The Oxford Dictionary defines a game-changer as 'a person, an idea or an
event that completely changes the way a situation develops.' The Macmillan
Dictionary defines game-changing as 'completely changing the way some-
thing is done, thought about, or made.' For four days in May I participated
in an event that completely changed the way I viewed my time here in the
USA before returning to Scotland. The event was game-changing in the way
I live through this time of 'exile'; it is a game-changer in terms of how I live
through the remaining months (or perhaps even weeks) that I am back here
in my hometown. This event is pivotal as I pass through this period of my
life.
Twenty-two women and men gathered together May 9-12 for the 23rd An-
nual Kelso-Longview Leadership Prayer Summit at the Cannon Beach Con-
ference Center on the Oregon coast. Every year since 1988, Christian leaders
from the greater Kelso-Longview (Washington state) area have been spend-
ing time together worshipping God, building relationships among themselves,
seeking unity in service to Christ and his kingdom, and reaching out in love to
the lost and needy.
The schedule was flexible so that people could participate as they saw fit.
People enjoyed times of rest, reading for pleasure, and walking along the
beach. The facilities were outstanding, the meals were nutritious and deli-
cious, and the scenery was spectacular. Only the weather could have been
better. The first and last days were so-so, the second day was beautiful, and
the third was literally a washout.
A few of the persons in attendance were at the first Prayer Summit in 1988.
I was told that the first years of the Summit were characterized by conflict
and disunity among those first participants. But in recent years there has
been a growing sense of unity and cooperation. Although this year's Sum-
mit was smaller than usual, there was a greater sense of fellowship and un-
ity that had not been experienced before. We concluded the three nights we
were there with the Lord's Supper. These times of communion were, for
many of us, the highpoint of each day.
The Prayer Summit was a time of refreshment for me. I had felt like I had
been through the wringer the past two months. Plus I felt battered during
the past five years that I had lived in Scotland. The Summit was the right
event at the right place at just the right time for me to chill for a few days.
I spent many hours in conversation with other people. It seemed that I
and the person I was talking with were always the last persons to be
leaving the dining room after our meals. I treasure those long and deep
chats that I had with some amazing people who have been serving the
Lord in the Kelso-Longview area for many years.
But what I cherish most is that dear brothers and sisters allowed me to
share from my heart about the ministry the Lord has called me to in St.
Fergus, Scotland. They heard me, spoke into my life, prayed for me,
and supported me in my desire to return to Scotland as soon as the Lord
opens the door. Just before communion at our last evening session togeth-
er, they gathered around two of us, laid hands on us, and prayed over us.
Dave, who has been a Nazarene pastor in the area for thirteen years, is
taking a new charge up in Seattle. As for me, they prayed for my quick
return to Scotland as soon as possible. Some of them joked that they like
having me around, but they want me out of here and back in St. Fergus.
I can't say that I would argue with them.
The Prayer Summit was a game-changer for me. I truly sensed there
that the Lord has called me to Scotland, specifically to St. Fergus. My
companions at the Summit recognized that calling and affirmed it in me.
I will return to Scotland with their full blessing upon me. Most of all, I
made connections with people who have experience and skills in areas
that I believe I will need when I am back in St. Fergus. I will talk to
Larry about how the Lord worked mightily among the churches in the
Kelso-Longview area the past thirty years. I will ask Mark about how
sustained area-wide prayer has been the foundation of what God has
been doing in the area in the last five years. I want to glean from Terri
and Jim about Deep Healing ministry and from Russ about ministry to
people in jail.
I sense that the time I have here is a time for me to be prepared for min-
istry back in Scotland, and so I am taking quite seriously how I use my
time and energy. The Prayer Summit was game-changing because I be-
gan to see my stay here from a whole different perspective, one that is
oriented to serving Christ and his kingdom in Scotland. As always, I
covet your prayers on my behalf.
Blessings to you and yours,
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Friday, June 03, 2011
Memorial Day 2011
For the last four months I have been here in the Longview/Kelso area, I have
been struggling to be disciplined with my time. I have a long list of things to be
done, but I don't seem to be able to manage the use of my time very well. I have
found that a Sabbath rest every seven days injects a sense of God's perspective
into my life. Last Monday, Memorial Day, I took a second Sabbath in order to re-
ceive a double portion of God's perspective. In my early teens I developed a ritu-
al every Memorial Day of reading in the local newspaper a long list of the names
of men and women from the area who died in four major US wars in the 20th
century. Last Monday, Memorial Day 2011, I did what I had not done since I
was a teen: I slowly read through the long list of area war dead published in the
The Daily News. I did not know where it would take me, I just knew that I had
to do it.
I did as I used to do long ago: I began with the list of 43 men killed in Vietnam,
almost all of whom died in the second half of the 1960s, but a few in the early
1970s. When they died, most of them were kids just a few years older than me.
Besides those killed by hostile fire, there were a few killed by friendly fire. There
were two who are still MIA (missing in action). During my high school years, I
followed the war closely. Some of the names of the places where they fell were
still familiar to me: Pleiku, Kontum, Tay Ninh, Bien Hoa, Quang Tri. I remem-
ber reading about the young men when their death notices were published in The
Daily News. I did as I did way back then, I read their names and remembered
them.
I used to go from the Vietnam War to the Second World War, and so I did that
last Monday. The list of war dead from the area is staggering, so much so that I
still feel overwhelmed by the losses. There were submariners, pilots, foot soldiers,
sailors, mapmakers, airmen, bombardiers, POWs, nurses, and more. They died all
over the world: Belgium, France, Italy, Holland, Germany, Britain, North Africa,
India, Burma, the Aleutian Islands, islands and coral atolls in the Pacific, Correg-
idor, Tarawa, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Luzon, Normandy, and in the air over France
and Germany. Nine local men were lost in the attack on Pearl Harbor, four from
the USS Oklahoma and three from the USS Arizona. At least four area men who
were POWs were killed when US war planes sank the Japanese ships on which
they were being transported to Japan and a few were killed when their ships
were attacked by kamikaze planes. Others were on submarines lost at sea or on
planes that never returned from their missions. One was killed in an auto accident
and several in training accidents. One soldier died of food poisoning and another
from a heart attack. The Army, Navy, and Army Air Corps have long lists of
local personnel who lost their lives in World War II.
I also read the names of those lost in the Korean War and the First World War.
The list for the Korean War is the shortest of the four US wars and there was
no town of Longview until five years after the end of the First World War. Still,
the list for the latter conflict is a long list. I feel it is important to recognize each
name and to remember them. But a lot has changed since I read those lists over
40 years ago. My father passed away June 30, 1979, and my mother on Septem-
ber 30, 2001. So this Memorial Day I went out to the cemetery where they are at
rest and I remembered them and honored them. Near them are the graves of my
Uncle Ole and Aunt Mave, and I remembered and honored them as well. I get
emotional when I am so close to them in terms of space, but so far apart from
them in time and physical relationship. Then I started thinking about my other
uncles, aunts, cousins, and a long list of friends I have known throughout my life,
all of whom are no longer alive. I remember them all.
Blessings to you and yours,
been struggling to be disciplined with my time. I have a long list of things to be
done, but I don't seem to be able to manage the use of my time very well. I have
found that a Sabbath rest every seven days injects a sense of God's perspective
into my life. Last Monday, Memorial Day, I took a second Sabbath in order to re-
ceive a double portion of God's perspective. In my early teens I developed a ritu-
al every Memorial Day of reading in the local newspaper a long list of the names
of men and women from the area who died in four major US wars in the 20th
century. Last Monday, Memorial Day 2011, I did what I had not done since I
was a teen: I slowly read through the long list of area war dead published in the
The Daily News. I did not know where it would take me, I just knew that I had
to do it.
I did as I used to do long ago: I began with the list of 43 men killed in Vietnam,
almost all of whom died in the second half of the 1960s, but a few in the early
1970s. When they died, most of them were kids just a few years older than me.
Besides those killed by hostile fire, there were a few killed by friendly fire. There
were two who are still MIA (missing in action). During my high school years, I
followed the war closely. Some of the names of the places where they fell were
still familiar to me: Pleiku, Kontum, Tay Ninh, Bien Hoa, Quang Tri. I remem-
ber reading about the young men when their death notices were published in The
Daily News. I did as I did way back then, I read their names and remembered
them.
I used to go from the Vietnam War to the Second World War, and so I did that
last Monday. The list of war dead from the area is staggering, so much so that I
still feel overwhelmed by the losses. There were submariners, pilots, foot soldiers,
sailors, mapmakers, airmen, bombardiers, POWs, nurses, and more. They died all
over the world: Belgium, France, Italy, Holland, Germany, Britain, North Africa,
India, Burma, the Aleutian Islands, islands and coral atolls in the Pacific, Correg-
idor, Tarawa, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Luzon, Normandy, and in the air over France
and Germany. Nine local men were lost in the attack on Pearl Harbor, four from
the USS Oklahoma and three from the USS Arizona. At least four area men who
were POWs were killed when US war planes sank the Japanese ships on which
they were being transported to Japan and a few were killed when their ships
were attacked by kamikaze planes. Others were on submarines lost at sea or on
planes that never returned from their missions. One was killed in an auto accident
and several in training accidents. One soldier died of food poisoning and another
from a heart attack. The Army, Navy, and Army Air Corps have long lists of
local personnel who lost their lives in World War II.
I also read the names of those lost in the Korean War and the First World War.
The list for the Korean War is the shortest of the four US wars and there was
no town of Longview until five years after the end of the First World War. Still,
the list for the latter conflict is a long list. I feel it is important to recognize each
name and to remember them. But a lot has changed since I read those lists over
40 years ago. My father passed away June 30, 1979, and my mother on Septem-
ber 30, 2001. So this Memorial Day I went out to the cemetery where they are at
rest and I remembered them and honored them. Near them are the graves of my
Uncle Ole and Aunt Mave, and I remembered and honored them as well. I get
emotional when I am so close to them in terms of space, but so far apart from
them in time and physical relationship. Then I started thinking about my other
uncles, aunts, cousins, and a long list of friends I have known throughout my life,
all of whom are no longer alive. I remember them all.
Blessings to you and yours,
Thursday, May 26, 2011
It Wasn't the End of the World as We Know It
A song by R.E.M. has been going round and round my mind for the last several
weeks. The chorus goes something like this: It's the end of the world as we know
it / It's the end of the world as we know it / It's the end of the world as we know
it, and I feel fine. Well, in the days immediately preceding and following May 21,
it wasn't the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine.
During the days leading up to Saturday, May 21, I was fascinated with Harold
Camping and his warnings that May 21 would be the Day of Judgment when
Christ would return to earth. The 89-year old Bible teacher was absolutely cer-
tain that his careful study over a lifetime pointed to that date for the end of the
world as we know it. He broadcast the message over his Family Radio net-
work, sent teams of followers far and wide to warn people, and erected thou-
sands of billboards across the USA and around the world to warn people of
their imminent doom. He and his ministry were sincere about their beliefs;
they certainly were not in it for the money or the publicity.
All kinds of thoughts and feelings were racing around in me as May 21 came
closer and closer. As a believer in Jesus Christ, I eagerly await his coming
again. I proclaim the Mystery of Faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, and
Christ will come again! Christians throughout the centuries have awaited his
coming again as King of Kings and Lord of Lords to judge the world. But
I have to confess that I often hope he doesn't come soon. I am enjoying my-
self too much. I do yearn for Christ to come again, it's just that I want him to
return later rather than sooner. I want to get back to Scotland. That's how I
feel much of the time, and that saddens me. It grieves me when I feel that way.
I remember back to an earlier time when Harold Camping and Family Radio
predicted that Christ would come on a certain date in 1994. He even published
a small book detailing how he got to that date. But when his prediction proved
to be wrong, many of us thought he would have learned his lesson. Scriptural
texts such as Acts 1:7 and Matthew 24:36 warn Christians against setting the
time of Christ's Return. And now this time he was absolutely certain that Christ
would return on May 21, 2011. How terribly foolish of him to do that.
Since 6 pm on Saturday, May 21, I have been doing a lot of praying for those
who were related to this whole situation. I have been praying that the Lord
would bless Harold Camping and all those who put their hopes in the foolish
teaching. May they not reject the faith in their great disappointment, but be
strengthened in the truth of who Jesus Christ is and what God did through him
on the cross. I also have been praying that the Lord would bless those who
scoffed, mocked, and ridiculed all those who got caught up in the false teach-
ing. May they come to trust what Jesus did for them on the cross when he came
the first time, and be ready for him when he really does come again. May they
not scorn nor mock that.
I pray that we, the Church, we who confess Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour,
would not only eagerly await his coming again, but also go about the Father's
kingdom business until he does come again. May we be found faithful at his
coming. Maranatha! Come! Lord Jesus. Come!
Blessings to you and yours,
weeks. The chorus goes something like this: It's the end of the world as we know
it / It's the end of the world as we know it / It's the end of the world as we know
it, and I feel fine. Well, in the days immediately preceding and following May 21,
it wasn't the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine.
During the days leading up to Saturday, May 21, I was fascinated with Harold
Camping and his warnings that May 21 would be the Day of Judgment when
Christ would return to earth. The 89-year old Bible teacher was absolutely cer-
tain that his careful study over a lifetime pointed to that date for the end of the
world as we know it. He broadcast the message over his Family Radio net-
work, sent teams of followers far and wide to warn people, and erected thou-
sands of billboards across the USA and around the world to warn people of
their imminent doom. He and his ministry were sincere about their beliefs;
they certainly were not in it for the money or the publicity.
All kinds of thoughts and feelings were racing around in me as May 21 came
closer and closer. As a believer in Jesus Christ, I eagerly await his coming
again. I proclaim the Mystery of Faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, and
Christ will come again! Christians throughout the centuries have awaited his
coming again as King of Kings and Lord of Lords to judge the world. But
I have to confess that I often hope he doesn't come soon. I am enjoying my-
self too much. I do yearn for Christ to come again, it's just that I want him to
return later rather than sooner. I want to get back to Scotland. That's how I
feel much of the time, and that saddens me. It grieves me when I feel that way.
I remember back to an earlier time when Harold Camping and Family Radio
predicted that Christ would come on a certain date in 1994. He even published
a small book detailing how he got to that date. But when his prediction proved
to be wrong, many of us thought he would have learned his lesson. Scriptural
texts such as Acts 1:7 and Matthew 24:36 warn Christians against setting the
time of Christ's Return. And now this time he was absolutely certain that Christ
would return on May 21, 2011. How terribly foolish of him to do that.
Since 6 pm on Saturday, May 21, I have been doing a lot of praying for those
who were related to this whole situation. I have been praying that the Lord
would bless Harold Camping and all those who put their hopes in the foolish
teaching. May they not reject the faith in their great disappointment, but be
strengthened in the truth of who Jesus Christ is and what God did through him
on the cross. I also have been praying that the Lord would bless those who
scoffed, mocked, and ridiculed all those who got caught up in the false teach-
ing. May they come to trust what Jesus did for them on the cross when he came
the first time, and be ready for him when he really does come again. May they
not scorn nor mock that.
I pray that we, the Church, we who confess Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour,
would not only eagerly await his coming again, but also go about the Father's
kingdom business until he does come again. May we be found faithful at his
coming. Maranatha! Come! Lord Jesus. Come!
Blessings to you and yours,
Friday, May 20, 2011
My Heart Full of Sadness
On Tuesday, May 10, the Presbytery of the Twin Cities cast the deciding vote to
change the constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA). The presbytery was
the 87th of 173 presbyteries in the PC (USA) to vote in favor of the constitutional
change, thus making presbyteries supporting the change the majority. As a result,
presbyteries can now ordain persons as ministers, elders, and deacons without re-
gard to sexual orientation. Ordained people are no longer obligated to affirm faith-
fulness in marriage between a man and a woman and chastity in singleness. All
barriers to homosexual persons serving as ministers, elders, and deacons were re-
moved.
From Monday, May 9, until Thursday, May 12, I was attending the 23rd Annual
Ministers' Prayer Summit at a Christian conference center on the Oregon coast.
One of the themes that kept arising in our time together was that of sexual puri-
ty in our lives as Christian women and men who hold positions of church lead-
ership. We had a marvelous time and I will write about the conference in the near
future. When I returned to my apartment and got caught up on the news, I learned
about the deciding vote cast by the Presbytery of the Twin Cities.
I cannot say that I was surprised; I knew that it would happen sooner or later. In
one sense I was surprised that it took this long. I had thought that the Presbytery
of the Twin Cities would have cast their vote in favor of the change well before
now. The Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota) are known for their
more liberal positions concerning social and theological issues. The sexual revo-
lution and the cry for liberation from all forms of oppression exploded into the
consciousness of the USA and entered into the theological scene in the late 1960s.
Since then the Episcopal Church in the US, the United Church of Christ, and the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America have affirmed persons who are openly
homosexual and welcomed them into church leadership.
For 33 years, there have been Presbyterians who have been unrelenting in their
efforts to remove every obstacle that prevented gay and lesbian people from serv-
ing in positions of leadership in the PC (USA). I remember as if it were yester-
day when the issue first came before the General Assembly in 1978. Little did I
realize then that it would lead to intense debate among Presbyterians for over
three decades. I witnessed the heated debates and the failed efforts by the pro-
gay lobby in 1997 and 2001. But I had an ever-increasing sense that it was inev-
itable that they would be successful. There was another failed effort in 2008, but
more and more conservative evangelical Presbyterians and churches left the de-
nomination. Then on May 10, the long struggle to ordain openly gay and lesbian
people was successful. I found it odd that it took this long for there to be enough
presbyteries to form a majority for change of the constitution.
I know many Presbyterian colleagues who are celebrating what they see as a
great victory for gay and lesbian people and for the PC (USA). The struggle
was hard-fought and long, but they persevered and were successful. I perceive
that the slow and gradual decline of the denomination continues, and that grieves
me and saddens me. The dike of biblical authority has been breached and sexual
integrity and purity in marriage and singleness have been swept away. It is only
a matter of time before those of us who question and oppose what has happened
will be labelled homophobic, exclusionary, and unloving. If so, so be it. Such key
biblical concepts as fidelity in marriage, chastity in singleness, and repentance for
sin have been swept aside and cast into utter darkness. I expect that very soon
same-sex marriage will be brought forward and approved without any opposi-
tion.
I am deeply saddened that there are fellow members in the PC (USA) who inten-
tionally walk in a way that is contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am dis-
turbed that the confession of Jesus Christ as Lord is divorced from the authority
of Scripture. But as a disciple of the Lord Jesus and as one who recognizes the
authority of the Scriptures, I re-affirm fidelity in marriage between a man and a
woman and chastity in singleness. I also re-affirm that those who refuse to repent
of breaking these standards should not be ordained and/or installed as church of-
ficers. Such is the ground upon which I stand.
Blessings to you and yours,
change the constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA). The presbytery was
the 87th of 173 presbyteries in the PC (USA) to vote in favor of the constitutional
change, thus making presbyteries supporting the change the majority. As a result,
presbyteries can now ordain persons as ministers, elders, and deacons without re-
gard to sexual orientation. Ordained people are no longer obligated to affirm faith-
fulness in marriage between a man and a woman and chastity in singleness. All
barriers to homosexual persons serving as ministers, elders, and deacons were re-
moved.
From Monday, May 9, until Thursday, May 12, I was attending the 23rd Annual
Ministers' Prayer Summit at a Christian conference center on the Oregon coast.
One of the themes that kept arising in our time together was that of sexual puri-
ty in our lives as Christian women and men who hold positions of church lead-
ership. We had a marvelous time and I will write about the conference in the near
future. When I returned to my apartment and got caught up on the news, I learned
about the deciding vote cast by the Presbytery of the Twin Cities.
I cannot say that I was surprised; I knew that it would happen sooner or later. In
one sense I was surprised that it took this long. I had thought that the Presbytery
of the Twin Cities would have cast their vote in favor of the change well before
now. The Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota) are known for their
more liberal positions concerning social and theological issues. The sexual revo-
lution and the cry for liberation from all forms of oppression exploded into the
consciousness of the USA and entered into the theological scene in the late 1960s.
Since then the Episcopal Church in the US, the United Church of Christ, and the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America have affirmed persons who are openly
homosexual and welcomed them into church leadership.
For 33 years, there have been Presbyterians who have been unrelenting in their
efforts to remove every obstacle that prevented gay and lesbian people from serv-
ing in positions of leadership in the PC (USA). I remember as if it were yester-
day when the issue first came before the General Assembly in 1978. Little did I
realize then that it would lead to intense debate among Presbyterians for over
three decades. I witnessed the heated debates and the failed efforts by the pro-
gay lobby in 1997 and 2001. But I had an ever-increasing sense that it was inev-
itable that they would be successful. There was another failed effort in 2008, but
more and more conservative evangelical Presbyterians and churches left the de-
nomination. Then on May 10, the long struggle to ordain openly gay and lesbian
people was successful. I found it odd that it took this long for there to be enough
presbyteries to form a majority for change of the constitution.
I know many Presbyterian colleagues who are celebrating what they see as a
great victory for gay and lesbian people and for the PC (USA). The struggle
was hard-fought and long, but they persevered and were successful. I perceive
that the slow and gradual decline of the denomination continues, and that grieves
me and saddens me. The dike of biblical authority has been breached and sexual
integrity and purity in marriage and singleness have been swept away. It is only
a matter of time before those of us who question and oppose what has happened
will be labelled homophobic, exclusionary, and unloving. If so, so be it. Such key
biblical concepts as fidelity in marriage, chastity in singleness, and repentance for
sin have been swept aside and cast into utter darkness. I expect that very soon
same-sex marriage will be brought forward and approved without any opposi-
tion.
I am deeply saddened that there are fellow members in the PC (USA) who inten-
tionally walk in a way that is contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am dis-
turbed that the confession of Jesus Christ as Lord is divorced from the authority
of Scripture. But as a disciple of the Lord Jesus and as one who recognizes the
authority of the Scriptures, I re-affirm fidelity in marriage between a man and a
woman and chastity in singleness. I also re-affirm that those who refuse to repent
of breaking these standards should not be ordained and/or installed as church of-
ficers. Such is the ground upon which I stand.
Blessings to you and yours,
Sunday, May 08, 2011
Getting Up to Speed
The last three weeks have been challenging for me. When I left the USA for Scot-
land and the University of St. Andrews in 2003, I had no sense that I would end up
taking a pastoral position in the land of Braveheart. For close to three years -ever
since I made the decision to remain in Scotland- I have been disconnecting myself
from living in the USA and setting up a new home in Scotland. I love living in the
USA, but I firmly believe that God has called me to serve there in Scotland. Plus I
really do enjoy living in that new land where the Lord has led me and the people of
St. Fergus Parish Church to whom the Lord has called me to serve. I would never
have considered it even four years ago, but now I am grateful to God for leading me
that way.
But the refusal of my application for a visa to enter the United Kingdom as a minis-
ter of religion threw me off balance. I felt as if the rug had been pulled out from un-
der me. When I received the refusal letter and realized that I would be here in
Longview until early next year when I could apply again, I scrambled to arrange
my life here. Fortunately I had the support of great friends who provided me with a
place to stay and a car to get around in for close to three months. But over the past
three weeks I have found a nice studio apartment to rent, bought a good used car
with the help of great friends, enjoyed being back at my home church, and made
contact with the Presbytery of Olympia about ministry opportunities.
It has been fun being back in my home town for longer than just a visit. But adjust-
ing to the change of plans has worn me out: I have been busy. When I left Scotland
in late January, I was intending to buy a MacBook to replace my aged PC notebook
Well, I did that, and I am struggling to convert from PC to Mac. Already I have seen
the substantial benefits of the Mac over the PC, but it is still a challenge for me. I
have been shopping around for car insurance and medical coverage. Through this
all I have had to have my mail redirected to my new address, get basic furnishings
for my place, go through bags of mail from the last three years, and find out where
I could be of service at my home church. I have enjoyed old friends and made new
friends. The biggest challenge has been bringing order to my small apartment as
well as to my life. My To Be Done list was long, but slowly I am whittling it down.
Still there are so many small things I need to do, but at least the list is more man-
ageable now.
When I first arrived here, I was encouraged to consider attending a four-day Min-
isters' Prayer Summit out on the Oregon coast. I was told that for the past 13 years
it has been a time for ministers from the area to rest, relax, and seek the face of the
Lord. I was very interested, but expected to be back in Scotland by then. But here
I am still, and I look forward to attending the Prayer Summit. It is exactly what I
need at this point in my 'captivity' here in the good ol' USA. I hope to get God's per-
spective about this era of my life. As always, I covet your prayers on my behalf.
Blessings to you and yours,
land and the University of St. Andrews in 2003, I had no sense that I would end up
taking a pastoral position in the land of Braveheart. For close to three years -ever
since I made the decision to remain in Scotland- I have been disconnecting myself
from living in the USA and setting up a new home in Scotland. I love living in the
USA, but I firmly believe that God has called me to serve there in Scotland. Plus I
really do enjoy living in that new land where the Lord has led me and the people of
St. Fergus Parish Church to whom the Lord has called me to serve. I would never
have considered it even four years ago, but now I am grateful to God for leading me
that way.
But the refusal of my application for a visa to enter the United Kingdom as a minis-
ter of religion threw me off balance. I felt as if the rug had been pulled out from un-
der me. When I received the refusal letter and realized that I would be here in
Longview until early next year when I could apply again, I scrambled to arrange
my life here. Fortunately I had the support of great friends who provided me with a
place to stay and a car to get around in for close to three months. But over the past
three weeks I have found a nice studio apartment to rent, bought a good used car
with the help of great friends, enjoyed being back at my home church, and made
contact with the Presbytery of Olympia about ministry opportunities.
It has been fun being back in my home town for longer than just a visit. But adjust-
ing to the change of plans has worn me out: I have been busy. When I left Scotland
in late January, I was intending to buy a MacBook to replace my aged PC notebook
Well, I did that, and I am struggling to convert from PC to Mac. Already I have seen
the substantial benefits of the Mac over the PC, but it is still a challenge for me. I
have been shopping around for car insurance and medical coverage. Through this
all I have had to have my mail redirected to my new address, get basic furnishings
for my place, go through bags of mail from the last three years, and find out where
I could be of service at my home church. I have enjoyed old friends and made new
friends. The biggest challenge has been bringing order to my small apartment as
well as to my life. My To Be Done list was long, but slowly I am whittling it down.
Still there are so many small things I need to do, but at least the list is more man-
ageable now.
When I first arrived here, I was encouraged to consider attending a four-day Min-
isters' Prayer Summit out on the Oregon coast. I was told that for the past 13 years
it has been a time for ministers from the area to rest, relax, and seek the face of the
Lord. I was very interested, but expected to be back in Scotland by then. But here
I am still, and I look forward to attending the Prayer Summit. It is exactly what I
need at this point in my 'captivity' here in the good ol' USA. I hope to get God's per-
spective about this era of my life. As always, I covet your prayers on my behalf.
Blessings to you and yours,
Friday, April 22, 2011
It's Friday, But Sunday's Comin'!
Holy Week is my favorite time of the year. Nothing during the year, including Advent
and Christmas, compares to the spectacular glories of Good Friday and Resurrec-
tion Sunday. Last night I went to a Maundy Thursday service at a sister Presbyterian
Church in town. Tonight I am doing the voices of Pontius Pilate, Peter, Luke, and
John in a Good Friday cantata in my home church. Then on Easter Sunday we will
meet for an Easter breakfast and morning worship. All this week I have been reading
the Easter narratives from the four gospels. It is such a glorious time for me because
my attention is focused on what God has done for us in the Cross of Jesus Christ
and his Resurrection from the dead. The eyes of my heart look to the work God has
done through Jesus Christ, not on any work that I do to earn God's favour, the for-
giveness of our sins. That is the very heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the mes-
sage we proclaim to the nations.
This week has been a very hectic week for me. The Cross and the Empty Tomb
have provided me with stability and security in a very chaotic time. I ordered a Mac
Book that just arrived today. So now I have to make the uncomfortable switch
from Microsoft to Mac, although I have heard that the latter is far easier to learn
and operate than the former. I recently signed a rental agreement for a studio
apartment, and now I face the challenge of finding furniture and furnishings. My num-
ber one priority has been locating an extra long twin bed and bedding for it. I pick
up the bed today or tomorrow. Meanwhile people have been supplying me with
stuff to fill the apartment. My greatest challenge has been finding a used car that is
priced just right and one that I can fit in without my knees up under my chin when I
drive. I think I have found one that fits the bill. I am running here, there, and every-
where.
I do feel stressed. With so many things to do and arrange and so many places to
go, I feel overwhelmed. I am suddenly being uncoupled from my life that was cen-
tered around the University of St. Andrews. Now God is starting the process of
coupling me to the people at St. Fergus Parish Church in Scotland. In a way that
only God could arrange, I find that it means being placed here in the Longview/-
Kelso area until early next year. It's quite a challenge, and I feel like I am growing
by leaps and bounds. It may be a while before I am again online posting blogs. I
don't know what to expect timewise in setting up the Mac. I hope it won't be too
long before I am posting again, but I am not sure. I have quite a few challenges be-
fore me. As always, I ask you for your prayers.
An abundance of Easter blessings to you and yours,
and Christmas, compares to the spectacular glories of Good Friday and Resurrec-
tion Sunday. Last night I went to a Maundy Thursday service at a sister Presbyterian
Church in town. Tonight I am doing the voices of Pontius Pilate, Peter, Luke, and
John in a Good Friday cantata in my home church. Then on Easter Sunday we will
meet for an Easter breakfast and morning worship. All this week I have been reading
the Easter narratives from the four gospels. It is such a glorious time for me because
my attention is focused on what God has done for us in the Cross of Jesus Christ
and his Resurrection from the dead. The eyes of my heart look to the work God has
done through Jesus Christ, not on any work that I do to earn God's favour, the for-
giveness of our sins. That is the very heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the mes-
sage we proclaim to the nations.
This week has been a very hectic week for me. The Cross and the Empty Tomb
have provided me with stability and security in a very chaotic time. I ordered a Mac
Book that just arrived today. So now I have to make the uncomfortable switch
from Microsoft to Mac, although I have heard that the latter is far easier to learn
and operate than the former. I recently signed a rental agreement for a studio
apartment, and now I face the challenge of finding furniture and furnishings. My num-
ber one priority has been locating an extra long twin bed and bedding for it. I pick
up the bed today or tomorrow. Meanwhile people have been supplying me with
stuff to fill the apartment. My greatest challenge has been finding a used car that is
priced just right and one that I can fit in without my knees up under my chin when I
drive. I think I have found one that fits the bill. I am running here, there, and every-
where.
I do feel stressed. With so many things to do and arrange and so many places to
go, I feel overwhelmed. I am suddenly being uncoupled from my life that was cen-
tered around the University of St. Andrews. Now God is starting the process of
coupling me to the people at St. Fergus Parish Church in Scotland. In a way that
only God could arrange, I find that it means being placed here in the Longview/-
Kelso area until early next year. It's quite a challenge, and I feel like I am growing
by leaps and bounds. It may be a while before I am again online posting blogs. I
don't know what to expect timewise in setting up the Mac. I hope it won't be too
long before I am posting again, but I am not sure. I have quite a few challenges be-
fore me. As always, I ask you for your prayers.
An abundance of Easter blessings to you and yours,
Monday, April 18, 2011
Transitioning
Things are slowly starting to fall into place as I continue to scramble to remain in the
Longview/Kelso (Washington State) area until early next year. Although I was aware
that the British Home Office could refuse to issue me a visa, I hoped that I had pre-
sented sufficient documentation in support of my application. Therefore it was some-
what of a shock when I received the refusal letter. I have been numb for the past
several weeks as I have dealt with the visa refusal. I felt as if my world had been
turned upside down.
Two weeks ago I decided to take action and search for accommodation. I had a
long list of places to call about various sizes of apartments. I identified what I
thought were the three best places to try. The first place I tried seemed to be ex-
pecting my call and showed me a studio apartment. It was just what I was looking
for and the rent was well within my means. I will write more about that in future
postings. I am now looking for furniture (especially a single bed) and furnishings.
Two great friends have offered to buy me a quality used car that I can use to get
around. I have ordered a new MacBook and look forward to entering Mac World.
I have not been able to contact the Presbyterian Church office for this area. I expect
that I will be able to search for interim pastoral positions after the hectic Easter sea-
son is over. It is important that I keep making decisions and taking action. I do not
want to wither away into despondancy and despair.
In my Bible reading this morning I came across Proverbs 11:28 in The Message
Bible. It spoke powerfully to me as I hope it does for you: A life devoted to things
is a dead life, a stump; a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree. I strongly desire
that the Lord shape my life in a special way during the next ten months that I have
here in my hometown. I also pray that for you, dear reader, our Lord would shape
your lives so that you flourish in all you do.
Blessings to you and yours,
Longview/Kelso (Washington State) area until early next year. Although I was aware
that the British Home Office could refuse to issue me a visa, I hoped that I had pre-
sented sufficient documentation in support of my application. Therefore it was some-
what of a shock when I received the refusal letter. I have been numb for the past
several weeks as I have dealt with the visa refusal. I felt as if my world had been
turned upside down.
Two weeks ago I decided to take action and search for accommodation. I had a
long list of places to call about various sizes of apartments. I identified what I
thought were the three best places to try. The first place I tried seemed to be ex-
pecting my call and showed me a studio apartment. It was just what I was looking
for and the rent was well within my means. I will write more about that in future
postings. I am now looking for furniture (especially a single bed) and furnishings.
Two great friends have offered to buy me a quality used car that I can use to get
around. I have ordered a new MacBook and look forward to entering Mac World.
I have not been able to contact the Presbyterian Church office for this area. I expect
that I will be able to search for interim pastoral positions after the hectic Easter sea-
son is over. It is important that I keep making decisions and taking action. I do not
want to wither away into despondancy and despair.
In my Bible reading this morning I came across Proverbs 11:28 in The Message
Bible. It spoke powerfully to me as I hope it does for you: A life devoted to things
is a dead life, a stump; a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree. I strongly desire
that the Lord shape my life in a special way during the next ten months that I have
here in my hometown. I also pray that for you, dear reader, our Lord would shape
your lives so that you flourish in all you do.
Blessings to you and yours,
Monday, April 11, 2011
Pacing, Ordering My Life, and Being Disciplined
Pacing back and forth, ordering my life, and practicing discipline-these personal ac-
tivities characterize my life in these most recent days. Daily I experience God's pro-
vision, guidance, and presence; but there are times now when I am on the verge of
freaking out or feeling discouraged. The Lord has blessed me with restful sleep, but
I must admit that anxious thoughts often wake me at the dawn of a new day. Favor-
ite texts from the Psalms I have memorized are a comfort to me as I wake up. Get-
ting up and out of bed is easier when I realize that I face the reality of the Father's
world rather than the dread and fears that were streaming up from my untamed sub-
concious mind while I slept. It helps if I remember the people and provisions that
God has brought my way. That makes all the difference in the world.
I find myself pacing back and forth throughout the day. As I pace I often think about
what I am going to do that day and how I will do it. Lately I have been wondering
what type of accommodation I will find for the next ten months before returning to
Scotland. Ministry opportunities and how I will support myself financially also occu-
py my thoughts as I pace. But sometimes I turn off my mind and pace just for the
sheer pleasure of pacing. I don't know what I would do if I couldn't pace!
It is useful for me to plan each day. At the beginning of the day I record what I did
the previous day and then plan what needs to be done that day. I became quite ser-
ious about it two years ago when I was assistant minister at the Old Parish Church
in Cupar, Scotland. Since then I have developed it further and have found it helpful
in bringing some sense of order out of the turbulent times I am in. This helps me to
prioritize my time and focus on what needs to be done. I rarely do everything that I
had planned for that day, but I would not want to see how wasted the day would
have been if I had not had a plan.
The death, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ serve as the firm
foundation of my life. As I put my trust in what God has done through Jesus, I ex-
perience the new life that is found only in him. The old way of life has gone and the
new way of life has come. I seek to order my life so that it is in sync with God's new
order that is established in Christ Jesus. Discipline is essential for living this new
creation life that Jesus gives to us. One sense of discipline refers to God's discipline
of his sons and daughters whom he loves. I have often experienced this discipline
throughout my life as a believer. There is also the the sense of discipline that refers
to the discipline of conducting my life as a disciple of Jesus Christ. This means I
seek to live in relationship with the personal and loving Lord God. Just as I find it
difficult to miss even one of three daily meals, I impoverish myself and wither away
if neglect daily Bible reading, prayer, communion with God,and service in Jesus'
name. As a follower of Christ, I seek to order how I live each day and to practice
the disciplines that draw me closer to the Lord. I desire this way of life, even in the
midst of the trying times I am currently encountering.
Blessings to you and yours,
tivities characterize my life in these most recent days. Daily I experience God's pro-
vision, guidance, and presence; but there are times now when I am on the verge of
freaking out or feeling discouraged. The Lord has blessed me with restful sleep, but
I must admit that anxious thoughts often wake me at the dawn of a new day. Favor-
ite texts from the Psalms I have memorized are a comfort to me as I wake up. Get-
ting up and out of bed is easier when I realize that I face the reality of the Father's
world rather than the dread and fears that were streaming up from my untamed sub-
concious mind while I slept. It helps if I remember the people and provisions that
God has brought my way. That makes all the difference in the world.
I find myself pacing back and forth throughout the day. As I pace I often think about
what I am going to do that day and how I will do it. Lately I have been wondering
what type of accommodation I will find for the next ten months before returning to
Scotland. Ministry opportunities and how I will support myself financially also occu-
py my thoughts as I pace. But sometimes I turn off my mind and pace just for the
sheer pleasure of pacing. I don't know what I would do if I couldn't pace!
It is useful for me to plan each day. At the beginning of the day I record what I did
the previous day and then plan what needs to be done that day. I became quite ser-
ious about it two years ago when I was assistant minister at the Old Parish Church
in Cupar, Scotland. Since then I have developed it further and have found it helpful
in bringing some sense of order out of the turbulent times I am in. This helps me to
prioritize my time and focus on what needs to be done. I rarely do everything that I
had planned for that day, but I would not want to see how wasted the day would
have been if I had not had a plan.
The death, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ serve as the firm
foundation of my life. As I put my trust in what God has done through Jesus, I ex-
perience the new life that is found only in him. The old way of life has gone and the
new way of life has come. I seek to order my life so that it is in sync with God's new
order that is established in Christ Jesus. Discipline is essential for living this new
creation life that Jesus gives to us. One sense of discipline refers to God's discipline
of his sons and daughters whom he loves. I have often experienced this discipline
throughout my life as a believer. There is also the the sense of discipline that refers
to the discipline of conducting my life as a disciple of Jesus Christ. This means I
seek to live in relationship with the personal and loving Lord God. Just as I find it
difficult to miss even one of three daily meals, I impoverish myself and wither away
if neglect daily Bible reading, prayer, communion with God,and service in Jesus'
name. As a follower of Christ, I seek to order how I live each day and to practice
the disciplines that draw me closer to the Lord. I desire this way of life, even in the
midst of the trying times I am currently encountering.
Blessings to you and yours,
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
The Background Story to the Visa Refusal
The whole process leading up to the refusal of my application to re-enter Scotland
as a minister of religion is quite a story. The story begins over two years ago when
I spent four months in 2008 volunteering at a Christian retreat center in northeast
England. I will always cherish the opportunity to serve for those four months at the
center in England. But during the early weeks of that period I strongly sensed that
the Lord was calling me to remain in Scotland with the Church of Scotland (C of S).
Several colleagues who are C of S ministers had been encouraging me to transfer
my ordination from the Presbyterian Church (USA) to the C of S. I applied, was ex-
amined, analyzed, and tested, and finally invited to enter a 12-month familiarization
process to receive credentials from the C of S. With my student visa soon to expire,
I applied for a minister of religion visa. I was informed that most applications are pro-
cessed within six weeks.
Before six weeks had gone by I went to another ministry opportunity for a month. I
notified the government bureau processing my visa of the change of address and re-
ceived confirmation that the change had been received. But I did not receive my visa
or passport for over five months. After I had not heard anthing after three months I
looked for it, but to no avail. Fortunately I was able to track it from the time it left
the bureau that had processed it. Everywhere I contacted had not received my visa
papers. The short of it is that a friend of mine at my original address played detec-
tive and located my package and forwarded it up to me. It was five and a half
months since I had sent in my application for the visa. When I opened the package
I learned that my application for the visa had been refused because I had not been
in fulltime ministry for twelve continuous months within five years before I applied
for the visa.
I was downcast when I received the news of the visa refusal. The C of S had recog-
nised my ministerial credentials, but the Bureau of Immigration refused me because
I did not fit into its time scheme. I was four months into the twelve month familiariza-
tion program in which the C of S had enrolled me. I consulted an immigration lawyer
who cautioned me from appealing the decision. I made the decision to continue on
with the program to its end so that I would be able to serve in the C of S. My sense
is that it would have taken longer and been more difficult to minister in Scotland if I
had cut the process short and moved back to the USA. I continued with everything
I had been doing. In due course I completed the process, received authorization to
minister in the C of S, and accepted a call to minister at St. Fergus Parish Church.
I returned to the USA earlier this year and applied for permission to return to Scot-
land as a minister of religion. I submitted all the necessary documents and declared
that I had overstayed my visa. I hoped that those documents would outweigh the
fact of my overstay. But as you and I now know, that was not the case. I learned
that overstaying a visa is now an automatic refusal for 12 months. The Home Of-
fice of the UK had every right to do that and I have no justification for what I did.
I am not able to appeal the decision.
However, I am grateful that I can re-apply in January of next year, which I will
do whole heartedly. The people of St. Fergus Parish Church and the Presbytery
of Buchan await my arrival. I firmly believe that the time between now and then
is in the Lord's hands. I am planning to be installed as minister of that dear con-
gregation. It will only be nine months after we first planned that to take place. I
am eager to see what the Lord has in store for the people of St. Fergus and for
me in the coming months. That is exciting! I covet your prayers for the coming
months.
Blessings to you and yours,
as a minister of religion is quite a story. The story begins over two years ago when
I spent four months in 2008 volunteering at a Christian retreat center in northeast
England. I will always cherish the opportunity to serve for those four months at the
center in England. But during the early weeks of that period I strongly sensed that
the Lord was calling me to remain in Scotland with the Church of Scotland (C of S).
Several colleagues who are C of S ministers had been encouraging me to transfer
my ordination from the Presbyterian Church (USA) to the C of S. I applied, was ex-
amined, analyzed, and tested, and finally invited to enter a 12-month familiarization
process to receive credentials from the C of S. With my student visa soon to expire,
I applied for a minister of religion visa. I was informed that most applications are pro-
cessed within six weeks.
Before six weeks had gone by I went to another ministry opportunity for a month. I
notified the government bureau processing my visa of the change of address and re-
ceived confirmation that the change had been received. But I did not receive my visa
or passport for over five months. After I had not heard anthing after three months I
looked for it, but to no avail. Fortunately I was able to track it from the time it left
the bureau that had processed it. Everywhere I contacted had not received my visa
papers. The short of it is that a friend of mine at my original address played detec-
tive and located my package and forwarded it up to me. It was five and a half
months since I had sent in my application for the visa. When I opened the package
I learned that my application for the visa had been refused because I had not been
in fulltime ministry for twelve continuous months within five years before I applied
for the visa.
I was downcast when I received the news of the visa refusal. The C of S had recog-
nised my ministerial credentials, but the Bureau of Immigration refused me because
I did not fit into its time scheme. I was four months into the twelve month familiariza-
tion program in which the C of S had enrolled me. I consulted an immigration lawyer
who cautioned me from appealing the decision. I made the decision to continue on
with the program to its end so that I would be able to serve in the C of S. My sense
is that it would have taken longer and been more difficult to minister in Scotland if I
had cut the process short and moved back to the USA. I continued with everything
I had been doing. In due course I completed the process, received authorization to
minister in the C of S, and accepted a call to minister at St. Fergus Parish Church.
I returned to the USA earlier this year and applied for permission to return to Scot-
land as a minister of religion. I submitted all the necessary documents and declared
that I had overstayed my visa. I hoped that those documents would outweigh the
fact of my overstay. But as you and I now know, that was not the case. I learned
that overstaying a visa is now an automatic refusal for 12 months. The Home Of-
fice of the UK had every right to do that and I have no justification for what I did.
I am not able to appeal the decision.
However, I am grateful that I can re-apply in January of next year, which I will
do whole heartedly. The people of St. Fergus Parish Church and the Presbytery
of Buchan await my arrival. I firmly believe that the time between now and then
is in the Lord's hands. I am planning to be installed as minister of that dear con-
gregation. It will only be nine months after we first planned that to take place. I
am eager to see what the Lord has in store for the people of St. Fergus and for
me in the coming months. That is exciting! I covet your prayers for the coming
months.
Blessings to you and yours,
Monday, April 04, 2011
The Visa Application Refusal
I recently learned that my application for a minister of religion visa to return to Scotland has been refused by the Home Office of the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland). Everything in my application was in order: I had received a call to be a minister of a church in Scotland, my salary and benefits were up to standards, and I had sufficient points that met the requirements for a minister of religion visa. But I admitted that I had overstayed my expired student visa. Although I thought that I had good grounds for receiving a visa, a letter from the Home Office explained that an overstay of a visa is grounds for an automatic refusal of a visa application. I cannot appeal the decision nor can I apply for a visa until I have been out of the United Kingdom for 12 months. In mid-January of next year I will again apply for the minister of religion visa. Although the refusal of my application is disappointing, it is not disheartening; although it is a setback, it is not a crushing blow. I am planning on returning to Scotland in February, 2012, in order to assume pastoral responsibilities at St. Fergus Parish Church, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. I look forward to it! Meanwhile I am seeking longer term accommodation and some type of employment, preferably in an interim pastoral position. I will keep you updated as time unfolds. I keep moving forward with my head up and my eyes open. This situation has a strong 'God- feel' to it, so I am eager to experience what the Lord has in store for me. I sense that an exciting time of preparation for the next stage in my life and ministry is ahead of me in the next ten months. I feel like I am embarking on a new and different adventure! As I have in the past, I covet your prayers. Blessings to you and yours,
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Under Orders and In the Wilderness
I often think back to the story of Israel in the Wilderness that is re-
corded in the Old Testament books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and
Deuteronomy. The people of Israel had experienced the mighty liberat-
ing acts of the Lord God that released them from slavery in Egypt. God
led them through the Wilderness on their way to the Promised Land. In
the Wilderness, the people of Israel responded to God's great acts with
constant rebellion, infidelity, disobedience, and complaining. The Lord
God judged the people, they wandered there for 40 years, and a whole-
generation died in the Wilderness without entering the Promised Land
all, that is, except Joshua and Caleb. I do not want to be like the people
of Israel in the Wilderness; I do, however, want to be faithful and obedi-
ent like Joshua and Caleb.
The challenge I face at home in SW Washington State is to remain faith-
ful and disciplined as I await further orders. God's orders to me at this
time are to stand down and sit tight until the Lord moves me out. That
order is difficult for me now and I have been experiencing my own wil-
derness. I want to be in action, not out of the action. It seems I have
been out of action for the last three years-I can't imagine 40 years of it.
I have done everything that I can to apply for my minister of religion
visa for the United Kingdom. There is nothing more that I can do but
wait and pray, and I have been doing that. I am ready to get into action
as soon as I get the word, but it hasn't come yet.
Meanwhile I do everything I can to keep from being like the people of
Israel in the Wilderness. They went their own way rather than God's
way. I have been royally blessed by two great friends who have opened
up their home and lives to me and provided me with a refuge. I have
space to seek the Lord through Scripture, prayer, and journaling. I am
sleeping well, taking great naps, enjoying reading for pleasure, walking,
and trying to eat well. I have been able to be part of a number of Chris-
tian small groups that have greatly encouraged me. I have had fun at a
number of outings that came up rather unexpectedly. It seems I always
have too much to do during the day. Unfortunately I have realized that
I have not had the time to visit with or call friends who mean a lot to me.
I expect that will change once I get my orders and I know where I'm go-
ing to next.
As always, I covet your prayers on my behalf.
Blessings to you and yours,
corded in the Old Testament books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and
Deuteronomy. The people of Israel had experienced the mighty liberat-
ing acts of the Lord God that released them from slavery in Egypt. God
led them through the Wilderness on their way to the Promised Land. In
the Wilderness, the people of Israel responded to God's great acts with
constant rebellion, infidelity, disobedience, and complaining. The Lord
God judged the people, they wandered there for 40 years, and a whole-
generation died in the Wilderness without entering the Promised Land
all, that is, except Joshua and Caleb. I do not want to be like the people
of Israel in the Wilderness; I do, however, want to be faithful and obedi-
ent like Joshua and Caleb.
The challenge I face at home in SW Washington State is to remain faith-
ful and disciplined as I await further orders. God's orders to me at this
time are to stand down and sit tight until the Lord moves me out. That
order is difficult for me now and I have been experiencing my own wil-
derness. I want to be in action, not out of the action. It seems I have
been out of action for the last three years-I can't imagine 40 years of it.
I have done everything that I can to apply for my minister of religion
visa for the United Kingdom. There is nothing more that I can do but
wait and pray, and I have been doing that. I am ready to get into action
as soon as I get the word, but it hasn't come yet.
Meanwhile I do everything I can to keep from being like the people of
Israel in the Wilderness. They went their own way rather than God's
way. I have been royally blessed by two great friends who have opened
up their home and lives to me and provided me with a refuge. I have
space to seek the Lord through Scripture, prayer, and journaling. I am
sleeping well, taking great naps, enjoying reading for pleasure, walking,
and trying to eat well. I have been able to be part of a number of Chris-
tian small groups that have greatly encouraged me. I have had fun at a
number of outings that came up rather unexpectedly. It seems I always
have too much to do during the day. Unfortunately I have realized that
I have not had the time to visit with or call friends who mean a lot to me.
I expect that will change once I get my orders and I know where I'm go-
ing to next.
As always, I covet your prayers on my behalf.
Blessings to you and yours,
Monday, February 28, 2011
Decompressing
I am alive! Preparing to move and three days of travel in late January
wore me out. The routine that I had developed over the past year was
totally disrupted. Last week I slowly re-established my world by drink-
ing in long draughts of sleep, taking naps, and basically doing nothing
but vegging out. The two weeks before last I had the pleasure of being
with good friends and taking part in the services at my home church in
Kelso, Washington. It took me about eight days to deal with the eight
hour time change. I got a new drivers license, had wonderful meals with
several friends, and went out with others. Starting the visa application
process, preaching and leading in a service at the church, being avail-
able to help out a good friend who just lost her father, and preparing to
take the drivers test and exam demanded a lot of my attention and
energy since I arrived. Last week I just plain pooped out and couldn't
do much of anything. But today I feel energetic again and ready to tack-
le everything I need to do. I will keep you posted. As always, I ask for
your thoughts and prayers.
Blessings to you and yours,
wore me out. The routine that I had developed over the past year was
totally disrupted. Last week I slowly re-established my world by drink-
ing in long draughts of sleep, taking naps, and basically doing nothing
but vegging out. The two weeks before last I had the pleasure of being
with good friends and taking part in the services at my home church in
Kelso, Washington. It took me about eight days to deal with the eight
hour time change. I got a new drivers license, had wonderful meals with
several friends, and went out with others. Starting the visa application
process, preaching and leading in a service at the church, being avail-
able to help out a good friend who just lost her father, and preparing to
take the drivers test and exam demanded a lot of my attention and
energy since I arrived. Last week I just plain pooped out and couldn't
do much of anything. But today I feel energetic again and ready to tack-
le everything I need to do. I will keep you posted. As always, I ask for
your thoughts and prayers.
Blessings to you and yours,
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Finally! A Door Opens!
Last Sunday, January 16, I led worship and preached at St. Fergus Par-
ish Church. After the service, the congregation voted unanimously to
invite me to be their minister. After receiving the results of the voting
and verbally accepting the invitation, I went around the fellowship hall
greeting people and chatting with them. Then it was a fine Sunday din-
ner with several of the elders of the church back at the hotel where I
had been put up. Soon I was on the bus that took me back to Aberdeen
where I caught the train to Cupar.
I used the order of service that St. Fergus has been using for decades,
if not for generations. It had been unfamiliar to me until I used the same
order of service at the nearby church where the Nominating Committee
had heard me three weeks before. The Scripture readings were from Is-
aiah 43:1-5a and John 10:1-14. My big idea was that God has promised
to be with us in the troubles and trials of life. Two of the four hymns I
chose were personal favorites: Be still my soul and Be Thou my vision.
They fit in well with the sermon. For the Children's Address I looked
up in a name book the meanings of five of the ten Sunday Club children.
After the service while voting was taking place, I visited the children in
their Children's Club rooms and looked up the names of the other five.
I worked hard on shaping a good flow to the service and doing sermon
preparation. After being away from preaching for the five years when
I was at St. Andrews, I had lost confidence in preaching. Preaching op-
portunities during my year at Cupar Old helped, but they still were not
enough. I spent the last year thinking and working through both my
sermon preparation and delivery. It has been a challenging road. But
last Sunday everything came together in the sermon as well as in the
service. It was as if all my systems were back on line. I felt like I was
back to the level I was at the year before I came to Scotland. I thorough-
ly enjoyed preaching as well as conducting the service. I had fun. I hope
to be able to grow as a preacher in the years to come at St. Fergus.
I will post more about St. Fergus in the days to come. Meanwhile I am
still savoring last Sunday.
As always, blessings to you and yours,
ish Church. After the service, the congregation voted unanimously to
invite me to be their minister. After receiving the results of the voting
and verbally accepting the invitation, I went around the fellowship hall
greeting people and chatting with them. Then it was a fine Sunday din-
ner with several of the elders of the church back at the hotel where I
had been put up. Soon I was on the bus that took me back to Aberdeen
where I caught the train to Cupar.
I used the order of service that St. Fergus has been using for decades,
if not for generations. It had been unfamiliar to me until I used the same
order of service at the nearby church where the Nominating Committee
had heard me three weeks before. The Scripture readings were from Is-
aiah 43:1-5a and John 10:1-14. My big idea was that God has promised
to be with us in the troubles and trials of life. Two of the four hymns I
chose were personal favorites: Be still my soul and Be Thou my vision.
They fit in well with the sermon. For the Children's Address I looked
up in a name book the meanings of five of the ten Sunday Club children.
After the service while voting was taking place, I visited the children in
their Children's Club rooms and looked up the names of the other five.
I worked hard on shaping a good flow to the service and doing sermon
preparation. After being away from preaching for the five years when
I was at St. Andrews, I had lost confidence in preaching. Preaching op-
portunities during my year at Cupar Old helped, but they still were not
enough. I spent the last year thinking and working through both my
sermon preparation and delivery. It has been a challenging road. But
last Sunday everything came together in the sermon as well as in the
service. It was as if all my systems were back on line. I felt like I was
back to the level I was at the year before I came to Scotland. I thorough-
ly enjoyed preaching as well as conducting the service. I had fun. I hope
to be able to grow as a preacher in the years to come at St. Fergus.
I will post more about St. Fergus in the days to come. Meanwhile I am
still savoring last Sunday.
As always, blessings to you and yours,
Friday, January 14, 2011
A Quick Update
The snow is disappearing and the temperatures have been rising. There
were several downpours early this morning that seem to have washed
a lot of snow away. It was relaxing to hear the gusts of wind-blown rain
against the window of my bedroom. It has been a long time since I have
heard rain. For the past four or five weeks now, there has been little or
no rain and significant snowfall. Last week, just as the mounds of snow
were finally deteriorating, we got another snow storm. With the below-
freezing temperatures, walking on the glazed ice proved treacherous.
Warming air is forecasted and no snowfall is expected in the immediate
future. This should help walkways be easier to walk on.
This coming Sunday, I preach as what is referred to as 'sole nominee' at
St. Fergus Parish Church. After I lead the Sunday morning worship ser-
vice and preach, the congregation will vote whether to extend a call to
me to be their minister. I will be preaching from Isaiah 43:1-5 and
John 10:11-18. I am so looking forward to being with the people of the
congregation, leading them in Sunday worship, and discerning together
what God has in store for me and for the congregation. I am eager to
see how the Lord has been guiding us. I have a strong sense of calling
to be up there and serving the congregation. But I have had that sense
several times before. I will let you know what happened early next week.
Blessings to you and yours,
were several downpours early this morning that seem to have washed
a lot of snow away. It was relaxing to hear the gusts of wind-blown rain
against the window of my bedroom. It has been a long time since I have
heard rain. For the past four or five weeks now, there has been little or
no rain and significant snowfall. Last week, just as the mounds of snow
were finally deteriorating, we got another snow storm. With the below-
freezing temperatures, walking on the glazed ice proved treacherous.
Warming air is forecasted and no snowfall is expected in the immediate
future. This should help walkways be easier to walk on.
This coming Sunday, I preach as what is referred to as 'sole nominee' at
St. Fergus Parish Church. After I lead the Sunday morning worship ser-
vice and preach, the congregation will vote whether to extend a call to
me to be their minister. I will be preaching from Isaiah 43:1-5 and
John 10:11-18. I am so looking forward to being with the people of the
congregation, leading them in Sunday worship, and discerning together
what God has in store for me and for the congregation. I am eager to
see how the Lord has been guiding us. I have a strong sense of calling
to be up there and serving the congregation. But I have had that sense
several times before. I will let you know what happened early next week.
Blessings to you and yours,
Monday, January 10, 2011
On the Other Side of Hogmanay
I certainly wasn't expecting it, but I had a marvelous and special New
Year's Eve. I had been invited over to a friend's house where he and
his expectant wife were hosting a party to welcome in the New Year.
He told me that it would be lovely to see me, but I could come and go
as I wished. I felt a strong tug at my heart to go, but I thought I would
go only for an hour or two. Finally the day came and I made my way
over slippery icy paths to Tom and Donna's house. I gave my gifts of
a drink and sweets to Tom, took off my heavy boots and warm cloth-
ing, put on my slippers, and waded out into where all the people were.
I saw a number of friends there, but it was the new people I met and
talked to during the course of the night that made this party special
and memorable. There was a sweet and wonderful atmosphere pre-
sent among us.
I had an early sense that an enchanting evening was underway. Peo-
ple came, and people left. Some stayed for several minutes or a few
hours; others, like me, stayed until early New Year's morning. It was
a rich banquet of food, drink, music, and talking. I am still savoring
the time over a week later. The food, desserts, and drinks kept flow-
ing throughout the night. Rory, a good friend of mine and a Church of
Scotland minister, played a stirring round of musical numbers on his
bagpipes. Later Tom serenaded us with his fiddle playing. Children of
all ages were playing outside in the snow and inside where it was warm.
As the night wore on, little ones were put to rest in a bedroom upstairs.
Since a large family from Sweden was with us, we counted down in
Swedish the final seconds to 11 PM so we could celebrate 'Swedish New
Year'! An hour later we counted down the final seconds to midnight and
celebrated the New Year by wishing each other a happy New Year, ex-
changing hugs and kisses, and finally gathering into a tight circle and
holding hands to sing several rousing rounds of Auld Lang Syne. It was
a touching moment for me, one that I will not soon forget, a precious
memory that I will treasure in my heart for a long time to come.
But the best part of the evening were the 'divine encounters' I had
with several people at the party, most of whom I hadn't met before.
There were long draughts of deep conversation as we shared from
our lives. There were some amazing people there. By midnight there
were only twelve or so of us left from the mob that had been there
over the course of the night. One couple and their small boy were re-
turning to Afghanistan in the next few days to continue their ministry
with people in Kabul. So as a group we prayed that the Lord's contin-
ued protection, provision, and presence would be upon them.
It was a special night of fun and fellowship. I saw old friends, and made
several new friends. It was a great way to end 2010 and begin 2011. It
made for a delightful time, one that I will savor for a long time to come.
And I also want to wish you a blessed and happy New Year!
Blessings to you and yours,
Year's Eve. I had been invited over to a friend's house where he and
his expectant wife were hosting a party to welcome in the New Year.
He told me that it would be lovely to see me, but I could come and go
as I wished. I felt a strong tug at my heart to go, but I thought I would
go only for an hour or two. Finally the day came and I made my way
over slippery icy paths to Tom and Donna's house. I gave my gifts of
a drink and sweets to Tom, took off my heavy boots and warm cloth-
ing, put on my slippers, and waded out into where all the people were.
I saw a number of friends there, but it was the new people I met and
talked to during the course of the night that made this party special
and memorable. There was a sweet and wonderful atmosphere pre-
sent among us.
I had an early sense that an enchanting evening was underway. Peo-
ple came, and people left. Some stayed for several minutes or a few
hours; others, like me, stayed until early New Year's morning. It was
a rich banquet of food, drink, music, and talking. I am still savoring
the time over a week later. The food, desserts, and drinks kept flow-
ing throughout the night. Rory, a good friend of mine and a Church of
Scotland minister, played a stirring round of musical numbers on his
bagpipes. Later Tom serenaded us with his fiddle playing. Children of
all ages were playing outside in the snow and inside where it was warm.
As the night wore on, little ones were put to rest in a bedroom upstairs.
Since a large family from Sweden was with us, we counted down in
Swedish the final seconds to 11 PM so we could celebrate 'Swedish New
Year'! An hour later we counted down the final seconds to midnight and
celebrated the New Year by wishing each other a happy New Year, ex-
changing hugs and kisses, and finally gathering into a tight circle and
holding hands to sing several rousing rounds of Auld Lang Syne. It was
a touching moment for me, one that I will not soon forget, a precious
memory that I will treasure in my heart for a long time to come.
But the best part of the evening were the 'divine encounters' I had
with several people at the party, most of whom I hadn't met before.
There were long draughts of deep conversation as we shared from
our lives. There were some amazing people there. By midnight there
were only twelve or so of us left from the mob that had been there
over the course of the night. One couple and their small boy were re-
turning to Afghanistan in the next few days to continue their ministry
with people in Kabul. So as a group we prayed that the Lord's contin-
ued protection, provision, and presence would be upon them.
It was a special night of fun and fellowship. I saw old friends, and made
several new friends. It was a great way to end 2010 and begin 2011. It
made for a delightful time, one that I will savor for a long time to come.
And I also want to wish you a blessed and happy New Year!
Blessings to you and yours,
Friday, December 31, 2010
Hogmanay
Scots use the word hogmanay to refer to New Year's Eve and the rich
heritage of traditions and customs associated with New Year celebra-
tions. Ever since I arrived in Scotland in late 2003, I have heard around
this time of year people in the land referring to hogmanay. Edinburgh
is known worldwide for her hogmanay celebrations of New Year's Eve
and the New Year. Over 80,000 people pour into the city to welcome
in the New Year with festivities and fireworks. The modern celebration
of Hogmanay taps into ancient customs and traditions associated with
the pagan festival of Hogmanay.
The linguistic roots of the word hogmanay are difficult to determine.
Flemish, Anglo-Saxon, French, Norman, and Scandanavian languages,
each have been reckoned to be the source of the word. But the wild and
festive customs of hogmanay appear to have come from the pagan Vik-
ing settlements in Scotland. From the 17th century to the 1950s, Christ-
mas as a Christian festival was banned in Scotland by the Scottish Pres-
byterian Church, the official church of Scotland. Christmas was seen as
too Catholic for Protestant Scotland. Many Scots worked on Christmas
but celebrated hogmanay in grand style. Hogmanay was a big holiday
filled with family, friends, parties, and gift exhanges. It was a special
time for children.
Having experienced a number of Christmases in Scotland since 2003,
it is difficult for me to imagine that Christmas was ever banned by the
Scottish Church. I have enjoyed immensely the Scottish Christian tra-
ditions of Christmas. But over the years I have grown increasingly
aware of the rich Scottish customs that are uniquely associated with
hogmanay. It is a tradition to welcome friends, family, and strangers
into one's home on New Year's Eve and offer them warm hospitality.
Another Scottish New Year's tradition is to sing Robert Burns's For
Auld Lang Syne immediately after midnight.
In Edinburgh and other cities of Scotland, fireworks and torchlight pro-
cessions are planned in order to welcome in the New Year. They carry
on with the spirit of ancient Scottish pagan festival customs from cen-
turies ago. Thus the New Year is welcomed in on a festive note. Cities
throughout the world use the hogmanay New Year celebrations in Edin-
burgh as a model for their own New Year festivities. January 2nd is al-
so designated as an official holiday in Scotland. I have not heard of that
being used anywhere else in Britain or the world.
But the sense I have as I talk to people is that the season of New Year's
Eve and New Years is an opportunity to clear out the vestiges of the old
year and welcome in the New Year. People hope to make a clean break
with the past and enter into a time when new things will happen. There
is something to be said for that. This week I have been clearing out the
vestiges of 2010 and preparing for 2011. I hope to share more about
that as I post in the New Year.
I close wishing you a blessed hogmanay
Blessings to you and yours,
midnight
heritage of traditions and customs associated with New Year celebra-
tions. Ever since I arrived in Scotland in late 2003, I have heard around
this time of year people in the land referring to hogmanay. Edinburgh
is known worldwide for her hogmanay celebrations of New Year's Eve
and the New Year. Over 80,000 people pour into the city to welcome
in the New Year with festivities and fireworks. The modern celebration
of Hogmanay taps into ancient customs and traditions associated with
the pagan festival of Hogmanay.
The linguistic roots of the word hogmanay are difficult to determine.
Flemish, Anglo-Saxon, French, Norman, and Scandanavian languages,
each have been reckoned to be the source of the word. But the wild and
festive customs of hogmanay appear to have come from the pagan Vik-
ing settlements in Scotland. From the 17th century to the 1950s, Christ-
mas as a Christian festival was banned in Scotland by the Scottish Pres-
byterian Church, the official church of Scotland. Christmas was seen as
too Catholic for Protestant Scotland. Many Scots worked on Christmas
but celebrated hogmanay in grand style. Hogmanay was a big holiday
filled with family, friends, parties, and gift exhanges. It was a special
time for children.
Having experienced a number of Christmases in Scotland since 2003,
it is difficult for me to imagine that Christmas was ever banned by the
Scottish Church. I have enjoyed immensely the Scottish Christian tra-
ditions of Christmas. But over the years I have grown increasingly
aware of the rich Scottish customs that are uniquely associated with
hogmanay. It is a tradition to welcome friends, family, and strangers
into one's home on New Year's Eve and offer them warm hospitality.
Another Scottish New Year's tradition is to sing Robert Burns's For
Auld Lang Syne immediately after midnight.
In Edinburgh and other cities of Scotland, fireworks and torchlight pro-
cessions are planned in order to welcome in the New Year. They carry
on with the spirit of ancient Scottish pagan festival customs from cen-
turies ago. Thus the New Year is welcomed in on a festive note. Cities
throughout the world use the hogmanay New Year celebrations in Edin-
burgh as a model for their own New Year festivities. January 2nd is al-
so designated as an official holiday in Scotland. I have not heard of that
being used anywhere else in Britain or the world.
But the sense I have as I talk to people is that the season of New Year's
Eve and New Years is an opportunity to clear out the vestiges of the old
year and welcome in the New Year. People hope to make a clean break
with the past and enter into a time when new things will happen. There
is something to be said for that. This week I have been clearing out the
vestiges of 2010 and preparing for 2011. I hope to share more about
that as I post in the New Year.
I close wishing you a blessed hogmanay
Blessings to you and yours,
midnight
Friday, December 24, 2010
Christmas Greetings!
Uppermost on my To Be Done list is to wish you a blessed Christmas.
The season of Advent-the four Sundays leading up to Christmas-has
always been a special and rich time for me throughout the years. This
year especially, I have been delighting in this season and am eager to
plunge into the riches that are woven into Christmas Eve and Christ-
mas Day. In a few hours I will head out into the cold and snow for the
family Christmas Eve service, savour Christmas treats after the ser-
vice, and then later attend a Watchnight Service at 11:30 pm.
Tomorrow, Christmas Day, I will attend a morning Christmas Day
Family Service and then go with a family to their home for the rest
of Christmas Day. I'll be with good friends Jason and Chrissy and their
four children, with a fifth due in early February. I have been babysit-
ting the children-who range in age from three years old to nine years
old-so that Jason and Chrissy can go out for a date night every so of-
ten. The kids are great and we have a lot of fun together.
The time between the first Sunday in Advent, through to Christmas,
and continuing to Epiphany on January 6 is a special time for me. For
just over 30 days we hear and often see acted out the Big Story of God
sending God's Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to die for the forgive-
ness of our sins. Behind the Manger is the Cross. Christmas and Easter
are meant to be together. Both are essential themes to understanding
the Big Story. My prayer for us all is that we would come to compre-
hend more keenly God's Big Story.
In my previous blog posting I shared that on December 12 I would be
conducting a service and preaching before a minister search commit-
tee at a neutral pulpit. Let me fill you in on what happened on Decem-
ber 12. After the service, I was interviewed by the committee and then
after the committee voted, I was invited to preach as 'sole nominee' at
the church with the vacancy. I accepted the invitation, and will preach
as sole nominee at St. Fergus Parish Church on January 16. I am ex-
cited about the church and the position, and look forward to preaching
there on that date. After the service, the congregation will then vote
whether or not to extend to me the call to be minister of St. Fergus Par-
ish Church. I am very excited, and am eager to lead in worship at the
church on January 16. As always, I covet your prayers.
Festive Christmas Blessings to you and yours,
The season of Advent-the four Sundays leading up to Christmas-has
always been a special and rich time for me throughout the years. This
year especially, I have been delighting in this season and am eager to
plunge into the riches that are woven into Christmas Eve and Christ-
mas Day. In a few hours I will head out into the cold and snow for the
family Christmas Eve service, savour Christmas treats after the ser-
vice, and then later attend a Watchnight Service at 11:30 pm.
Tomorrow, Christmas Day, I will attend a morning Christmas Day
Family Service and then go with a family to their home for the rest
of Christmas Day. I'll be with good friends Jason and Chrissy and their
four children, with a fifth due in early February. I have been babysit-
ting the children-who range in age from three years old to nine years
old-so that Jason and Chrissy can go out for a date night every so of-
ten. The kids are great and we have a lot of fun together.
The time between the first Sunday in Advent, through to Christmas,
and continuing to Epiphany on January 6 is a special time for me. For
just over 30 days we hear and often see acted out the Big Story of God
sending God's Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to die for the forgive-
ness of our sins. Behind the Manger is the Cross. Christmas and Easter
are meant to be together. Both are essential themes to understanding
the Big Story. My prayer for us all is that we would come to compre-
hend more keenly God's Big Story.
In my previous blog posting I shared that on December 12 I would be
conducting a service and preaching before a minister search commit-
tee at a neutral pulpit. Let me fill you in on what happened on Decem-
ber 12. After the service, I was interviewed by the committee and then
after the committee voted, I was invited to preach as 'sole nominee' at
the church with the vacancy. I accepted the invitation, and will preach
as sole nominee at St. Fergus Parish Church on January 16. I am ex-
cited about the church and the position, and look forward to preaching
there on that date. After the service, the congregation will then vote
whether or not to extend to me the call to be minister of St. Fergus Par-
ish Church. I am very excited, and am eager to lead in worship at the
church on January 16. As always, I covet your prayers.
Festive Christmas Blessings to you and yours,
Thursday, December 09, 2010
Advent and an Advent Prayer
I can't recall Advent being mentioned at all when I was growing up in my
home Presbyterian church in Kelso, USA. I do not have any memories of
an Advent wreath, of lighting Advent candles, or of hearing any mention
of the word 'Advent' and all that it signified. But it might have been be-
cause I was a kid (believe it or not, I was a kid once) and it just did not
connect with me. But what I enjoyed was the Christmas season, which in
my book started in late November and went to a few days after Christ-
mas. I have many fond memories of singing Christmas carols, receiving
and giving Christmas gifts, attending Christmas parties, and decorating
Christmas trees. Christmas was by far my favorite season of the year.
But I don't remember anything about Advent.
Even though Christmas is still my favorite season of the year, there
have been some changes in my views. I now view Christmas as the
twelve days between Christmas Day and the sixth of January. It has
a special place in my heart because it is an opportunity to focus less
on Christmas activities (as important and fun as those are) and more
on celebrating Jesus and why he came into the world so very long ago.
I take more seriously the good saying that Jesus is the reason for the
season. I love to re-read the Old Testament stories of God's people
yearning for God to come among them and bless them with the divine
presence. Through the Old Testament prophets, kings, and priests
God promised that God would come to Israel, forgive their sins, and
dwell with them forever. The people of ancient Israel yearned for this
to happen.
I can't prove it, but I believe that we humans have two basic needs that
only God can satisfy. The first is our deep desire for God to come to us
with God's unrelenting redeeming love for us. Even more than we need
the love of our mothers, I believe that we need God and God's love in
our lives. We all yearn for God to come to us because God created us
for an intimate relationship with the Lord God. The second basic need
is connected to the first: we all have the need to receive God's forgive-
ness of our sins. That is the very heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Intimate communion with God is established only by God's forgive-
ness of our sins.
I see three advents, or three comings, of Jesus Christ. Jesus' first com-
ing was when he was born in a manger in Bethlemen on that first Christ-
mas Day. The second refers to the Second Coming of Christ when Jesus
returns to earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords at the end of time.
I also have come to recognize a third coming of Jesus when a person in-
vites Jesus into his or her life. I encourage you during this special season
of Advent to remember Christ's first coming on Christmas Day, to look
forward to Jesus' coming again in the future, and to invite him to come
into your life or to invite him back once again.
I offer this prayer to help us prepare for the coming of Jesus into our
world:
Calm us to wait for the gift of Christ;
Cleanse us to prepare the way for Christ;
Teach us to contemplate the wonder of Christ;
Touch us to know the presence of Christ;
Anoint us to bear the life of Christ.
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.
This week I have faced three challenges. First, since late last week all
of Britain has been hit by severe winter weather which has included
arctic temperatures and significant accumulation of snow. Things still
have not gotten back to normal. Second, I experienced the joy of a hard
drive failure on my laptop last Monday. It had been out of commission
until today. It made me realize how much I depend on my laptop to do
all that I need to do. Third, I have been invited to conduct a worship ser-
vice and preach at a neutral church before a vacancy committee of a con-
gregation that has attracted my attention. I would appreciate your
prayers on my behalf as I seek a pastoral position in the Church of Scot-
land.
Blessings to you and yours,
home Presbyterian church in Kelso, USA. I do not have any memories of
an Advent wreath, of lighting Advent candles, or of hearing any mention
of the word 'Advent' and all that it signified. But it might have been be-
cause I was a kid (believe it or not, I was a kid once) and it just did not
connect with me. But what I enjoyed was the Christmas season, which in
my book started in late November and went to a few days after Christ-
mas. I have many fond memories of singing Christmas carols, receiving
and giving Christmas gifts, attending Christmas parties, and decorating
Christmas trees. Christmas was by far my favorite season of the year.
But I don't remember anything about Advent.
Even though Christmas is still my favorite season of the year, there
have been some changes in my views. I now view Christmas as the
twelve days between Christmas Day and the sixth of January. It has
a special place in my heart because it is an opportunity to focus less
on Christmas activities (as important and fun as those are) and more
on celebrating Jesus and why he came into the world so very long ago.
I take more seriously the good saying that Jesus is the reason for the
season. I love to re-read the Old Testament stories of God's people
yearning for God to come among them and bless them with the divine
presence. Through the Old Testament prophets, kings, and priests
God promised that God would come to Israel, forgive their sins, and
dwell with them forever. The people of ancient Israel yearned for this
to happen.
I can't prove it, but I believe that we humans have two basic needs that
only God can satisfy. The first is our deep desire for God to come to us
with God's unrelenting redeeming love for us. Even more than we need
the love of our mothers, I believe that we need God and God's love in
our lives. We all yearn for God to come to us because God created us
for an intimate relationship with the Lord God. The second basic need
is connected to the first: we all have the need to receive God's forgive-
ness of our sins. That is the very heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Intimate communion with God is established only by God's forgive-
ness of our sins.
I see three advents, or three comings, of Jesus Christ. Jesus' first com-
ing was when he was born in a manger in Bethlemen on that first Christ-
mas Day. The second refers to the Second Coming of Christ when Jesus
returns to earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords at the end of time.
I also have come to recognize a third coming of Jesus when a person in-
vites Jesus into his or her life. I encourage you during this special season
of Advent to remember Christ's first coming on Christmas Day, to look
forward to Jesus' coming again in the future, and to invite him to come
into your life or to invite him back once again.
I offer this prayer to help us prepare for the coming of Jesus into our
world:
Calm us to wait for the gift of Christ;
Cleanse us to prepare the way for Christ;
Teach us to contemplate the wonder of Christ;
Touch us to know the presence of Christ;
Anoint us to bear the life of Christ.
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.
This week I have faced three challenges. First, since late last week all
of Britain has been hit by severe winter weather which has included
arctic temperatures and significant accumulation of snow. Things still
have not gotten back to normal. Second, I experienced the joy of a hard
drive failure on my laptop last Monday. It had been out of commission
until today. It made me realize how much I depend on my laptop to do
all that I need to do. Third, I have been invited to conduct a worship ser-
vice and preach at a neutral church before a vacancy committee of a con-
gregation that has attracted my attention. I would appreciate your
prayers on my behalf as I seek a pastoral position in the Church of Scot-
land.
Blessings to you and yours,
Monday, November 29, 2010
My American Thanksgiving Day in Scotland
In Britain there is nothing quite like American Thanksgiving. Many
churches here in Scotland have a Harvest Thanksgiving service some
time after harvesting is completed in late September or October. The
church where I now attend, Cupar Old Parish Church, had a Harvest
Thanksgiving service on October 3rd. It was a special service and I look
forward, God willing, to leading such a service in a church next year. I
have had people ask me about the special American tradition of Thanks-
giving. It is fun for me to share fond memories of Thanksgiving over the
years; they seem to sense my excitement about Thanksgiving. During
my first five years in Scotland I had great community Thanksgiving din-
ners with American students at the University of St. Andrews. Most of
us were connected with the theological college at the University, but we
invited friends who came from all over the world to be with us. Indeed,
those were special times.
Last Thursday, Thanksgiving Day in the USA, I was invited over for an
American Thanksgiving Day meal at the home of Harry and Fay. Harry
is a recently retired Church of Scotland minister who has been hired
by Cupar Old Parish Church to be a part-time assistant minister. Both
Harry and Fay are from Northern Ireland where they were active in
the Methodist Church there. The short story is that Harry, Fay, and
their two sons were moved to Scotland. Harry sensed a call to ministry
in the Church of Scotland, and he served as minister in three parishes
since the mid-1990s. Last year, just after Harry had retired, he and Fay
spent three months in Portland, Oregon, with their son, his American
wife, and two children (Harry and Fay's grandchildren). There they
learned about the American Thanksgiving meal and took a lot of notes
and gathered a lot of recipes, with a stress on the latter. Fay and Harry's
son is a chef. He must have picked it up from his dad, because Harry, as
I had the great pleasure of experiencing, is an excellent chef himself.
David and Joan were also invited to the American Thanksgiving dinner.
They are an amazing couple who have been a great support to me over
the last two years I've been in Cupar. They both grew up just south of
Cupar, got married, lived in East Africa for a time, and then returned to
the area when their three boys were in their teens. David and Joan are
two of the friendliest people I have ever met. They are great at welcom-
ing people to church and greeting visitors. David and Joan also have a
heart for older children and teens. While Fay kept Joan, David, and me
entertained in the sitting room, Harry was doing his chef thing in the
kitchen. And, boy, did he do his chef thing. We started out with a sweet
potato soup before going to the main course of turkey, dressing, pota-
toes, and a variety of vegetables fixed in different ways. It was so deli-
cious; excellence in fine cuisine! It was a great American Thanksgiving
meal with great friends from Northern Ireland and Scotland.
After Christmas Pudding (a more English dessert) we sat and talked
for more than four hours. We shared about ourselves and heard and
told stories about experiences in Africa, Scotland, Northern Ireland,
and on ships at sea. It was a great way to get to know one another bet-
ter. What a delightful afternoon and evening of food, fellowship, and
fun! For me it was a great way to celebrate an American Thanksgiving,
and it meant a lot to me. David and Joan gave me a ride home. As we
passed through town we saw that the civic Christmas decorations were
up and the Christmas lights lit. It is now officially the Christmas season.
Last Sunday was the First Sunday of Advent. Attendance at Cupar Old
Parish Church was low because Cupar, like much of Scotland, was bat-
tered by heavy snowfall. A lot more is expected later in the week.
Remember, Jesus is the reason for the season!
Blessings to you and yours,
churches here in Scotland have a Harvest Thanksgiving service some
time after harvesting is completed in late September or October. The
church where I now attend, Cupar Old Parish Church, had a Harvest
Thanksgiving service on October 3rd. It was a special service and I look
forward, God willing, to leading such a service in a church next year. I
have had people ask me about the special American tradition of Thanks-
giving. It is fun for me to share fond memories of Thanksgiving over the
years; they seem to sense my excitement about Thanksgiving. During
my first five years in Scotland I had great community Thanksgiving din-
ners with American students at the University of St. Andrews. Most of
us were connected with the theological college at the University, but we
invited friends who came from all over the world to be with us. Indeed,
those were special times.
Last Thursday, Thanksgiving Day in the USA, I was invited over for an
American Thanksgiving Day meal at the home of Harry and Fay. Harry
is a recently retired Church of Scotland minister who has been hired
by Cupar Old Parish Church to be a part-time assistant minister. Both
Harry and Fay are from Northern Ireland where they were active in
the Methodist Church there. The short story is that Harry, Fay, and
their two sons were moved to Scotland. Harry sensed a call to ministry
in the Church of Scotland, and he served as minister in three parishes
since the mid-1990s. Last year, just after Harry had retired, he and Fay
spent three months in Portland, Oregon, with their son, his American
wife, and two children (Harry and Fay's grandchildren). There they
learned about the American Thanksgiving meal and took a lot of notes
and gathered a lot of recipes, with a stress on the latter. Fay and Harry's
son is a chef. He must have picked it up from his dad, because Harry, as
I had the great pleasure of experiencing, is an excellent chef himself.
David and Joan were also invited to the American Thanksgiving dinner.
They are an amazing couple who have been a great support to me over
the last two years I've been in Cupar. They both grew up just south of
Cupar, got married, lived in East Africa for a time, and then returned to
the area when their three boys were in their teens. David and Joan are
two of the friendliest people I have ever met. They are great at welcom-
ing people to church and greeting visitors. David and Joan also have a
heart for older children and teens. While Fay kept Joan, David, and me
entertained in the sitting room, Harry was doing his chef thing in the
kitchen. And, boy, did he do his chef thing. We started out with a sweet
potato soup before going to the main course of turkey, dressing, pota-
toes, and a variety of vegetables fixed in different ways. It was so deli-
cious; excellence in fine cuisine! It was a great American Thanksgiving
meal with great friends from Northern Ireland and Scotland.
After Christmas Pudding (a more English dessert) we sat and talked
for more than four hours. We shared about ourselves and heard and
told stories about experiences in Africa, Scotland, Northern Ireland,
and on ships at sea. It was a great way to get to know one another bet-
ter. What a delightful afternoon and evening of food, fellowship, and
fun! For me it was a great way to celebrate an American Thanksgiving,
and it meant a lot to me. David and Joan gave me a ride home. As we
passed through town we saw that the civic Christmas decorations were
up and the Christmas lights lit. It is now officially the Christmas season.
Last Sunday was the First Sunday of Advent. Attendance at Cupar Old
Parish Church was low because Cupar, like much of Scotland, was bat-
tered by heavy snowfall. A lot more is expected later in the week.
Remember, Jesus is the reason for the season!
Blessings to you and yours,
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Sozo and SOLAS
For a number of years now, I have had two key interests: Christian heal-
ing and the renewal of Christ's Church. Those two interests have only in-
tensified in me as I have been in Scotland, especially the last two years
as I have committed myself to ministering here longterm. Last Saturday
I had an opportunity to develop those two interests in the reality of liv-
ing in Scotland. It made for a long but rewarding day.
Saturday morning I went to a training session put on by the leaders of
the Healing Room ministry in Cupar that I am a part of. Our small group
of eight people has been offering prayer to persons in the town of Cupar
since early in the year. We meet every Thursday at 6:30 pm for prayer
and praise. From 7:30 until 9:00 we break up into twos and threes and
pray for people who come into the YMCA. We have been averaging two
people a night coming into Healing Rooms for prayer. I have witnessed
people's lives being changed and healed over time.
Saturday the team members and several people interested in healing
gathered to listen to the first DVD of a program called Sozo. The pro-
gram comes from the healing ministry of a church in Northern California.
There are four training DVDs, and we heard the first one on receiving
God's forgiveness and forgiving others. The Greek word sozo means to
save, deliver, heal, and preserve. That's our aim every Thursday night
as a group of us gather for our weekly Healing Room. For over ten years
now I have yearned that healing in all dimensions would be a vital part
of my pastoral ministry in a local congregation. So the training on Satur-
day and, indeed, the past year has been a wonderful time for me to devel-
op in healing ministry.
Then in the afternoon I went to a conference co-sponsored by Ravi Zach-
arias International Ministries and a group called SOLAS. The conference
focused on Jesus bringing light and life to all people in Scotland. I have
always admired the evangelistic and apologetic ministry of Ravi Zacha-
rias and his large international team. What Francis Schaeffer was for
generations of Christians emerging in the 1970s and 80s, Ravi is for the
younger Christians coming of age in a whole different world. I had ex-
pected that only 50 people would turn up, but there were over 600
people in attendance. SOLAS, a Scottish ministry, was the main spon-
sor of the conference. Solas is a Gaelic word meaning light and the min-
istry seeks to be light in the darkness by promoting the proclamation of
the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Scotland, the United Kingdom, and Europe.
SOLAS emphasizes that the Cross of Jesus Christ is central to the procla-
mation of the Gospel. I left the conference with a renewed focus on what
God did through Christ on the Cross and with a bigger view of what God
is doing here in Scotland, the UK, and Europe.
The singing at the conference was out of this world. People really sang
from their hearts. The conference ended with In Christ alone my hope
is found, one of my favorite songs. I end this posting with the first stanza:
In Christ alone my hope is found,
he is my light, my strength , my song;
this cornerstone, this solid ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all,
here in the love of Christ I stand.
Blessings to you and yours,
ing and the renewal of Christ's Church. Those two interests have only in-
tensified in me as I have been in Scotland, especially the last two years
as I have committed myself to ministering here longterm. Last Saturday
I had an opportunity to develop those two interests in the reality of liv-
ing in Scotland. It made for a long but rewarding day.
Saturday morning I went to a training session put on by the leaders of
the Healing Room ministry in Cupar that I am a part of. Our small group
of eight people has been offering prayer to persons in the town of Cupar
since early in the year. We meet every Thursday at 6:30 pm for prayer
and praise. From 7:30 until 9:00 we break up into twos and threes and
pray for people who come into the YMCA. We have been averaging two
people a night coming into Healing Rooms for prayer. I have witnessed
people's lives being changed and healed over time.
Saturday the team members and several people interested in healing
gathered to listen to the first DVD of a program called Sozo. The pro-
gram comes from the healing ministry of a church in Northern California.
There are four training DVDs, and we heard the first one on receiving
God's forgiveness and forgiving others. The Greek word sozo means to
save, deliver, heal, and preserve. That's our aim every Thursday night
as a group of us gather for our weekly Healing Room. For over ten years
now I have yearned that healing in all dimensions would be a vital part
of my pastoral ministry in a local congregation. So the training on Satur-
day and, indeed, the past year has been a wonderful time for me to devel-
op in healing ministry.
Then in the afternoon I went to a conference co-sponsored by Ravi Zach-
arias International Ministries and a group called SOLAS. The conference
focused on Jesus bringing light and life to all people in Scotland. I have
always admired the evangelistic and apologetic ministry of Ravi Zacha-
rias and his large international team. What Francis Schaeffer was for
generations of Christians emerging in the 1970s and 80s, Ravi is for the
younger Christians coming of age in a whole different world. I had ex-
pected that only 50 people would turn up, but there were over 600
people in attendance. SOLAS, a Scottish ministry, was the main spon-
sor of the conference. Solas is a Gaelic word meaning light and the min-
istry seeks to be light in the darkness by promoting the proclamation of
the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Scotland, the United Kingdom, and Europe.
SOLAS emphasizes that the Cross of Jesus Christ is central to the procla-
mation of the Gospel. I left the conference with a renewed focus on what
God did through Christ on the Cross and with a bigger view of what God
is doing here in Scotland, the UK, and Europe.
The singing at the conference was out of this world. People really sang
from their hearts. The conference ended with In Christ alone my hope
is found, one of my favorite songs. I end this posting with the first stanza:
In Christ alone my hope is found,
he is my light, my strength , my song;
this cornerstone, this solid ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all,
here in the love of Christ I stand.
Blessings to you and yours,
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