Speaking the Gospel in Public

I enjoy preaching and speaking in public. Of course there are the weekly Sunday mornings service at St Fergus Parish Church where I preach through the lectionary for the year. This is Year A and the readings for the Gospels are drawn from Matthew's Gospel. Following the lectionary keeps me on my toes and discourages me from preaching from those biblical texts that I fancy. Some of the lectionary texts have proven challenging to me. There have been times when I began my preparation for Sunday wondering how I would ever preach from the assigned text, but after a few days of studying it, the text blossomed in profound meaning that had never been evident to me before. I have been surprised by the LORD many times in my sermon preparation. It helps me grow.                                                   

Because St Fergus Parish Church does not have a Sunday evening service, I am available to speak at churches that have such a service. Last Sunday I spoke at the Deep Sea Fishermen's Mission in nearby Peterhead. It was my third time there in a year and a half. Since the Mission attracts people from a good number of churches in the area, the services there are scheduled after the evening services of other churches. I am always blown away by the singing of the fellowship there. The people love the Lord and are hungry to learn more about Jesus and the Scripture. I also have the privilege of preaching regularly at an United Free Church in a nearby village. I am out there ten times this year. Although they are a small congregation, I have fun being with them because they exhibit a lively faith. A Baptist church in a town down the road keeps asking me back. They are a mature congregation and hungry for preaching based on Scripture. I really enjoy being among them.

Since I have gotten back from Israel, I have not only spoken in the churches mentioned above, but I have also spoken at school assemblies in the village primary school and at two men's prayer breakfasts. Since October, I have been teaching a basic survey of the Bible on Friday nights at a sister church in Peterhead. I have my hands full this week: on Thursday I speak to the seniors group at the Baptist Church in Peterhead; on Friday I teach the Bible Survey course at our sister church; on Saturday I serve as the speaker and honorary chairman at the Peterhead Gospel Male Voice Choir concert that draws choirs from all over Scotland; on Sunday I lead morning worship and preach at St Fergus Parish Church; and on Sunday afternoon I crash and enjoy a long Sunday nap.

My speaking skills have been stretched since I first came to St Fergus Parish Church in June of 2012. Back then having two speaking engagements a week was a bit of a challenge for me. Since then I have learned how to graciously and gracefully prepare for speaking up to five times a week. I have been stretched to the point where I feel I can handle it and still enjoy speaking. But I have also realised how I have the tendency to focus my attention of what I do rather than on what God has done through the crucified and risen Jesus Christ. His death and resurrection are the heart of the Gospel. I catch myself building up my own identity and self worth through my speaking and preaching. That is wrong. I have to continually be reminded that my identity and worth come from Christ's death on the Cross for the forgiveness of sin and His resurrection from the grave. I constantly find myself seeking the glory of my own name, extending my own kingdom, and doing my will rather than God's when I am busy with preaching and speaking a lot. If you are able and so desire, please remember me in your prayers in this regard.

Blessings to you and yours,                   

Britain's Storms and the Limits of Governmental Power

Flooding of a residential area in southern England earlier in the year

Here in the North East of Scotland we have been enjoying a fairly mild winter. There have been heavy downpours of rain, but that is what people in this region have come to expect every winter. They have learned to put up with it. And there has been very little snow to speak of. The amount of rainfall has been a bit higher than in years past, but not enough to cause serious problems. We've not had the devastating storms and flooding that people down south in England and Wales have been experiencing this winter. My thoughts and prayers go out to the people in southern Britain who have had to contend with meteorological forces that pounded them from early October through late February. The storms and the heavy rains may have let up, but the devastation that they wrought surrounds and engulfs the people. I feel heartbroken for them.

I find it difficult to comprehend the ferocity of the storms that battered areas down south. They came in different forms: powerful tidal surges; strong, mighty winds; downpours of heavy rains;  massive flooding of rivers that broke through built-up and reinforced banks; and pounding ocean waves that destroyed seaside dwellings. The storms have now subsided, but people are still in a state of shock as they begin to come to terms with the immensity of the damage and begin to sort out the massive mess that has inundated their homes and communities. Over 5000 residences and businesses have been flooded and abandoned. There have been power outages and disruption of travel. The economic and human toll continues to mount day by day. There is massive damage and disruption. Individuals, families, and communities face enormous challenges for years to come. Even though I live way up in the security of the north east, I feel helpless when faced with the pictures and reports of the damage and devastation down south.

During the start of the season of storms, there was the strong expectation by the people in these affected areas that the government would act decisively to solve the problems that would be brought on by the forces of nature. But the reality became apparent that there was little the government could do in the face of these mighty forces. People have felt a range of emotions: frustration, anger, and disappointment regarding the government's response. It was found lacking in its ability to provide substantial resources in the face of these storms and floods. The government seemed incompetent and meagre in its response. What strikes me about Scottish people in particular and British people in general is their belief that the central government can solve the immense problems of society, if only given enough time. Perhaps this belief is a belief that the Brits share with other people in Western Europe and North America. It is the belief that a strong central government will solve all our problems. But the government was overwhelmed by the immensity of the forces that wreaked havoc on the people of Britain.

I affirm the importance and necessity of the significant role the national government plays in the running of society. But I also see the limits of the power of the central government to deal with serious problems of society. Here in the UK a strong central government continually struggles with issues of national health care and social issues. In the USA the current administration of President Obama promotes the federal government's Affordable Care Act and exhibits the belief in the redeeming power of the federal government. I do believe in the importance of government at all levels, including the local community level. But as I have read history, politics, and theology, I testify to the radical inability of central government to promote the general welfare and prosperity of the people under its jurisdiction. There are limits to what big government can do. But let us pray in support of the people who even now are seeking to move on with their lives after such devastation.

Blessings to you and yours,