to the way she speaks with her Scottish lilt. I could
listen to her pray and preach for hours. Isabel and her husband Bob have become close friends
and dear ministry colleagues.
On Saturday mornings Isabel, Bob, and I attend a growing prayer group that Abi started recently
in his church. Then early Tuesday morning Isabel, Bob, and I attend a layperson-led prayer group
that has been meeting in the Methodist Church for many years. The four of us are committed to
praying long-term for revival to breakout here in the North-East of Scotland. It has been my plea-
sure and privilege to find them so quickly and to be so quickly drawn into a network of prayer
here in Peterhead.
There's so much to share with you. I hope to do a better job of posting on the blog.
Blessings to you and yours,
Tuesday, September 04, 2012
Agnes, My Friend and Neighbour
 |
| Agnes: my next door neighbour and new friend |
The photo above is of Agnes. She is many things: wife to Jim, mother to three sons and a
daughter, grandmother to five, one of the main caregivers for her elderly mum, a part-time
early morning employee of the wee Shop in St. Fergus, and a friend to all in the village.
For nearly three months that I have lived in St Fergus, Agnes and her husband Jim have
been great next door neighbours who have become the best of friends. Whereas Jim is a
man of few words, Agnes has the gift of chatting. Boy, can she talk! But I like it. At first
she talks in a more common English, and then slowly reverts back to the Doric Tongue, es-
pecially when other people join us. It is good for me to hear people talking about the com-
mon life of family, friends, food, and other things in the common tongue. I ask her where to
get things I need, where to shop at the best prices, where I can get petrol, how to fix things
that are broken, and how to cook certain foods.
been great next door neighbours who have become the best of friends. Whereas Jim is a
man of few words, Agnes has the gift of chatting. Boy, can she talk! But I like it. At first
she talks in a more common English, and then slowly reverts back to the Doric Tongue, es-
pecially when other people join us. It is good for me to hear people talking about the com-
mon life of family, friends, food, and other things in the common tongue. I ask her where to
get things I need, where to shop at the best prices, where I can get petrol, how to fix things
that are broken, and how to cook certain foods.
 |
| A meal Agnes prepared for me: mince pie, fresh tattoos, brown rice, and a carrot |
One of the things I appreciate about Agnes is her ability to cook. Above is a photo of one
of the meals she prepared for me. The mince pie was actually from a local butcher in Peter-
head. One day not too long ago, Agnes and Jim had their portion, and decided to share the
rest with me. Fortunately I had not started cooking my supper that day when I heard a knock
on my back door. Jim announced that Agnes had a dinner plate for me. I gratefully received
it and ate with great delight. The mince was heavenly and the crust was light and tasty. The
freshly dug boiled tatties (potatoes) were out of this world! The brown rice was a nice com-
plement and the one carrot was so good I wish there had been more.
Agnes had recently been telling me about herring, a popular fish here in the North-East.
Once again I heard a knock on the back door. When I opened it Jim presented me with a
herring and fresh tatties dinner. It is the first time that I have had herring. It is a white fish
that Agnes prepared with an oatmeal coating. It was very good. I also savoured her roast
beef with tatties, Yorkshire Puddings, and a carrot. It, too, was heavenly. One afternoon
she gave me a bowl of Scotch Broth. I have been well cared for and well fed.
Agnes represents an older way that some people live here in the North-East of Scotland.
She interacts with people by spoken words more than printed or digital words. Agnes en-
gages with her world through family, relationships, and friends more than through organi-
sations and government. She learns by doing things with others rather than reading a man-
ual or following directions. Even though she is on the roll of St Fergus Parish Church, she
only comes twice a year when the church has communion. She's one of the best at provid-
ing things for a church fundraiser or selling tickets for a church event. But God does not
have a place in her life even though her daughter and granddaughter are energetic believers
and active in a Peterhead church. Agnes is so friendly and hospitable. I only pray that she
will one day recognise God's gracious hospitality and enter into a personal relationship with
Christ.
Blessings to you and yours,
Sunday, August 26, 2012
My Wee Car
In a recent email, Larry -a good friend and reader of this blog- asked how my car situation was.
This is a picture of my car 'situation:' a 2012 Peugeot 107. The '107' stands for a one litre en-
gine, which is enough car power for me. The roads in the North-East are pretty flat; there aren't
many long inclines. I have heard reports that this Peugeot car does particularly well on the mo-
torways, especially with its excellent gas mileage. It is more than enough car for me. It is a stand-
ard transmission, which I am enjoying after driving an automatic the year and a half I was in the
USA.
You might be wondering how a rather tall guy fits into such a wee car. If you are, there is a good
basis for your wonderment. It is a small car. I do have to fold myself up in order to fit into it, but I
am comfortable. There is enough leg room for me and I am able to step on the clutch comfortably.
I am cozy, but not cramped. I feel snug like a bug in a rug! Getting out is ok, even though it takes
awhile to unwind myself and get out of the car. There are times when I think I can 'hear' people
watching me and thinking how I am ever going to get myself into this wee little car. Since I feel
limber and loose enough, the getting in and the getting out doesn't bother me.
When I was first in Scotland from September 2003 until January 2011, I did not have use of a car.
I just did not have the money for a car nor a need that would have justified my having a car. But it meant that I did not drive for over seven years. I was content with walking, taking trains or buses,
and getting lifts from friends with cars. I really did not need a car. I was not hindered in any way
by my not having an auto for my personal use. Fortunately, the sixteen months time I had at
home in the USA gave me an opportunity to get back into driving again. Having a car really helped
me to do a lot of tasks more quickly than if I hadn't have had a car to use. Walking or taking the
bus to do basic errands would not have been a good use of my time. But that wasn't the case
when I was in Scotland.
When I arrived back in Scotland several months ago, I realized how important it was to have a
vehicle. I am able to do more things more quickly by using a car. I rented a car until my 3-year
lease car was delivered to me. The lease program was offered through a special arrangement
with the Church of Scotland. I had a limited choice of cars, but I am happy with the car I have
chosen. I feel very comfortable driving here in the United Kingdom. My mind quickly made the
conversion from driving on the right side of the road to driving on the left. I still have to work
on making left hand turns and changing gears more gracefully with my left hand. I am cau-
tious driving down narrow streets with cars parked on both sides of the road. But overall, I feel
very comfortable driving here. Again I am experiencing the joy of driving a car with a stick shift.
As always, I covet your prayers.
Blessing to you and yours, .....
Monday, August 20, 2012
My First Scottish Wedding
I officiated at my first wedding in Scotland last Saturday. I am realizing how significant it was
in the formation of my ministry here at St Fergus Parish Church. I saw your good comment,
Big R, and I will respond to it in time. But now I need to reflect on the wedding I officiated at
just the other day. It has been two days since the wedding, and I am realizing how much I in-
vested of myself in crafting the marriage ceremony. Yesterday afternoon after having directed
Sunday worship as well as the wedding, I felt drained and just a little down. Even though I en-
joyed both services. I felt worn out.
I started meeting with the bride and the groom a month before the wedding. I can imagine that
they were wondering what this tall American dude/minister would do. The groom, who is in his
late twenties, has been working as a hair dresser since he was 14. He and his older brother be-
gan their own hair dresser shop when he was 17. The elder brother has emigrated to Australia,
but the groom has developed the shop into a successful small business that also trains young
people for hair styling of both women and men. One of the first trainees was the bride. For over
thirteen years she has found a vocation at the hair shop, and for over twelve years has been with
the groom. Just several weeks ago, the bride and groom moved into their new beautiful home
that the groom and his father have been working on for the past eight years. I believe I have
gained two great friends as we have met together to get to know one another and plan for the
wedding.
I spent considerable time researching how weddings are conducted here in the North-East of
Scotland. I asked questions of ministers and other people about the weddings they had been
part of or attended, and watched a video of one wedding in St Fergus Parish Church. The lay-
out of the sanctuary posed some stiff challenges for me as I thought through the service. The
bride and groom didn't really know what to do for the wedding, and were looking to me to tell
them what to do. Things really came together at the wedding rehearsal. The bride and her maid
of honor took my suggestions and added their input. I witnessed the transformation of the bride's
view of her own wedding. The wedding had always been important to the bride, but something happened there at the rehearsal. Focusing on the rapidly approaching wedding date, something
clicked within her and, in a way, she entered into her own wedding dance. It seemed to me that
when the groom sensed that, something clicked in him, too, and he joined her. Together they be-
gan to dance the dance that crested on their wedding day. There were no thunderclaps or halle-
lujah choruses, but something was transformed in the couple. The result was a wedding that
was honoring of marriage, beautiful, fun, and deeply meaningful, especially to the couple.
As I write this post, it is raining heavily outside and there is a barrage of thunder. I enjoy listen-
ing to the downpour on the windows and rolling heavenly booms. There is more that I want to
share about the wedding, but I will put that off for a day or two.
Until then, blessings to you and yours,
in the formation of my ministry here at St Fergus Parish Church. I saw your good comment,
Big R, and I will respond to it in time. But now I need to reflect on the wedding I officiated at
just the other day. It has been two days since the wedding, and I am realizing how much I in-
vested of myself in crafting the marriage ceremony. Yesterday afternoon after having directed
Sunday worship as well as the wedding, I felt drained and just a little down. Even though I en-
joyed both services. I felt worn out.
I started meeting with the bride and the groom a month before the wedding. I can imagine that
they were wondering what this tall American dude/minister would do. The groom, who is in his
late twenties, has been working as a hair dresser since he was 14. He and his older brother be-
gan their own hair dresser shop when he was 17. The elder brother has emigrated to Australia,
but the groom has developed the shop into a successful small business that also trains young
people for hair styling of both women and men. One of the first trainees was the bride. For over
thirteen years she has found a vocation at the hair shop, and for over twelve years has been with
the groom. Just several weeks ago, the bride and groom moved into their new beautiful home
that the groom and his father have been working on for the past eight years. I believe I have
gained two great friends as we have met together to get to know one another and plan for the
wedding.
I spent considerable time researching how weddings are conducted here in the North-East of
Scotland. I asked questions of ministers and other people about the weddings they had been
part of or attended, and watched a video of one wedding in St Fergus Parish Church. The lay-
out of the sanctuary posed some stiff challenges for me as I thought through the service. The
bride and groom didn't really know what to do for the wedding, and were looking to me to tell
them what to do. Things really came together at the wedding rehearsal. The bride and her maid
of honor took my suggestions and added their input. I witnessed the transformation of the bride's
view of her own wedding. The wedding had always been important to the bride, but something happened there at the rehearsal. Focusing on the rapidly approaching wedding date, something
clicked within her and, in a way, she entered into her own wedding dance. It seemed to me that
when the groom sensed that, something clicked in him, too, and he joined her. Together they be-
gan to dance the dance that crested on their wedding day. There were no thunderclaps or halle-
lujah choruses, but something was transformed in the couple. The result was a wedding that
was honoring of marriage, beautiful, fun, and deeply meaningful, especially to the couple.
ing to the downpour on the windows and rolling heavenly booms. There is more that I want to
share about the wedding, but I will put that off for a day or two.
Until then, blessings to you and yours,
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
A Response to Big R
It is always good to receive your comments, Big R. You know how to get a rise out of me.
In over thirty years of some sort of pastoral ministry I have come to realize just how messy
the Christian faith and church life are. Whether ancient Israel or the Church of the past two
millennia, God's people have always been characterized by messiness. Nothing Christians
do surprises me anymore. I did not write the blog post to place blame on anyone, especially
young people. I was reporting what I heard people share with me. Things are pretty messy
with the Church today.
with the Church today.
As I have been walking around St Fergus and Peterhead talking to church-going people, I
have heard two key questions, two critical issues. The first is: where have all the young
people gone? The second is: where have all the people gone? A number of people remem-
have heard two key questions, two critical issues. The first is: where have all the young
people gone? The second is: where have all the people gone? A number of people remem-
ber how the churches of the area were filled to the brim in the 1950s, 60s, and even into the
70s. Attending church activities for young people was part of growing up in Scotland. But
now things are much different. Churches are not what they used to be. I can feel their grief
and sadness as they participate in churches that are not what they used to be years ago. I
have heard it said that the North-East of Scotland is about 20-30 years behind the rest of
Scotland in terms of the decline of the established Church. Wales and England are also ex-
periencing the sharp decline of the Church. All the years of studies and reflection cannot
take the edge off the trauma Church people feel for the rapid decline of the Church. No-
one seems to have an answer.
In the face of this, I am optimistic. God delights to move in such situations. I see the Spirit
at work in Peterhead and St Fergus, and in churches round about. The Triune God is on the
move and I am seeking to fall in step with the Lord. There are churches reaching out to the
at work in Peterhead and St Fergus, and in churches round about. The Triune God is on the
move and I am seeking to fall in step with the Lord. There are churches reaching out to the
youth and there are congregations that are growing in number. I am meeting with believers
from various churches in Peterhead who seek revival and renewal not only here in Peter-
head, but all over Scotland. Things are happening. But at this point in time, the advance-
ment of Jesus' kingdom is slow and at times barely perceptible. I hope to be writing more
about this in future blogs. I ask for your prayers for this in the North-East of Scotland and
wherever you may be. Big R, I'll be trying to engage with you remarks in upcoming posts.
Tuesday, August 07, 2012
Where Have All the Young People Gone?
Since arriving in North-East Scotland over two months ago, I have been chatting with a lot
of people. One issue regarding the churches comes up over and over: where have all the
young people gone? Boys and girls who attended Sunday School as children seem to disap-
pear from church once they turn twelve years of age. They found other things to do on Sun-
day mornings. Church does not have a place in their young lives. They might come to church
with their families on Christmas and Easter, but they disappear once they are employed or go
to the university. Adults who remember the large Sunday Schools in years past express sad-
ness and even grief when they observe that the young people no longer come to church. I
hear those feelings expressed here in the North-East; I have heard them in Canada; and I have
been hearing them for several decades in the USA. Where have all the young people gone?
When I was a wee lad I remember a large Sunday School in my home church and classes for
each grade level. It seemed that the church was filled to the brim with kids. But when I at-
tended my home church the past year when I was in the US, we were fortunate to have threechildren show up for the Children's Talk before being dismissed to Sunday School. Many Sun-
days children were not present. Wherever I have been in Britain, Canada, and the US, the
question of where have all the young people gone is on their minds. Even for churches that
have Sunday School programs for children, the question is what happened to the children
once they turned twelve. They seem to disappear from church once they enter into their
teen years. Where have they gone?
In a few weeks time the Sunday School at St Fergus Parish Church will start up for another
year. Three mothers of young children and a young secondary student will provide crafts,
fun, and a Bible lesson to seven to nine children. They do an amazing work. They carry on
with the ministry of two elders who worked with children and young people for over twenty
years until three years ago. But the question I keep hearing over and over when I talk to peo-
ple is this: where have all the young people gone? They certainly are not in church.
I have wrestled with this issue for decades; and I expect that it will continue to capture my
attention for decades to come. I don't really know what to do; but that does not mean that
I am without hope. I put my trust in the Lord Jesus, stand upon Scripture, and act faith-
fully where the Lord has planted me. As always, I ask for your prayers.
Blessings to you and yours,
attention for decades to come. I don't really know what to do; but that does not mean that
I am without hope. I put my trust in the Lord Jesus, stand upon Scripture, and act faith-
fully where the Lord has planted me. As always, I ask for your prayers.
Blessings to you and yours,
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Finally! A Picture for the Blog!
 |
| St Fergus Parish Church, St Fergus, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
I have been working on getting pictures of St Fergus Parish Church and the area surrounding the village of St Fergus into the blog and onto Facebook. I succeeded in regards to the latter, and now I see that I am successful regarding the former. Here is the first picture I have had on my blog. It is a picture of St Fergus Parish Church. The church building itself dates back to 1850 or so, but there is evidence of a Christian church here in the area from the mid-16th century. The foundation of the earlier church building can still be seen at the village cemetery located between the village and the North Sea. When I get more settled, I will explore the old site to see what I can learn. The clerk of the Church session has given me material to go through about the history of the church. I feel like I am on an adventure!
I am interested in finding out more about St Fergus the missionary and whether he was caught up in the great missionary movement that flowed out of Iona in the second half of the first millennium of the present era. The great Celtic missionary saint Columba was at the forefront of a movement that swept into Scotland and Northern England from Ireland. Other Celtic missionary saints such as Aidan, Cuthbert, and a host of others proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ and healed the sick. Later the Venerable Bede, an Englishman, wrote a history in the English language of this great missionary endeavor. I am wondering if St Fergus was part of this great Celtic missionary movement. I have a hunch that he was. I expect that St Fergus Parish Church tapped into this stream of rich Celtic missionary heritage! I am eager to find out more. In the picture above of the church, there is a standing Celtic Cross in front of the church. I haven't heard anything about the date of the cross, whether it is ancient or relatively recent. But I will have joy in finding that out!
Blessings to you and yours,
|
Sunday, July 15, 2012
The Doric Tongue: My Challenge
I am starting to settle in and put things in place. But before me is one challenge that will occu-
py my attention for years to come: the Doric tongue. Doric is a dialect of Scots that is spoken
in the North East of Scotland. People I have met who grew up speaking Doric do not refer to
it as a dialect, but as the Doric tongue. Several people speak of it as a language, with a vocab-
ulary and way of saying things all its own. Whether I am talking with friends from St Andrews
and Cupar or new acquaintances from northeast (also called Aberdeenshire) Scotland, the con-
versation always seems to come to how I am handling the Doric tongue. I usually answer in the
little Doric I've mastered: nae bad, 'not bad.'
I take every opportunity I can find to listen to Doric speakers. I have to pay close attention to
what is said and the context in which something is said. Sometimes I can follow along; other
times I feel completely lost. Fortunately many of the people whom I visit slow down their talk-
ing and teach me words I hadn't known before. It would be helpful if I were a child who is learn-
ing to speak Doric. Children are willing to talk, make mistakes, and be corrected. But I find that
my pride gets in the way. It is difficult for me to talk knowing I will make mistakes. It is hard for
me to accept correction. It is challenging for me.
But still, I take seriously learning the language and settling into this culture of the North East. I
do so because God takes language and culture seriously. Jesus Christ is the eternal Word who
took on human flesh. Jesus centered his ministry in Galilee and spoke Greek, Hebrew, and Ara-
maic with a Galilean accent. He lived out his life in the manner and customs of his community.
He was not the universal man who was a reflection of everybody. He was truly human, but he
was also a Galilean. When we are redeemed and saved, God does not throw away our own lang-
uage, social mores, and customs. Rather, God brings us into the Kingdom with our distinctive
language and customs. However, we are not saved by Jesus being a Galilean; we are saved by
Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Christ died, Christ is risen, and
Christ will come again. As a result, people from every tribe and language and nation and peo-
ple worship him as Lord of lords and King of kings.
I take seriously the society in which God has placed and the people with whom I live. I am
making every effort to speak and understand the Doric tongue. As I do this, I can only ask for
your prayers.
Blessings to you and yours,
py my attention for years to come: the Doric tongue. Doric is a dialect of Scots that is spoken
in the North East of Scotland. People I have met who grew up speaking Doric do not refer to
it as a dialect, but as the Doric tongue. Several people speak of it as a language, with a vocab-
ulary and way of saying things all its own. Whether I am talking with friends from St Andrews
and Cupar or new acquaintances from northeast (also called Aberdeenshire) Scotland, the con-
versation always seems to come to how I am handling the Doric tongue. I usually answer in the
little Doric I've mastered: nae bad, 'not bad.'
I take every opportunity I can find to listen to Doric speakers. I have to pay close attention to
what is said and the context in which something is said. Sometimes I can follow along; other
times I feel completely lost. Fortunately many of the people whom I visit slow down their talk-
ing and teach me words I hadn't known before. It would be helpful if I were a child who is learn-
ing to speak Doric. Children are willing to talk, make mistakes, and be corrected. But I find that
my pride gets in the way. It is difficult for me to talk knowing I will make mistakes. It is hard for
me to accept correction. It is challenging for me.
But still, I take seriously learning the language and settling into this culture of the North East. I
do so because God takes language and culture seriously. Jesus Christ is the eternal Word who
took on human flesh. Jesus centered his ministry in Galilee and spoke Greek, Hebrew, and Ara-
maic with a Galilean accent. He lived out his life in the manner and customs of his community.
He was not the universal man who was a reflection of everybody. He was truly human, but he
was also a Galilean. When we are redeemed and saved, God does not throw away our own lang-
uage, social mores, and customs. Rather, God brings us into the Kingdom with our distinctive
language and customs. However, we are not saved by Jesus being a Galilean; we are saved by
Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Christ died, Christ is risen, and
Christ will come again. As a result, people from every tribe and language and nation and peo-
ple worship him as Lord of lords and King of kings.
I take seriously the society in which God has placed and the people with whom I live. I am
making every effort to speak and understand the Doric tongue. As I do this, I can only ask for
your prayers.
Blessings to you and yours,
Monday, July 09, 2012
Swamped, But Still Going Strong
I am somewhat astonished by how long it has been since I last posted on my blog. I had planned
to blog frequently about my big move to the North East of Scotland as I took up ministry at St.
Fergus Parish Church. I had the best of intentions, but was not able to carry them out. Even
though my residential internet access was activated last week, I still did not post to my blog and
answer emails from friends. It had been my fervent desire to keep people informed of my move
across the Pond to my new home in St. Fergus, Scotland. I did not succeed in carrying out those
best of intentions. I have felt swamped by all that I have had to do to get setup here in St. Fer-
gus. There is much more I have yet to do.
gus. There is much more I have yet to do.
I am doing very well. I am happy and enjoy being in a new area of Scotland that I had never real-
ly experienced before. I firmly believe that the Lord shaped me for such a time as this during the
sixteen months I spent in my hometown of Longview, Washington. I have been well prepared.
Even now I have a strong sense of what I need to do to enter into pastoral ministry here with the
people of St. Fergus and Peterhead, the latter being the large town just a few miles down the road
from the former.
But I have also been challenged by the reality that the way things were done in my hometown in
the USA are certainly not the way things are done here in North East Scotland. I have to unlearn
habits, customs, and routines that made sense in Longview, but do not work here in St. Fergus.
There have been times I have felt like a little child who is having to learn from grownups and old-
er children how to do basic things of life. It is humbling, but it is a process that everyone goes
through in varying degrees when one moves from one culture to another. It is a process that I ex-
pect to be in for years to come.
I am developing new habits, customs, and routines for my life here in this part of Scotland. As
a result, right now I spend considerably more time to do routine things that I did quickly when
I was at home in the USA. Even the way things were said and done in the South East of Scot-
land where I lived before are not the way things are said and done here in the North East. Some-
times I feel swamped as I try to do everything I believe I need to get done to settle in here. It
takes time to build new habits and routines. But soon I will be up to speed with many of the things
I struggle with now.
takes time to build new habits and routines. But soon I will be up to speed with many of the things
I struggle with now.
As always, if you are the praying type, I ask for your prayers as I learn to live and serve the peo-
ple of St. Fergus and North East Scotland in Jesus' Name.
Many blessings to you and yours,
Friday, June 22, 2012
Back Online in a New Land
Well, here I am, back online and in a new land! I have finally figured out a way to post to
my blog. I have been back in Scotland for over two weeks now, and in St. Fergus for just
over two weeks. I am slowly getting organized in my new home and bringing a sense of or-
der to a new phase of my life here in the Northeast of Scotland. Before my first week was
over I learned that my phone landline and internet access would not be operational until the
third of July. I finally found access at the public library in Peterhead, the main town down
the road. At first I found it difficult to gain access on wifi, but now I get online immediately.
I attempted to gain access to my blog, but found that it was blocked by the authorities that
be. Here in St. Fergus, one of the elders has graciously allowed me to use his computer. I
finally figured out how to access the blog and am now writing this blog post on his compu-
ter. But it is hard to wait until I gain my own access in early July.
I have been prayer walking around the village of 600 to 800 people. No one seems to have
an official population figure. The village of St. Fergus is surrounded by a variety of agricul-
tural fields. It looks like there are new houses going up. I bless the people in the houses as I
walk by and talk to a few of the people on the streets. There are three businesses in town: a
used car lot, a pub, and the town store that also serves as a post office for outgoing mail. It
seems many people of the village stop by there to get their morning paper. One can pick up
assorted items, but most people tend to go to one of the two or three big supermarkets in Pet-
erhead. I have had some nice chats with people in the store when I have gone there for one
or two items. Since the church stocked my refrigerator and cupboards with food, I have yet
to make a grocery run.
I visited the primary school in St. Fergus this morning. Just over 100 primary level students
are eagerly awaiting summer vacation. Next year I hope to do assemblies at the school, visit
classes, and go on field trips with the kids. The head teacher (principal) seems keen to involve
me in different activities next school year. I am looking forward to it. I hope that students will
see me as they play outside and come up to talk to me and introduce me to their parents. I
would like to see people at the church put on a Summer Holiday Club (Vacation Bible School)
here in St. Fergus sometime in the next few years. I know there are parents at the church who
are eager to see that take place. I am also amazed how some schools (such as the one here in
St. Fergus)are open to the Gospel of Jesus Christ being presented to the students and their par-
ents. It just is not possible in the USA. So I look forward to the coming school year.
I am delighted by the people here in this area of Scotland. They are some of the friendliest and
most kind people I have ever met anywhere. I am touched by how nice everyone has been. I
mean that in a good sense of 'nice.' I am struggling with understanding the 'Doric tongue,' the
dialect of the region, but people are sensitive to my plight and have mercy on me. It is a mat-
ter of training my ear, being patient, and being willing to make mistakes in speaking. I hope
to write about that in future blog postings.
I am very happy and content here. I am where God has prepared me to be. In God's love, God
has placed me here. It seems that I have encountered many doors closing on me the past five
years. Now I am thrilled to see so many doors opening for me. I am committed to being here
for the long haul. There is no other place that I would rather be. It is a new adventure for me.
I strongly sense God's provision, guidance, protection, and blessing upon me as I start my life
here in St. Fergus, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. I feel royally blessed. I plan to write more in the
weeks ahead as I am able. It should be easier when I get online in my own place. As always, I
covet your prayers on my behalf.
Blessings to you and yours,
my blog. I have been back in Scotland for over two weeks now, and in St. Fergus for just
over two weeks. I am slowly getting organized in my new home and bringing a sense of or-
der to a new phase of my life here in the Northeast of Scotland. Before my first week was
over I learned that my phone landline and internet access would not be operational until the
third of July. I finally found access at the public library in Peterhead, the main town down
the road. At first I found it difficult to gain access on wifi, but now I get online immediately.
I attempted to gain access to my blog, but found that it was blocked by the authorities that
be. Here in St. Fergus, one of the elders has graciously allowed me to use his computer. I
finally figured out how to access the blog and am now writing this blog post on his compu-
ter. But it is hard to wait until I gain my own access in early July.
I have been prayer walking around the village of 600 to 800 people. No one seems to have
an official population figure. The village of St. Fergus is surrounded by a variety of agricul-
tural fields. It looks like there are new houses going up. I bless the people in the houses as I
walk by and talk to a few of the people on the streets. There are three businesses in town: a
used car lot, a pub, and the town store that also serves as a post office for outgoing mail. It
seems many people of the village stop by there to get their morning paper. One can pick up
assorted items, but most people tend to go to one of the two or three big supermarkets in Pet-
erhead. I have had some nice chats with people in the store when I have gone there for one
or two items. Since the church stocked my refrigerator and cupboards with food, I have yet
to make a grocery run.
I visited the primary school in St. Fergus this morning. Just over 100 primary level students
are eagerly awaiting summer vacation. Next year I hope to do assemblies at the school, visit
classes, and go on field trips with the kids. The head teacher (principal) seems keen to involve
me in different activities next school year. I am looking forward to it. I hope that students will
see me as they play outside and come up to talk to me and introduce me to their parents. I
would like to see people at the church put on a Summer Holiday Club (Vacation Bible School)
here in St. Fergus sometime in the next few years. I know there are parents at the church who
are eager to see that take place. I am also amazed how some schools (such as the one here in
St. Fergus)are open to the Gospel of Jesus Christ being presented to the students and their par-
ents. It just is not possible in the USA. So I look forward to the coming school year.
I am delighted by the people here in this area of Scotland. They are some of the friendliest and
most kind people I have ever met anywhere. I am touched by how nice everyone has been. I
mean that in a good sense of 'nice.' I am struggling with understanding the 'Doric tongue,' the
dialect of the region, but people are sensitive to my plight and have mercy on me. It is a mat-
ter of training my ear, being patient, and being willing to make mistakes in speaking. I hope
to write about that in future blog postings.
I am very happy and content here. I am where God has prepared me to be. In God's love, God
has placed me here. It seems that I have encountered many doors closing on me the past five
years. Now I am thrilled to see so many doors opening for me. I am committed to being here
for the long haul. There is no other place that I would rather be. It is a new adventure for me.
I strongly sense God's provision, guidance, protection, and blessing upon me as I start my life
here in St. Fergus, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. I feel royally blessed. I plan to write more in the
weeks ahead as I am able. It should be easier when I get online in my own place. As always, I
covet your prayers on my behalf.
Blessings to you and yours,
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Solid Rock in a World of Disruption
It is 3:30 in the morning and I am wide awake. I went to sleep at 10:00 pm and slept well
through the night. Now I am up and wondering where to start with all that I have to do. My
small world is disrupted and in disarray. Since last summer I have been going through 30 or
so boxes of personal and family memorabilia that I had stored in a small U Haul storage unit
for the past twelve years. For the past six weeks my stuff covered the floor of my small stu-
dio apartment as I went through boxes. My family heritage and even my own personal life
were strewn around me. I felt a good measure of relief and order when two friends helped
me move 14 boxes of family and personal memories out of my room and back into storage.
In just a few hours, just after Morning Watch, some guys will come and take away my bed,
desk ,and a chair that I've donated to a Christian ministry. Later today I will move into dear
friends' home for several days before my departure for Scotland. Again I am in transition
with no place to call my own. My little studio apartment has been the place where I have
met with God for over a year. It has become a special, even a holy place for me. My home
is being taken apart and I am sad. It is an end of an era that has been very precious to me,
even though I didn't see it that way earlier last year. In a way it has been a wilderness exper-
ience for me. I never had a lot, but I always had enough.
I have gone through nine significant moves since 2006. It seemed that I was always packing
up and moving on to someplace else, especially during the first three years. For at least two
years, 2009 and 2010, I had a more stable and secure place to stay. Even then I always knew
it was temporary and that sooner or later I would be moving on. But moving to the pastoral
position at St Fergus Parish Church feels positively different. It is an end of a long process
that the Lord has put me through. I have received the orders for which I had been waiting. I
am no longer ordered to stand down, but to go into action. And I am ready and eager to do
that.
I have experienced disruption and disarray the past nine years, especially the last six. At times
I flailed and floundered, grasping for anything that would give me security. But over that time
I learned over and over that even though situations and circumstances change, the LORD God
is a fortress and high rock upon which we can stand. More specifically, Jesus is the solid rock
upon which we stand in a world full of disruption and disarray. Our settings and situations may
change, but the LORD never does. I am grateful to God for teaching me that, but I have the feel-
ing that I will quickly forget and have to learn it all over again. May we all learn that Jesus is our
solid rock in a world of disruption.
Blessings to you and yours,
through the night. Now I am up and wondering where to start with all that I have to do. My
small world is disrupted and in disarray. Since last summer I have been going through 30 or
so boxes of personal and family memorabilia that I had stored in a small U Haul storage unit
for the past twelve years. For the past six weeks my stuff covered the floor of my small stu-
dio apartment as I went through boxes. My family heritage and even my own personal life
were strewn around me. I felt a good measure of relief and order when two friends helped
me move 14 boxes of family and personal memories out of my room and back into storage.
In just a few hours, just after Morning Watch, some guys will come and take away my bed,
desk ,and a chair that I've donated to a Christian ministry. Later today I will move into dear
friends' home for several days before my departure for Scotland. Again I am in transition
with no place to call my own. My little studio apartment has been the place where I have
met with God for over a year. It has become a special, even a holy place for me. My home
is being taken apart and I am sad. It is an end of an era that has been very precious to me,
even though I didn't see it that way earlier last year. In a way it has been a wilderness exper-
ience for me. I never had a lot, but I always had enough.
I have gone through nine significant moves since 2006. It seemed that I was always packing
up and moving on to someplace else, especially during the first three years. For at least two
years, 2009 and 2010, I had a more stable and secure place to stay. Even then I always knew
it was temporary and that sooner or later I would be moving on. But moving to the pastoral
position at St Fergus Parish Church feels positively different. It is an end of a long process
that the Lord has put me through. I have received the orders for which I had been waiting. I
am no longer ordered to stand down, but to go into action. And I am ready and eager to do
that.
I have experienced disruption and disarray the past nine years, especially the last six. At times
I flailed and floundered, grasping for anything that would give me security. But over that time
I learned over and over that even though situations and circumstances change, the LORD God
is a fortress and high rock upon which we can stand. More specifically, Jesus is the solid rock
upon which we stand in a world full of disruption and disarray. Our settings and situations may
change, but the LORD never does. I am grateful to God for teaching me that, but I have the feel-
ing that I will quickly forget and have to learn it all over again. May we all learn that Jesus is our
solid rock in a world of disruption.
Blessings to you and yours,
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
The Fun of Doing Good to Others
I am thrilled to do good to people. Sometimes I get giddy being kind to others. It's fun to see
people receive a blessing, especially when they never expected it. Each day I make every ef-
fort to be kind to others and to do good to them. When I seek to do so throughout my day, I
never know when a situation might be ripe for being kind and doing good. Acts of kindness
and goodness, it seems, are never planned. I have found that to be kind and do good I have to
be sensitive to people whom I encounter and sensitive to God at work in our lives and in the
world. For followers of Jesus such as myself, showing kindness to others and doing good to
them become divine appointments with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. There have been
times when I have been given great joy by doing good to others who never expected it.
By being around homeless women and men a lot, I have had many opportunities to do good
and to be kind to other people. Many of them are kindness-starved. I seek every occasion to
practice good and kindness among them. Because they rarely experience either, they let me
know how much they appreciate my practicing these qualities among them. Several times I
have sensed that several men and women who live on the street were touched when I did
something nice for them. But it is also fun for me. We who are believers in Jesus Christ have
been blessed in Him and have been called to bless others as a result. The sons and daughters
of Abraham have been blessed to be a blessing (Genesis 12:1-2). 'For we are God's work-
manship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God created beforehand that we
should walk in them' (Ephesians 2:10). This is why doing good to others and being kind to
them brings joy to those people who name the Name of Jesus Christ.
A dear friend from the church I grew up in blessed me with an old classic 1985 Ford station
wagon while I am here in the USA. I have had the fun of using it to bless others, especially
the homeless. Not too long ago I gave a ride to a guy who was homeless, but now has his
own place and is involved in a ministry to the homeless. It was raining and this guy had trou-
ble walking. A homeless friend of his came with us. After chatting with him I offered to drop
him off at the other guy's place to get speakers he was storing there to take to a homeless cou-
ple who had just moved into an apartment. So I did that. We picked up the speakers and drove
to a laundromat where the couple was washing their clothes. When we got there, I offered to
drive the husband, the friend, and the speakers over to the couple's place, and then to drive
them back to the laundromat. It would have meant a lot of walking in the rain for both guys,
and all the while lugging the big speakers with them. Both of them were giddy with happiness
that this was happening to them. It was especially fun for me.
This past year I have learned at least two things. First, believers in Jesus Christ have been
blessed to be a blessing to others. Second, God created us in Christ Jesus for the purpose
of doing good works. The good works do not save us. They are the fruit of a grateful heart
redeemed by the saving work of Jesus Christ on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins.
May we all know the joy of being kind to people and doing good to others because of the
kindness of the LORD God and the good work of His Son Jesus Christ on our behalf.
Blessings to you and yours,
people receive a blessing, especially when they never expected it. Each day I make every ef-
fort to be kind to others and to do good to them. When I seek to do so throughout my day, I
never know when a situation might be ripe for being kind and doing good. Acts of kindness
and goodness, it seems, are never planned. I have found that to be kind and do good I have to
be sensitive to people whom I encounter and sensitive to God at work in our lives and in the
world. For followers of Jesus such as myself, showing kindness to others and doing good to
them become divine appointments with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. There have been
times when I have been given great joy by doing good to others who never expected it.
By being around homeless women and men a lot, I have had many opportunities to do good
and to be kind to other people. Many of them are kindness-starved. I seek every occasion to
practice good and kindness among them. Because they rarely experience either, they let me
know how much they appreciate my practicing these qualities among them. Several times I
have sensed that several men and women who live on the street were touched when I did
something nice for them. But it is also fun for me. We who are believers in Jesus Christ have
been blessed in Him and have been called to bless others as a result. The sons and daughters
of Abraham have been blessed to be a blessing (Genesis 12:1-2). 'For we are God's work-
manship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God created beforehand that we
should walk in them' (Ephesians 2:10). This is why doing good to others and being kind to
them brings joy to those people who name the Name of Jesus Christ.
A dear friend from the church I grew up in blessed me with an old classic 1985 Ford station
wagon while I am here in the USA. I have had the fun of using it to bless others, especially
the homeless. Not too long ago I gave a ride to a guy who was homeless, but now has his
own place and is involved in a ministry to the homeless. It was raining and this guy had trou-
ble walking. A homeless friend of his came with us. After chatting with him I offered to drop
him off at the other guy's place to get speakers he was storing there to take to a homeless cou-
ple who had just moved into an apartment. So I did that. We picked up the speakers and drove
to a laundromat where the couple was washing their clothes. When we got there, I offered to
drive the husband, the friend, and the speakers over to the couple's place, and then to drive
them back to the laundromat. It would have meant a lot of walking in the rain for both guys,
and all the while lugging the big speakers with them. Both of them were giddy with happiness
that this was happening to them. It was especially fun for me.
This past year I have learned at least two things. First, believers in Jesus Christ have been
blessed to be a blessing to others. Second, God created us in Christ Jesus for the purpose
of doing good works. The good works do not save us. They are the fruit of a grateful heart
redeemed by the saving work of Jesus Christ on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins.
May we all know the joy of being kind to people and doing good to others because of the
kindness of the LORD God and the good work of His Son Jesus Christ on our behalf.
Blessings to you and yours,
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Back in the Game
I have spent the last ten days frantically trying to get back to post on my blog. My University of
St. Andrews student account has been going through some changes and would not let me enter
into my account. Moving back to Scotland and closing my studio apartment only increased my
frustration. After considerable prayer and an abundance of perseverance, I finally was able to en-
ter my blog. All I can say is that I feel tremendous relief. I will be submitting new posts in the days
to come before I leave for Scotland. I will continue the blog when I get to St. Fergus.
Blessings to you and yours,
St. Andrews student account has been going through some changes and would not let me enter
into my account. Moving back to Scotland and closing my studio apartment only increased my
frustration. After considerable prayer and an abundance of perseverance, I finally was able to en-
ter my blog. All I can say is that I feel tremendous relief. I will be submitting new posts in the days
to come before I leave for Scotland. I will continue the blog when I get to St. Fergus.
Blessings to you and yours,
Friday, May 04, 2012
Continued Blessings as Plans Take Shape
I am still in shock as time rushes forward, whether I am ready or not. Over the past four years
I have had so many doors slammed in my face or been bogged down in times of waiting. I still
cannot rest with the reality that both my passport application and thesis were accepted by the
powers that be. I still wake up early in the morning wondering whether they were nothing more
than dreams of wishful thinking. Gradually I realize that they are real and that I have plenty to
do in the coming weeks.
I was informed that Thursday, June 14, was the earliest date for the service of my induction as
minister of St. Fergus Parish Church. All of the parties involved have agreed to that date. I have
heard that the village is all a buzz that I am coming. The children are busy practicing their con-
tributions to the service. My visa becomes valid June 1. I did consider entering the United King-
dom in late May, but broke it off when I saw the added expense and work to do in order to ap-
ply for a general visa. I will not risk being turned back from entering Scotland before June 1 at
an airport in Britain because I entered Britain before the date on my visa. I want everything to
be in order and legal.
I recently secured my flight to Scotland, departing from Vancouver, BC, Canada, on Canadi-
an Affair in the evening of June 5 and landing in Glasgow, Scotland, in the morning of June
6. Due to flying one-way during the summer period, I was very concerned about the price of
the ticket before I started my airline search on the internet. My concerns were validated when
I priced one-way seats on a variety of air carriers at prices between $1300 and $1800 for late
May and early June. Feeling a bit forlorn, I looked at the Canadian Affair website. They are a
Canadian charter air service that flies between five Canadian cities and six British airports, one
of which is Glasgow.
When I searched for Canadian Affair flights from Vancouver, BC, to Glasgow, in early June,
I was astounded by a one-way flight on June 5 for less than less than 350 Canadian dollars. It
surprised me even more when I learned I could reserve an extra leg room seat for 80 Canadian
dollars. The grand total cost came to under 430 Canadian dollars. I quickly reserved my ticket
and seat and made the payment. In a few seconds I had my confirmation papers. There were
no other flights on other dates or other Canadian Affair routes that were that low in price. I had
the deep sense that the Lord was taking care of me and sending me a gentle message of His
graciousness and favor.
I hope to take the train up to Vancouver, BC, a day or two earlier so I can visit with friends I
knew when I was at Regent College over ten years ago. The flight departs Vancouver, BC, in
the early evening of June 5, and arrives in Glasgow, Scotland, in the am of June 6. I plan on
arriving in St. Fergus on June 7. I have one week to get settled in before I am inducted on June
14. It is all happening so fast. I am excited. As always, I covet your prayers as I journey through
these momentous times.
Blessings to you and yours,
I have had so many doors slammed in my face or been bogged down in times of waiting. I still
cannot rest with the reality that both my passport application and thesis were accepted by the
powers that be. I still wake up early in the morning wondering whether they were nothing more
than dreams of wishful thinking. Gradually I realize that they are real and that I have plenty to
do in the coming weeks.
I was informed that Thursday, June 14, was the earliest date for the service of my induction as
minister of St. Fergus Parish Church. All of the parties involved have agreed to that date. I have
heard that the village is all a buzz that I am coming. The children are busy practicing their con-
tributions to the service. My visa becomes valid June 1. I did consider entering the United King-
dom in late May, but broke it off when I saw the added expense and work to do in order to ap-
ply for a general visa. I will not risk being turned back from entering Scotland before June 1 at
an airport in Britain because I entered Britain before the date on my visa. I want everything to
be in order and legal.
I recently secured my flight to Scotland, departing from Vancouver, BC, Canada, on Canadi-
an Affair in the evening of June 5 and landing in Glasgow, Scotland, in the morning of June
6. Due to flying one-way during the summer period, I was very concerned about the price of
the ticket before I started my airline search on the internet. My concerns were validated when
I priced one-way seats on a variety of air carriers at prices between $1300 and $1800 for late
May and early June. Feeling a bit forlorn, I looked at the Canadian Affair website. They are a
Canadian charter air service that flies between five Canadian cities and six British airports, one
of which is Glasgow.
When I searched for Canadian Affair flights from Vancouver, BC, to Glasgow, in early June,
I was astounded by a one-way flight on June 5 for less than less than 350 Canadian dollars. It
surprised me even more when I learned I could reserve an extra leg room seat for 80 Canadian
dollars. The grand total cost came to under 430 Canadian dollars. I quickly reserved my ticket
and seat and made the payment. In a few seconds I had my confirmation papers. There were
no other flights on other dates or other Canadian Affair routes that were that low in price. I had
the deep sense that the Lord was taking care of me and sending me a gentle message of His
graciousness and favor.
I hope to take the train up to Vancouver, BC, a day or two earlier so I can visit with friends I
knew when I was at Regent College over ten years ago. The flight departs Vancouver, BC, in
the early evening of June 5, and arrives in Glasgow, Scotland, in the am of June 6. I plan on
arriving in St. Fergus on June 7. I have one week to get settled in before I am inducted on June
14. It is all happening so fast. I am excited. As always, I covet your prayers as I journey through
these momentous times.
Blessings to you and yours,
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
A Most Significant Week
Last week, April 16 to 22, was a most significant week in a very significant year of my life. On
Tuesday, April 17, I was informed by email that the University of St. Andrews had accepted my
PhD thesis. On Thursday, April 19, I was informed by another email that the British Consulate in
New York City had issued me a visa. By 10 am Friday, April 20, I had my passport with the visa
in my hands. I have to say that I was in a state of shock; it had happened all too suddenly and un-
expectedly. I was stunned to say the least.
I had been expecting word on whether my thesis had been accepted or not for several months. I
had no inkling when I would learn of its status. To say the least, I was thrilled and relieved. When
I submitted my visa application early in April, I was expecting that I would learn of the success of
my application sometime in mid-May. But then last Monday, I received an email from the British
Consulate informing me that an Entry Clearance Officer was assessing my application. At anoth-
er website I read that the average time of the process was nine days. I figured that I would learn
whether I had been issued a visa or not sometime the following week. So at 9 pm when I read the
email informing me that a visa had been issued to me, I was thrilled. I could hardly sleep that night because I was so excited.
A lot of people have been praying that I would be receiving my visa so that I could return to Scot-
land to pastor St. Fergus Parish Church. For the past year I have been meeting every Thursday
morning with a group of pastors and Christian leaders to pray for the work of Christ in the area.
All during this time they have never ceased to pray for me to that end. Last Thursday I reported
to them that I expected to receive news of my visa sometime next week. There was a good ses-
sion of prayer on my behalf. Later that day, I read the email informing me that the visa had been
issued to me. It had been sent out at 12:30 pm, east coast time. The time difference between the
west coast where we are and the east coast is three hours. So the decision was made and the
email was sent about the time that we were praying on the west coast.
Through this challenging year of waiting, I have grown in faith in the Lord. I have also experi-
enced anew the faithfulness of God. These have always been lessons that I have had to learn
over and over for over forty years. I am overwhelmed by God's love, care, provision, and pro-
tection. God has guided me. I have been royally blessed by having gone through the past three
years. All I can say is God is good.
Blessings to you and yours,
Tuesday, April 17, I was informed by email that the University of St. Andrews had accepted my
PhD thesis. On Thursday, April 19, I was informed by another email that the British Consulate in
New York City had issued me a visa. By 10 am Friday, April 20, I had my passport with the visa
in my hands. I have to say that I was in a state of shock; it had happened all too suddenly and un-
expectedly. I was stunned to say the least.
I had been expecting word on whether my thesis had been accepted or not for several months. I
had no inkling when I would learn of its status. To say the least, I was thrilled and relieved. When
I submitted my visa application early in April, I was expecting that I would learn of the success of
my application sometime in mid-May. But then last Monday, I received an email from the British
Consulate informing me that an Entry Clearance Officer was assessing my application. At anoth-
er website I read that the average time of the process was nine days. I figured that I would learn
whether I had been issued a visa or not sometime the following week. So at 9 pm when I read the
email informing me that a visa had been issued to me, I was thrilled. I could hardly sleep that night because I was so excited.
A lot of people have been praying that I would be receiving my visa so that I could return to Scot-
land to pastor St. Fergus Parish Church. For the past year I have been meeting every Thursday
morning with a group of pastors and Christian leaders to pray for the work of Christ in the area.
All during this time they have never ceased to pray for me to that end. Last Thursday I reported
to them that I expected to receive news of my visa sometime next week. There was a good ses-
sion of prayer on my behalf. Later that day, I read the email informing me that the visa had been
issued to me. It had been sent out at 12:30 pm, east coast time. The time difference between the
west coast where we are and the east coast is three hours. So the decision was made and the
email was sent about the time that we were praying on the west coast.
Through this challenging year of waiting, I have grown in faith in the Lord. I have also experi-
enced anew the faithfulness of God. These have always been lessons that I have had to learn
over and over for over forty years. I am overwhelmed by God's love, care, provision, and pro-
tection. God has guided me. I have been royally blessed by having gone through the past three
years. All I can say is God is good.
Blessings to you and yours,
Thursday, April 19, 2012
The Heart of the Gospel
Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday (Easter) are joined together with Christmas as my three
favorite Christian holy days. For nearly two millennia these three have been the centerpiece of
biblical faith. Christmas highlights the Incarnation: the Son of God became human, was born
into the world, and dwelt among us. Good Friday is the day when we remember Christ's death
on the Cross for the forgiveness of our sins. Resurrection Sunday celebrates God raising His
Son, the crucified Messiah, from death to Resurrection life. They do not point to anything that
we humans have done, but entirely to what God has done in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
favorite Christian holy days. For nearly two millennia these three have been the centerpiece of
biblical faith. Christmas highlights the Incarnation: the Son of God became human, was born
into the world, and dwelt among us. Good Friday is the day when we remember Christ's death
on the Cross for the forgiveness of our sins. Resurrection Sunday celebrates God raising His
Son, the crucified Messiah, from death to Resurrection life. They do not point to anything that
we humans have done, but entirely to what God has done in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Resurrection Sunday is a great and glorious day. Last Easter Sunday we celebrated with Chris-
tians throughout the whole world the historical reality that on the third day after Jesus Christ
was crucified, God raised Him from the dead. Christ was indeed victorious over sin and death.
was crucified, God raised Him from the dead. Christ was indeed victorious over sin and death.
Jesus, God in human flesh, really did walk among us 2000 years ago. He really did suffer and
die on the Cross for the forgiveness of our sins. Jesus really was raised from death to life. His
tomb really was empty! The Crucified and Risen Savior was seen by over 500 witnesses. His
death, burial, and resurrection fulfilled the promises that God had delivered to God's people cen-
turies before Jesus' birth in Bethlehem so very long ago.
turies before Jesus' birth in Bethlehem so very long ago.
Our salvation is securely anchored in what God did through the death, burial and resurrection
of His Son Jesus Christ nearly 2000 years ago. Saving faith is grounded in what God has done
in Jesus Christ: it is not based on anything we have done to earn our salvation. By grace we are
saved through faith. Yet the constant refrain I often hear from well-intentioned evangelical Chris-
tians focuses on such human activities as faithfully attending Bible-believing church services or
caring for the poor and needy. When we focus primarily on these good and proper Christian ac-
tivities, I find that the Cross and the Empty Tomb tend to be neglected. The Gospel of Jesus is
not about what we do; it is grounded in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God cre-
ated us to do good works, but they flow out of the Good Work that God has done through Jesus
for us and our salvation. The Cross of Christ and the Empty Tomb are the heart of the Gospel. We
put our trust in what God has done through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Blessings to you and yours,
in Jesus Christ: it is not based on anything we have done to earn our salvation. By grace we are
saved through faith. Yet the constant refrain I often hear from well-intentioned evangelical Chris-
tians focuses on such human activities as faithfully attending Bible-believing church services or
caring for the poor and needy. When we focus primarily on these good and proper Christian ac-
tivities, I find that the Cross and the Empty Tomb tend to be neglected. The Gospel of Jesus is
not about what we do; it is grounded in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God cre-
ated us to do good works, but they flow out of the Good Work that God has done through Jesus
for us and our salvation. The Cross of Christ and the Empty Tomb are the heart of the Gospel. We
put our trust in what God has done through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Blessings to you and yours,
Saturday, April 07, 2012
Between Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday
Some more liturgically-minded Christians refer to the day between Good Friday and Resurrection
Sunday as Holy Saturday. On one side is the day when the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was cru-
cified for the forgiveness of our sins. On the other side is the day when God raised the crucified
Savior from death to glorious new creation life. In between is Saturday, to some Holy Saturday. It
is a time when nothing seems to be happening; we do know that Jesus Christ died and was bur-
ied. I try to feel what those followers of Jesus felt that first Saturday after they had just witnessed
the long-expected Messiah's suffering and death on a Roman execution instrument. I can only im-
agine the devastation, dismay, and depression they were experiencing during that first Holy Satur-
day.
Even in this day and age, the Saturday between Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday is a day
characterized by darkness, silence, waiting, and inactivity. I have known God's Story for many
years now, but still all I can do on this day between two emotionally-laden days is sit and wait.
That's how I have felt the past year here in my home town in the States. Behind me is the visa
refusal and hopefully before me is my being granted a Minister of Religion visa to return to Scot-
land to minister at St. Fergus Parish Church. Ever since I received the visa refusal letter in March
of last year, I have been living through my own Holy Saturday between Good Friday and Resur-
rection Sunday. For the last twelve months I have not been experiencing feelings of devastation,
dismay, or depression. In no way does my journey even compare with Jesus' journey of passion,
suffering, and death. But still I experience my own period of silence, darkness, inactivity, and
waiting.
Yesterday I remembered Jesus' death on the Cross of Calvary. I know it's Saturday, but Sunday's coming! Even though I rest in God's Story, I still don't know how my own story will turn out. Noth-
ing is certain, especially when I am dealing with the Bureau of Immigration of the United Kingdom.
I have been royally blessed these past twelve months. I have submitted all my papers and paid all
the fees to the British Consulate in New York City. My visa application is in their hands. Now all
I can do is wait; there is nothing more I can do. All that I hear from God right now is silence. I do
not really know what God is up to. It feels to me like Holy Saturday, the day between Good Friday
and Resurrection Sunday. But I know for certain that God is in control and that He is leading me.
To those of you who pray, I ask for your prayers.
Blessings to you and yours,
Sunday as Holy Saturday. On one side is the day when the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was cru-
cified for the forgiveness of our sins. On the other side is the day when God raised the crucified
Savior from death to glorious new creation life. In between is Saturday, to some Holy Saturday. It
is a time when nothing seems to be happening; we do know that Jesus Christ died and was bur-
ied. I try to feel what those followers of Jesus felt that first Saturday after they had just witnessed
the long-expected Messiah's suffering and death on a Roman execution instrument. I can only im-
agine the devastation, dismay, and depression they were experiencing during that first Holy Satur-
day.
Even in this day and age, the Saturday between Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday is a day
characterized by darkness, silence, waiting, and inactivity. I have known God's Story for many
years now, but still all I can do on this day between two emotionally-laden days is sit and wait.
That's how I have felt the past year here in my home town in the States. Behind me is the visa
refusal and hopefully before me is my being granted a Minister of Religion visa to return to Scot-
land to minister at St. Fergus Parish Church. Ever since I received the visa refusal letter in March
of last year, I have been living through my own Holy Saturday between Good Friday and Resur-
rection Sunday. For the last twelve months I have not been experiencing feelings of devastation,
dismay, or depression. In no way does my journey even compare with Jesus' journey of passion,
suffering, and death. But still I experience my own period of silence, darkness, inactivity, and
waiting.
Yesterday I remembered Jesus' death on the Cross of Calvary. I know it's Saturday, but Sunday's coming! Even though I rest in God's Story, I still don't know how my own story will turn out. Noth-
ing is certain, especially when I am dealing with the Bureau of Immigration of the United Kingdom.
I have been royally blessed these past twelve months. I have submitted all my papers and paid all
the fees to the British Consulate in New York City. My visa application is in their hands. Now all
I can do is wait; there is nothing more I can do. All that I hear from God right now is silence. I do
not really know what God is up to. It feels to me like Holy Saturday, the day between Good Friday
and Resurrection Sunday. But I know for certain that God is in control and that He is leading me.
To those of you who pray, I ask for your prayers.
Blessings to you and yours,
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Grass Roots Presidential Politics 2
I thought that I would have this blog posting done last week, but circumstances took me
off track. Oh my, how time flies! But I still want to make some comments about my partici-
pation in the Republican caucus for the county on Saturday, March 3.
After waiting in line for nearly an hour, I was finally able to register for the caucus. Then
I went into the crowded assembly hall to find my precinct site. There were so many people
and precinct signs that I felt overwhelmed by all of the humanity crammed into such a con-
fined area. There was so much to take in; my senses were saturated. But I persisted in the
search and finally spotted my precinct and the table it shared with another precinct. I signed
the precinct list and still had a bit of a wait before the proceedings got going. Earlier I was
greeted by a good friend I knew in high school. He was a year ahead of me, had taught his-
tory in the area school district, and had gotten involved in local Republican politics and local government. He has a long history of serving on the city council. He is currently the mayor,
a post he has held several times before. I hadn't seen him since the early 1970s, but as soon
as he saw me he greeted me by name as any good politician would do. It turned out he was
the captain of the precinct I was registered in.
After a long delay, we got started with the election and appointment of caucus officers and
an overview of caucus procedural process. Then we finally got down to choosing delegates
from each precinct to attend the county Republican caucus April 21. I am happy to report
that I am an official delegate to the county caucus! I expect that I will still be here then, pre-
paring to head back to Scotland. We had eight persons at our precinct table, and seven could
be elected to go as delegates. Two people were not available to attend the next caucus. So,
six of us were automatically elected without speeches or anything to be delegates. There were
two of us in favor of Mitt Romney, one for Newt Gingrich, two for Ron Paul, and one unde-
cided. Other precincts did not have it as easy and took longer to elect delegates. I was able to
leave ahead of the crowd.
I learned later that Romney won the Cowlitz County Republican caucus with 273 votes of
809 total votes cast (33.7%); Paul came in second with 228 votes (28.2%); Rick Santorum
was third with 210 votes (26%); and then Gingrich with 68 votes (8.4%). There were 25 un-
decided votes (3.1%) and 5 write-in votes. Statewide, Romney won the state straw poll based
on the caucuses. Romney gained 37.6% of the vote, Paul was second with 24.8%, Santorum
at 23.8%, and Gingrich at 10.3%. The undecideds came in at 3.4%.
This was Romney's fourth victory in a row after recently suffering a string of small defeats to
Santorum. The caucuses were a straw poll only, but Romney's showing only increased his
momentum. Because of the caucus system, Washington's 43 delegates to the Republican Na-
tional Convention at the end of the summer will not be determined until the the state conven-
tion earlier in the summer. It has been estimated that 50,000 people turned out for the caucuses,
more than four times the turnout in 2008 Washington State caucuses. Fourteen thousand dele-
gates were chosen on the precinct level to attend the county caucuses. I will be one of them!
The number of delegates will be gradually whittled down through several more steps of the
caucus process until the 43 delegates will be elected and commissioned to the national conven-
tion. Only longterm committed Republican activists usually get the privilege of attending the
national convention as delegates. Hopefully, they will be nominating the next President of the
United States. Anyway, I expect to be back in Scotland by that time. I will request an absen-
tee ballot in order to vote in the November elections.
I am hopeful that change will come to the people of the USA. I yearn for a change in leader-
ship from a Democratic-controlled Senate and Presidency to Republican leadership in those
areas of Federal government. I am excited about Romney. He exercises the intellect, skills,
character, and experience to lead the American people through much needed change, espe-
cially in the areas of jobs and the economy. I would, however, give my full support to San-
torum or Gingrich if they were deemed the Republican candidate for President of the United
States. After bitter disappointment at the results of the 2006 and 2008 elections, there is hope
that this great nation can get back on track again.
Blessings to you and yours,
off track. Oh my, how time flies! But I still want to make some comments about my partici-
pation in the Republican caucus for the county on Saturday, March 3.
After waiting in line for nearly an hour, I was finally able to register for the caucus. Then
I went into the crowded assembly hall to find my precinct site. There were so many people
and precinct signs that I felt overwhelmed by all of the humanity crammed into such a con-
fined area. There was so much to take in; my senses were saturated. But I persisted in the
search and finally spotted my precinct and the table it shared with another precinct. I signed
the precinct list and still had a bit of a wait before the proceedings got going. Earlier I was
greeted by a good friend I knew in high school. He was a year ahead of me, had taught his-
tory in the area school district, and had gotten involved in local Republican politics and local government. He has a long history of serving on the city council. He is currently the mayor,
a post he has held several times before. I hadn't seen him since the early 1970s, but as soon
as he saw me he greeted me by name as any good politician would do. It turned out he was
the captain of the precinct I was registered in.
After a long delay, we got started with the election and appointment of caucus officers and
an overview of caucus procedural process. Then we finally got down to choosing delegates
from each precinct to attend the county Republican caucus April 21. I am happy to report
that I am an official delegate to the county caucus! I expect that I will still be here then, pre-
paring to head back to Scotland. We had eight persons at our precinct table, and seven could
be elected to go as delegates. Two people were not available to attend the next caucus. So,
six of us were automatically elected without speeches or anything to be delegates. There were
two of us in favor of Mitt Romney, one for Newt Gingrich, two for Ron Paul, and one unde-
cided. Other precincts did not have it as easy and took longer to elect delegates. I was able to
leave ahead of the crowd.
I learned later that Romney won the Cowlitz County Republican caucus with 273 votes of
809 total votes cast (33.7%); Paul came in second with 228 votes (28.2%); Rick Santorum
was third with 210 votes (26%); and then Gingrich with 68 votes (8.4%). There were 25 un-
decided votes (3.1%) and 5 write-in votes. Statewide, Romney won the state straw poll based
on the caucuses. Romney gained 37.6% of the vote, Paul was second with 24.8%, Santorum
at 23.8%, and Gingrich at 10.3%. The undecideds came in at 3.4%.
This was Romney's fourth victory in a row after recently suffering a string of small defeats to
Santorum. The caucuses were a straw poll only, but Romney's showing only increased his
momentum. Because of the caucus system, Washington's 43 delegates to the Republican Na-
tional Convention at the end of the summer will not be determined until the the state conven-
tion earlier in the summer. It has been estimated that 50,000 people turned out for the caucuses,
more than four times the turnout in 2008 Washington State caucuses. Fourteen thousand dele-
gates were chosen on the precinct level to attend the county caucuses. I will be one of them!
The number of delegates will be gradually whittled down through several more steps of the
caucus process until the 43 delegates will be elected and commissioned to the national conven-
tion. Only longterm committed Republican activists usually get the privilege of attending the
national convention as delegates. Hopefully, they will be nominating the next President of the
United States. Anyway, I expect to be back in Scotland by that time. I will request an absen-
tee ballot in order to vote in the November elections.
I am hopeful that change will come to the people of the USA. I yearn for a change in leader-
ship from a Democratic-controlled Senate and Presidency to Republican leadership in those
areas of Federal government. I am excited about Romney. He exercises the intellect, skills,
character, and experience to lead the American people through much needed change, espe-
cially in the areas of jobs and the economy. I would, however, give my full support to San-
torum or Gingrich if they were deemed the Republican candidate for President of the United
States. After bitter disappointment at the results of the 2006 and 2008 elections, there is hope
that this great nation can get back on track again.
Blessings to you and yours,
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