Prince George: The New Born Addition to the Royal Family

Yesterday, Thursday, I went on the Royal Deeside tour, a one day tour of the beautiful Dee
River Valley. The river runs from the Scottish Highlands to its mouth at the North Sea. It
forms the south side of Aberdeen, the third largest city in Scotland. Traveling by van out
of the city, we always had the cascading river in view. Soon we were entering the western
portion of the Highlands. I and my travel companions (a couple from Texas and three wom-
en from China) soaked in he beauty of majestic forests and forlorn moors.

But the reason we all had chosen this particular tour was because it was the Royal Deeside
Tour; that is, the tour visited Balmoral Castle, the summer residence of Queen Elizabeth and
the Royal Family. Balmoral Castle is not really a castle, but an enlarged hunting lodge. It has
been used as a royal residence ever since Queen Victoria and Prince Albert fell in love with
Balmoral and the Scottish Highlands back in the early 1850s. There is a certain romance with
all things Scottish that has drawn Royalty of the United Kingdom to this place ever since.

As in most years, the Castle closes to the public August 1 when the Queen takes up her an-
nual summer residence at Balmoral. Since I didn't want to wait until next year to tour the
castle and grounds, I reserved a place on one of the last tours for the season. Queen Eliz-
abeth remains very popular with the people of the United Kingdom (England, Scotland,
Wales, and Northern Ireland). For over 150 years, Balmoral has been an important part of
the life of the Royal Family. There was increased police presence when we got there. Per-
haps it was because the Queen would be arriving at the castle that very day. Everything,
however, was rather hush hush due to security concerns.

But of course the big news since Monday has been the birth of the Royal Baby to Prince
William and Princess Kate. The birth of a boy, who later received the name George, was
the great news presented by the BBC and newspapers and the talk of people throughout
Britain and, indeed, throughout the world. Some people I have talked to here in the North
East are thrilled about the birth of the baby boy who is destined to be king. Others are con-
cerned that he will never have a private life of his own, that the public will be interested
in everything that takes place in his life. No one I have talked to would desire that for
themselves or their loved ones. Others are not even interested in the Royal birth; they
couldn't care less. I myself feel sorry for him. It has been rumoured that the new born
Prince would be making his first appearance at Balmoral in the next few days.

William and Kate attract a lot of attention. William is young and gallant and Kate is beau-
ful and charming. Their wedding and Kate's pregnancy won the hearts of many Brits and
Anglophiles around the world. It is hard for me to comprehend that the three of us inhab-
ted the same world, the University of St Andrews, at the same time. It is said that applica-
tions by women to study at St Andrews rose dramatically when it was let out that William
was going there. I remember that there were many women postgraduate students who were
on the prowl for a Prince William sighting. I heard several reports of successful sightings of
the Prince. I may have come across him and Kate, but I really would not have noticed. I
really did not care. As I walked around the town, I was usually lost in my thoughts. I did
spend a lot of time at a nice coffee shop that the couple frequented, but I don't think that
I was ever there when they were. I was never on the look out for them. An elder at Cupar
Old Parish Church, where I served for a year, was the lecturer in the classes in geography
that William attended. I did see the Queen and Prince Charles, however, when they came
to William's graduation service. But I did not see William, nor did I ever see him in his roy-
al person. I just didn't care.  

I find it hard to relate to the world that the Royal Family inhabits. Some people are fasci-
nated by Royalty. Others call for the Royalty to be abolished, for they see it as a thing of
the past and of no use to a modern society. But as I delve more and more into British his-
tory and culture, I come to a greater appreciation,  even admiration, for the important part
that Royalty plays in the United Kingdom in these days. Maybe I was too hasty in saying
that I don't really care. It is more of being fascinated than caring. I am enchanted by the
British Royalty and its splendour and pageantry. A great deal would be lost if the sense of
royalty were ever done away with. We Americans rejected Royalty in the early years of
the Republic, but it seems to me that many Americans in these days still look with longing
upon the Royal Family here in the United Kingdom. I enjoyed my short visit to Balmoral
Castle. There was a lot of history and culture to soak up. I had an enchanting time.

Blessings to you and yours,


 

Sabbath Keeping and My Frantic and Hectic Life

As I enter into my second year of ministry at St Fergus Parish Church in North
East Scotland, I am concerned that my life has become more frantic and hectic
than in any other period of my life. It is not only unhealthy physically and emo-
tionally, but also a revelation of deeper spiritual issues in conflict within me. If
I do not meet and engage with these contending forces within me, they will slow-
ly sabotage my life and Christian ministry and take me out of action.

For over forty years I have taken seriously the Fourth Commandment: Remem-
ber the Sabbath day, to keep it holy (Exodus 20:8-11 ESV). During that time,
I have always struggled to clarify what that meant for my life and, more impor-
tantly, how to work it out in my ministry. Even to this day, the issue of the Sab-
bath continues to be at the forefront of my reflection on living my life before the
face of God.  Rather than using time to do what God has called me to do, I rea-
lise that I misuse time. And this is not to my benefit.

Long have I planted the Sabbath in the sacred ground of my soul only to see it
attacked and overwhelmed by personal issues and spiritual forces round about
me. The Sabbath is at the very heart of my relationship with God, my Creator
and Redeemer. I have so much on my mind and am so often on the go that I
find it difficult to slow down and rest. My designated Sabbath has become my
'day off' in which I throw all that I had to do or wanted to do, but did not do,
during the preceding week. I have also noticed that because my Sabbath has
become my day off, it has sometimes become a day off from God. I confess
that there are days of rest that I blow God off and go about doing my own thing.

I look to Genesis 2:1-3 to find the seventh day as the glorious basis of the Sab-
bath. After six days of creation, God blessed the seventh day, made it holy,
and rested from God's labor. The Fourth Commandment (Exodus 20:8-11)
springs forth with vitality from the foundational passage in Genesis 2. I had
always read Isaiah 58 as speaking about true fasting, but verses 13-14 pro-
claim the rich beauty of honouring the Sabbath. In the last two verses of Mark
2 Jesus proclaims that man was made for the Sabbath and that He, Jesus, is
Lord of the Sabbath. Hebrews 4 points to a Sabbath rest that God's people
will enter at the end of time. The Sabbath is at the very heart of Christian
faith and at the very centre of the Christian life.

Even though there are times when I seek ways to avoid honouring the Sab-
bath, there is a greater part of me that yearns for weekly Sabbath rest. By
resting on the Sabbath, I gain God's perspective that brings order to my
sometimes chaotic life. I am reminded once again how my work is founded
on the accomplished work of Jesus Christ on the cross for the forgiveness
of sin and on his resurrection from the tomb. My life and my work are mean-
ingful because of a value from outside me. I rest from my own self-suffici-
ency. Every Sabbath that I observe I hear Jesus say to me: Come to me, all 
who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:25-30).
Sabbath rest is a weekly reminder that we are not home yet. It is preparation
for Sabbath rest at the end of time prepared by Jesus Himself.

It seems that whenever the Sabbath is discussed among Christians, sooner or
later there is the issue of when the Sabbath is to be observed. Is it Saturday,
Sunday, or any seventh day of one's week? I have seriously considered all
three options, and have made the decision to go for the seventh day of my
work week. I lead God's people in worship on Sunday, the Lord's Day. On
Monday I attend to personal issues such as grocery shopping, house cleaning,
laundry, and all the things I have to do for daily life here in Scotland. Tuesday
has become my Sabbath. For six days I have worked hard; on the my seventh
day, Tuesday, is my Sabbath when I meet with the Lord and am refreshed by
God. It is a time of enjoyment and pleasure in the Triune God, in God's crea-
tion, and in the beauty of God's labour.

I have only been following this scheme for several weeks now, but I've al-
ready been receiving the benefits of it. I have been enjoying Sabbath rest,
yet I have been getting more work done throughout the week. I see more of
an order of my life on a week by week basis. I feel free to take a day off to
rest in the Lord every seventh day. I would appreciate your prayers as I con-
tinue to plumb the depths of the riches found in Sabbath rest.

Blessings to you and yours,

My First Year in a Wee Village in the Back of Beyond

I can't believe that I have been here in St Fergus in northeast Scotland for over a
year now. Like many Scots, a dear colleague of mine, the  minister of  the Meth-
odist church in Peterhead, has a marvellous way with words. She described St
Fergus as a wee village in the back of beyond. St Fergus is a wee village that is
integrated into early 21st century Scotland. Across the main road from the vil-
lage is the gas terminal that receives one third of the North Sea gas that is dis-
tributed throughout Britain. Despite that, some people I talk to do see St Fergus
and the region north of Aberdeen as more isolated from the rest of Scotland in
political, economic, and geographical terms.
.
My minister friend has sensed that many Christians here feel isolated personally
and spiritually from the other regions of Scotland. St Fergus exemplifies this
sense of isolation, of being in the back of beyond. Her description of St Fergus
strikes a chord within me. I feel like the Lord has placed me in a wee village in
the back of beyond. That description may apply to countless other wee villages
in Scotland, but this is where I am now. St Fergus and the other towns of Buch-
an are out of the way from where the real action is suppose to be taking place in
Edinburgh and Glasgow. We truly are the back of beyond. Furthermore, God has
placed me beyond my comfort level. As a result of being here just one year, God
has been continuing to work on me and to transform me. I have been stretched in
ways I have never been stretched before. St Fergus, the wee village in the back of
beyond, has become a set apart place where the Lord works on me so that I can
better shepherd God's people in the village.

St Fergus in particular and North East Scotland in general are way out there be-
yond Aberdeen, the third major city of Scotland. Aberdeen is home to one of the
four ancient and distinguished universities in Scotland. There's a lot of things hap-
pening in Aberdeen due to receiving the bounty of North Sea oil. Yet people pre-
fer living in the Central Belt between Edinburgh and Glasgow where things are
supposed to really be happening. When I have returned to St Fergus and the North
East from London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and even Aberdeen, I feel like I am again
coming into the back of beyond. It is a different world. I have enjoyed learning to
live within this new culture and region that God has called me to.

I am still struggling to understand the Doric Tongue. I often feel like I am taking
three steps forward, and then in short order taking two steps backward. There are
times when I preach when I wonder if people are understanding what I am saying.
It takes time to identify the church culture of St Fergus Parish Church. I am con-
tinuing to distinguish between how things are to be done and how they are not to
be done. I have enjoyed my short time here and I am looking forward to many
more years of service here. I am happy being here and I have no intention of look-
ing elsewhere. Most of all, I recognise that the Lord has placed me here not only
to serve and minister, but to be shaped, prepared, and equipped for even more am-
ple service in God's Kingdom. This is what God is doing as I have been led to the
wee village in the back of beyond.

Blessings to you and yours,

Taking a Sip of Water from a High-Pressure Fire Hose

First things first: My right eye is doing well and so am I. The four weeks before I
went into the hospital were hectic. Despite serious concern about my eye and two
surgeries in seven days, I enjoyed a time of rest during my twelve days in the hos-
pital. But ever since I got out of the hospital just over three weeks ago, I again have
been busy preparing and carrying out various church services, a funeral, and a ma-
jor meeting of the Kirk Sessions of four churches to plan for the immediate future.

I expected that I would be especially busy during my first year or two at St Fergus
Parish Church. It was to be a time to make connections with people and do a wide
variety of things for the first time. But I did not expect that things would be this hec-
tic. I strive to plan things well and do things in an orderly way. That went out the
window the first week I was back in Scotland and in St Fergus. Even now things
have not gotten any easier for me. I feel like I am trying to take a sip of water from
a high-pressure fire hose. I am not able to do it at all.

As I survey July and August ahead, I can see some needed down time. Nothing
much is scheduled that is connected with the church. I feel like a fast-moving cur-
rent is carrying me to a nice little inlet where I can catch my breath for a spell. I
look forward to two weeks of vacation in the second half of August. I desire to do
more postings on the blog. Writing a post encourages me to reflect on what I have
been thinking or doing. Writing about these things  helps me to look at what is im-
portant to me in my life and ministry here in the North-East of Scotland. With so
much happening the past year that needed attention, posting to the blog took a low
place in my list of things to be done. I hope that can change that in the two months
 to come. As always, I covet your prayers.

Blessings to you and yours,

Back into the Fast Lane

I have been home from the hospital now for just over one week. I am doing very well and
I am not experiencing any pain. It is good to be back to full speed again after being so in-
active for the twelve days I was under medical care. I had entered the Aberdeen Royal In-
firmary June 1st for surgery on my right eye June 3rd. I expected to be released from the
hospital one or two days after the operation. People who undergo the same procedure I
was scheduled for usually report to the hospital the evening before the operation and leave
the day after. But since I have a mechanical aortic heart valve, I am taking warfarin every
day to thin my blood.

I take the warfarin to prevent blood clots from forming. When blood clots break off and
are circulated to a vital organ, they can cause a stroke or heart attack. I am grateful for
warfarin because it helps keep me alive and healthy. Warfarin hinders the ability of the
blood to coagulate and form clots. People who take warfarin often experience bleeding
that is slow to stop, sometimes with tragic consequences. There is no place for that dur-
ing surgery. I  went into the hospital two days early to take medication to thicken my
blood for the operation. The operation on my eye was successful and the bleeding was
not a concern.

After surgery, I was put back on my medication to thin the blood. I expected that my
blood level would be back to normal after one or two days, perhaps three at the most.
But that was not the way it was. My blood's recovery was painfully slow. Perhaps it
was good that I was still in the hospital. Late Friday following surgery, my right eye
took a major step backwards. A doctor was able to observe what was happening. Sur-
gery was scheduled for the following Monday. Again I was put on medication to thick-
en my blood for the operation.

The surgery on Monday was successful. My eye appears to have been repaired, at least
for the foreseeable future. Not long after surgery, I was put back on the medication to
thin my blood. I cringed at the thought of more time in the hospital. But it was not to be.
The blood level quickly rose and I was allowed to return home two days after the second
surgery. I was stunned, but happily so. I was in the hospital for twelve days.

Whereas one part of me was anxious to get out of the hospital as soon as I could, a bigger
part of me really enjoyed my twelve day stay. I never was in any pain and I quickly recov-
ered from both operations. The medical care and the staff were top rate. I was actually im-
pressed with the Scottish meals that I could chose. I enjoyed talking with medical staff and
fellow patients on the Ward. I had time to read, journal, listen to podcasts, and chat with
people to my hearts content.

During my unexpected extended stay in the hospital, I was able to hand off the few duties
and commitments I had to other people. Because I actually felt good both physically and
spiritually, one voice in me really moaned and groaned about being inactive in the hosp-
ital for so long, but a more dominant voice was quite grateful for this time. It was a much
needed time of rest that the Lord had granted me. I felt a sharp sadness saying goodbye to
the staff as I left. I was still savouring the mince and tatties that I had for dinner just before
I left.  

As I write this, it has been just over a week since I returned home from the hospital. Agnes
and Jim next door have made sure that I am all right. My eye is doing very well and I have
enjoyed being back in the village and engaged in ministry again. The food at the hospital
was surprisingly good, but it nowhere begins to be compared with Agnes's  cooking. She
and Jim make sure that I am ok.  Even though I feel great, I must admit I have been thinking
of ways to take advantage of their neighbourly goodwill. Meanwhile, I am back in the fast
lane, as busy as was before the surgery. There is still a lot to catch up on, especially emails.
As usual, I ask for your prayers on my behalf.

Blessings to you and yours,

Finally! I Am Home!

This is just a hastily written posting to report that I am back at home in St Fergus after
being in the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary since Saturday, the first of June. That day I re-
ported to Ward 30 (the Eye Ward) for surgery on my right eye the following Monday.
I was scheduled for what is considered a fairly routine procedure: removal of a buckle
that had prevented the retina from detaching for over twenty-one years and replacement
of the natural gel of my inner eye with a silicone gel. It was expected that this simple op-
eration would stabilise my eye.

But in my case, this simple procedure was complicated by previous cardiac surgery. Sev-
en years ago, my defective aortic heart valve was removed and replaced with a mechani-
cal aortic heart valve. Since then I have had to take warfarin every day to thin my blood,
thus preventing life-threatening blood clots from forming and causing serious cardiac dam-
age in my heart, brain, or lungs. Rather than reporting to the hospital the night before the
operation, I arrived two days before to start the process of thickening my blood for sur-
gery. I was put on another medicine that had a short-term and temporary effect of prevent-
ing clots from forming while my blood grew thicker. Rather than leaving the hospital the
day after the operation, I was told to expect to remain several days longer in order to thin
my blood again.

The operation early Monday, the third of June, was successful. I am grateful that I was
not awake for the surgery. Upon examining the buckle directly, the doctor did not re-
move the buckle, but did inject silicone gel into the eye. She had told me she would not
make a decision about the buckle until she could examine it while I was asleep. I went
through surgery well and did not experience pain. Upon examining my eye in the days
after the operation, the doctor was pleased with the condition of my eye. I was pleased
as well.

In the days following the surgery, the primary issue was not the condition of my eye af-
ter surgery, but the restoration of the thinness of my blood to the level it was before the
operation. I started taking warfarin again the evening after surgery, hoping that the re-
quired level would be reached within a couple days. I was kept on the other medicine to
prevent blood clots from forming while my warfarin level got back to normal. But the
couple of days became longer and longer; two or three days became seven days. I had
not expected that I would have to spend more than a couple of extra days in the hospital.

But looking back now, it is fortunate that I stayed longer in the hospital. On the Friday
following Monday's surgery, the right eye went through a traumatic conniption. I re-
ported the situation to the ward staff and a doctor came quickly to examine my eye. He
was concerned about the eye and almost arranged for emergency surgery early in the
morning. But later in the morning, the doctor saw that the eye had stabilised. Taking his
advice, I made the decision to postpone necessary surgery until Monday. On Saturday
I again stopped taking warfarin in preparation for surgery on Monday. The condition of
my eye was serious.

On Monday, the 10th of June, a week after the first operation, I again had surgery on
my right eye. The doctor removed the buckle and patched up a hole caused by the
buckle over the years. The buckle had been the primary cause of the recent problems
with my right eye. The surgery was serious because the condition of the eye was ser-
ious. I quickly recovered from the operation and the next day received the good news
that the operation had been successful. My concern again turned from the condition of
my eye to how long it would take to get my warfarin level up to where I would be al-
lowed to go home.

I started taking warfarin again Monday night, the day I had surgery. The eye felt good,
but I was not looking forward to waiting a long time for the warfarin level to get back
to normal. On Tuesday I received news that the warfarin level was going in the right
direction, even if slowly. But Wednesday afternoon I was informed that my warfarin
level was at the point where I would be allowed to go home. Wednesday night the doc-
tor gave her consent for me to go home. I was both surprised and shocked. It happened
so quickly. By 7 pm a friend had picked me up to take me home to St Fergus. I was
home by 8:30 pm.

I will be sharing more about my time in hospital in blog postings to come. I am grateful
to the LORD God for God's gracious presence with me through trying times. I am also
grateful to those who undergirded me in prayer. I struggled to learn how to use my
iPhone to keep friends informed of what was happening to me. There were a good
number of people I could not contact regarding my situation. But I know that I would
have been lost if I did not know that people were praying for me and that God was
powerfully present with me during this time of challenges with my eye. I spent twelve
days in the hospital. It feels so good to be out and to be home.

Blessings to you and yours,

The Latest Right Eye Update

Six weeks ago I was facing the possibility of losing the sight in my right eye. The eye was shut-
ting down despite the best efforts of the medical specialists at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Eye
Clinic. The condition of the eye had been steadily deteriorating since last autumn, thus causing
the eye to shrink. The eye looked horrible. The doctor told me that we were running out of op-
tions for the eye. I prepared for living my life with only my left eye. I was told by the doctor that
many people do well with one eye.

But prayer and critical medical care changed the situation of my eye. I asked people to pray for
the healing of my eye. There were those who laid hands on me and anointed me with oil. It was
shortly thereafter that the doctor observed the eye becoming progressively better. Rather than
discussing the eye shutting down, she talked to me about surgery to remove the gel of my inner
eye, replacing it with silicone gas to keep the pressure constant in the eye. She would also re-
move the anchor holding the retina in place. It had been eroding the tissue of the retina, thus
causing loss of pressure. The situation had changed greatly.

I have been scheduled for eye surgery on Monday, the third of June. If everything goes well, I
will be released the next day. However, I will enter the hospital the preceding Thursday morn-
ing in order to begin the process of thickening my blood for surgery. Since my aortic heart valve
was replaced in 2006, I have been taking warfarin to thin my blood. The doctor intends to thick-
en the blood in order to cut down the risk of serious bleeding during the operation. I am receiv-
ing excellent medical care and I marvel at the state of medical technology and knowledge in do-
ing this. As always, I covet your prayers.

Blessings to you and yours,  

Coming Up on the First Year in St Fergus

It is hard for me to believe that I am coming up on the end of my first year here in St Fergus.
I arrived back in Scotland on June 6 of last year. I was eager to get back into full time ministry
after having spent nearly sixteen months waiting for a visa to re-enter Scotland. I enjoyed be-
ing back home in the Longview/Kelso area, but God had called me to pastoral ministry at St
Fergus Parish Church in Scotland. Because I was going to a church in an area of Scotland
that I didn't know, I really didn't know what to expect. But I have been truly blessed by be-
ing here.

I enjoy living here among the people of North-East Scotland. When I arrived, I was immedi-
ately challenged by the Doric Tongue. Although I still have a long way to go in understand-
ing the dialect, I am feeling more comfortable hearing people speak it. I have not been enjoy-
ing the weather of North-East Scotland: rain, rain, and more rain, and very little in the way
of sun. But despite that, I have managed quite well. Agnes, my next door neighbour, often
learns me the Doric as we almost daily meet out back to chat and catch up on the latest news
of people in the village. I have been blessed by frequent helpings of her Scottish broth, fish
cakes, and mince and tatties.

I have been with the good people of St Fergus Parish Church for almost a year. I have be-
come increasingly fond of them as my time goes on with them. I enjoy preaching each Sun-
day at the church and at other churches in the area. I have been listening to the people here
and to the Holy Spirit, seeking to be sensitive to how God has been at work in the lives of
the people. I had intended to lay low for the first two years at the church, but I found that I
was quickly swept up into the congregation and the village straight away. I came through
the first year doing quite well and I am eager to get on with the second year. I enjoy being
here because the Lord has sent me here to pastor God's people at St Fergus Parish Church.

Blessings to you and yours,

The Healing Power of Prayer and My Right Eye

It is with a sense of quiet joy that I share with you that my troubled right eye has been improving
over the last week. I had wanted to report this to you before now, but found myself swept away
by tasks that I thought had to be done last week. Maybe I have my priorities mixed up. What has
happened to my right eye is quite remarkable. I still do not have good vision in my right eye (I
never did over the past few years), but the steady process of the eye shutting down has been
halted. For the past week the condition of the eye has been improving dramatically. It is a big dif-
ference from ten days ago.

In mid-April I met with an eye specialist in Aberdeen. The condition of my right eye was poor.
I did not have any vision from that eye and it was continuing to gradually shut down. It seemed
that it was only a matter of time before the eye shrank and shut down completely, and then the
eye would have to be removed. That did not sit well with me at all. I agreed to meet with her
again in two weeks after the demanding events of Holy Week were over. There was no improve-
ment over those two weeks.

Since last autumn I have been helping lead a Saturday morning prayer group in Peterhead, the
big town nearby. On the Saturday before I met with the eye specialist, I shared with the mem-
bers of the group about my eye. I told them about the rapid deterioration of my eye and asked
them to anoint me with oil, lay hands on me, and pray for healing of the eye. They had been
praying for me before, but this was a new step for us. Abi, my dear African brother and minis-
terial colleague, prayed mightily for the healing of my eye. I also contacted various other peo-
ple in Scotland and the USA to pray in agreement for healing of my eye.

I experienced gradual changes in the eye the rest of the day. On Sunday my eye was much im-
proved; vision started to return. By Monday morning, the eye was in far better condition yet.
Early in the afternoon I saw the eye doctor. The purpose of meeting was to discuss the remain-
ing options for me. In our previous meeting she had said that the options available to me had
been greatly reduced. I had the sense that she perceived that the eye was beyond restoration;
it had deteriorated to a point beyond which recovery did not seem likely.

The eye specialist examined my eye and I reported to her what I had been experiencing with
my eye. She told me that the fissures that caused so much concern in my eye were disappear-
ing; the retina that had been curved was now flatted out nicely; and there was no sign of bleed-
ing within the eye. The eye had greatly improved. Then she talked about the options. Because
of the condition of the eye, she would not advise me to have the eye removed. Those were the
words I and others had been praying for. The option to remove the eye was the one I had been
dreading.

After hearing the options available to me, I decided to continue the present regimen of drops
and steroids to stabilise the eye for a few more weeks. Upon her recommendation, the gel in
my inner eye will be replaced with a more stable silicone gas to build up the pressure within
the eye. She will also remove the buckle that had been the chief source of my present prob-
lems.  That the doctor offered to remove the buckle soon was a sign to me that the condition
of the eye was greatly improved. Because the eye had been in such poor condition, the re-
moval of buckle was not even an option before last week. But things are different now.

It has now been a week since I met in consultation with the eye specialist. The vision of the
right eye continues to improve; but that is not saying much, for the vision in that eye has al-
ways been poor, especially in comparison with the other eye. Meanwhile I continue to be in-
volved in the ministerial duties that are entailed in being the minister of St Fergus Parish
Church. As always, I ask for your prayers, especially in regard to the ongoing issues of my
right eye. I ask your prayers for the continuing healing and restoration of my right eye.

Blessings to you and yours,

St Fergus Easter 2013: The Cross of Jesus Christ and the Empty Tomb

First, just a quick word on the condition of my right eye. I have slowly regained some sight in
my right eye, but unfortunately it is very poor vision. I have made an appointment with a local
 optician this coming Friday to enquire if vision could be improved with glasses or contact lens.
Next Monday I consult with the eye specialist about options available to me. I have been run-
ning out of options with only a few left. I intend to make a decision next week sometime. Mean-
while I continue to live with this condition in the light and presence of Jesus Christ. I do pray
for and desire that He would heal and restore my eye; but what I long for to a much greater ex-
tent is that I be in a more intimate and deeper relationship with Jesus, regardless of my physical
condition or life situation. I yearn to revolve around our crucified and risen Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ. The past eight weeks, therefore, have been an especially rich time for me.

More importantly, the past two weeks, especially Holy Week, have been a special time for me.
Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Resurrection Sunday proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus
Christ directly into my life in a way I hadn't experienced before. Despite the condition with my
eye, I had been on the go during these last two weeks. By Sunday afternoon I felt worn out. I
crashed the evening of Easter Sunday and laid low all day Monday. Yet I still felt the glow of
the crucified and risen Jesus. At Sunday worship at St Fergus Parish Church we sang hymns
about the Resurrection and listened to the gospel accounts of the Risen Christ. I preached from
I Corinthians 15:1-8. The Apostle Paul speaks to the heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, empha-
sizing his death and resurrection as being of first importance. I have been reflecting on this key
passage for some years now, but only in the last few weeks has it been shaping my life and pro-
clamation. I have provided the text for you below. I want you to pay special attention to the sec-
tion highlighted in red.

I Corinthians 15:1-8

         1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you 
         received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold 
         fast to the word I preached to you--unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered 
         to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in 
         accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the 
         third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, 
         then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at 
         one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then 
         he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely 
         born, he appeared also to me.

In this section of Scripture, the Apostle identifies the heart of the Gospel message that he 
has been proclaiming to others. The Gospel he has been preaching to believers in Cor-
inth is the message of salvation. What Paul has received, he has been delivering to oth-
ers. The Gospel is a message of life that saves people from sin and death. The Gospel is 
not about what men and women do. It is not about us. It focuses on what God has done 
in the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Jesus died on the Cross for the forgiveness of sins. His 
redemptive death was anticipated throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, what we Christians 
refer to as the Old Testament. Jesus died and was buried. But that was not the end of 
the Story: on the third day He was raised from death to life. All of this was foretold in the 
Scriptures. Then Paul lists all the people the Risen Saviour showed himself to, including 
himself as one untimely born.   

We believers who name the Name of Jesus Christ anchor our faith in the two essential 
tenets of the Gospel: that Jesus died on the Cross for the forgiveness of our sins, accord-
ing to the Scriptures, and that He was raised from death to life on the third day, according 
to the Scriptures. This is the Gospel we proclaim. The Gospel that we have received and 
believe in points to the crucified and risen Jesus Christ. In Him we are justified and sancti-
fied. This Jesus and what He did is the heart of the Gospel that brings life to those who 
are dead in sin. The content of our preaching must be shaped by the Cross and the Emp-
ty Tomb of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Faith in the crucified and risen Son of 
God brings salvation and life in all its fulness. Everything else is secondary, and flows 
from those two cosmic events that God did through His Son Jesus Christ. I thought that
I knew that, the Gospel. Perhaps I did. But I came to a renewed and deeper awareness 
of it in my life during Lent and Holy Week at St Fergus Parish Church, 2013.

Blessings to you and yours in these weeks after Easter,  

The God of Mercy and Jesus the Substitute

Since last September, I have had the privilege and pleasure of speaking and preaching at other
churches and ministries in North East Scotland. Preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ gives me
considerable joy. I take every opportunity I can get to do so. Things used to be different: except
for a year of being assistant minister at Cupar Old Parish Church in 2010, I did not have many
opportunities to speak between 2003 and when I returned to Scotland in June, 2012. My preach-
ing skills and abilities took quite a hit.

But that has changed since I arrived at St Fergus Parish Church. I enjoy preaching every Sunday
to the congregation. I purpose to speak words that point to Jesus Christ. My view of preaching is
that my preached words flow from the Word of God about the Incarnate Word of God who brings
life to God's people. This is what I do at St Fergus Parish Church on Sundays. But it is fun to be
asked to speak elsewhere. Since mid-June of last year when I arrived, I have spoken for over 100
occasions. I am honing my preaching skills and gaining in confidence. I have already been invited
back to most of the places!

Last Wednesday I spoke at the 'Bible Study' at Fraserburgh Baptist Church. Their pastor just got
up and left  a little over a year ago. The leadership of the church has been using a small group of
speakers to cover three services a week. Fortunately, they invited me to speak in early Decem-
ber. I was invited back last Wednesday. I enjoy speaking to the people at the church because
they exhibit a passion for Jesus and a hunger for God's Word. They sing hymns with gusto and
raise up heartfelt prayers to God. I was not disappointed last Wednesday.

I spoke on Genesis 15, one of my favourite biblical passages. The LORD God makes a cove-
nant with Abram, who later was named Abraham by God. I do admit that the story sounds
strange and bewildering. It takes on the form of the making of an ancient covenant between
a victorious king and a vanquished king. There would come a time when the latter would cut
animals in half and walk between them, thus cutting a treaty with the former. The conquered
king was making a statement that he be cut in half and his body left exposed for the birds of
prey if he disobeyed and rebelled against the conquering king.

Abram knew what he had to do after he cut up the animals to make his vow. He expected that
he would walk through the animal carcasses, but he fell into a deep sleep. When he came to, he
witnessed God's glorious presence passing through the carcasses. The LORD God pledged that
God would be faithful to God's promises. But God also knew Abram's tendency to disobey God
and to go his own way. By passing through the rows of animal carcasses, God was revealing
God's heart of substituting Godself for Abram's disobedience. God would take the place of
Abram at judgment.

I take what the LORD God did in Genesis 15 as a foretaste of what Jesus, God the Son, did on
the Cross of Calvary. Jesus took on our sin in our place on the tree of divine judgment. This way
of redeeming people from sin and death is referred to as substitutionary atonement in some Chris-
tian circles. I view it as a beautiful picture of how God brings salvation to humankind through the Person of God's Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus on the Cross is seen way back in Genesis 15 in the Old Testament. I was delighted to share that with the Bible Study Group at Fraserburgh Baptist
Church. Our hearts were thus further prepared to look to the Cross of Christ on Good Friday,
when Jesus substituted himself for us and took on himself divine judgment we deserved. May
you have a blessed Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday.

Blessings to you and yours,

An Eye Update: Preach the Gospel and Heal the Sick

It is bitterly cold outside. A stiff Arctic wind blowing over from Canada has over run much
of Scotland. The strong winds suck warmth and life out of anybody who goes outside. At-
tendance in church was down today: twenty adults and children. Most of our elderly mem-
bers stayed home in their warm quarters. Others are more fortunate: away on holiday in
warmer climes this time of year.

Today at St Fergus Parish Church, we celebrated Palm Sunday. We remember the gospel ac-
counts of Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.  Today is the beginning of the week of his
passion, death, and Resurrection. Today began what many call Holy Week, when we who
call upon the Name of Jesus Christ remember the heart of the Gospel: Jesus' death, burial,
and Resurrection. My passion as a pastor is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I will
write more on that in an upcoming posting.

I have spoken at the Fishermen's Mission in Peterhead. On the wall behind the pulpit is a life-
saving buoy with the purpose of the Mission: Preach the Gospel and Heal the Sick. That sums
up what I see as the mission of my pastoral ministry in St Fergus and Northeast Scotland. Eve-
ry Sunday I purpose to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The season of Lent and Holy
Week, culminating in Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, is full of rich opportunities to
preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

But it is the second part of the purpose of the Fishermen's Mission that interests me in particu-
lar: heal the sick. Over the years I have been part of healing prayer teams. A major component
of my pastoral visits is to pray for healing of the person I am visiting.  Healing flows out of
Jesus' salvific work on the Cross and his rising from death to life. It is fraught with difficulties
and abuses; yet it is the Gospel mandate. Praying for the healing of others is a significant part
of my pastoral ministry. It is an area of growth for me.

The mission to heal the sick has taken on personal significance since I started having eye prob-
lems in early February. I have been asking the Lord to heal my right eye. I have asked others
to pray on my behalf for the healing of the eye. I was in to see the eye doctor on Friday. What
little sight I had before, was gone. It had been gone for a week. When I had lost sight before, it
had always came back after a regimen of drops and steroids. Even now, vision has not been re-
covered. The eye has been shutting down. The doctor said we were running out of options. I
face tough choices when I meet with her again on April 8.

I pray for wisdom to make the decisions that have to be made; I continue to pray for the heal-
ing of my right eye. Whatever happens, I am at peace. The Lord is in control. Jesus has brought
me this far and He won't let me down. Christ never has before. Whether my eye is healed and
restored or not, blessed be the name of the Lord. I will continue to call upon the Lord for heal-
ing and to ask other Christians to lift me up in prayer. As always, I covet your prayers on my
behalf.

Blessings to you and yours,

An Eye Update

My right eye is doing poorly. Last Friday morning I was awakened from a sound sleep by pain
and teariness in the eye. The good progress of sight I had been experiencing the previous ten
days was wiped out. I had again lost my sight in that eye. Fortunately I met with the eye doc-
tor that day at the Eye Clinic in Aberdeen. She noticed that the setback had come about when
there had been a decrease in the amount of steroids I took each day. So she increased the dos-
age back to where it had been and asked me to come in on Monday. She would inject gas into
the eye if the eye pressure continued to be low.

I went Monday and saw the doctor. My eye was much better; I had limited sight again; and the
pressure in my eye had risen. No gas was injected into my eye. Over the past several days my
eye has felt much better, but my sight has not come back. The vision of the eye has always re-
turned after an adjustment of treatment, but it has not done so with the latest plan. I travel down
to the Eye Clinic tomorrow for another appointment with the doctor. I feel well cared for and I
trust the doctor who has taken my case. I don't have any idea how this will turn out.

I have had my moments of discouragement over the last seven or so weeks. Much of my atten-
tion and energy has been given to my eye. I never realised how much my eye was connected
to my physical, mental, and spiritual state of being. I never expected this; it came out of the
blue. I feel like I have been knocked off balance and took a stumble. I have been here in St
Fergus and NE Scotland since June of last year. I had been making great progress in the min-
istry. Things were starting to happen with people I was involved with. There was change in
the air. I was eager to get on into this year with the people of St Fergus Parish Church and
other people in Peterhead and the area. I affirm the Lord's calling me to serve here. There is
no other place I would rather be.

In 1991 and 1992 the lens of both eyes were removed and belts were placed around the reti-
nas to keep them from detaching. Since that time I have greatly benefitted from restored vi-
sion in both eyes and I have never experienced a retina detachment. I am thankful for the
use of my eyes that I have enjoyed for over twenty years. I guess I took my vision for
granted, even though I had poor and deteriorating vision before the two surgeries on my
eyes in the early 90s. Now the condition of my right eye has deteriorated in the last two
months while the vision in my left eye has remained very good. Both underwent the exact
same procedure. Part of me expects things like this to happen the longer I live and grow old-
er. Another part of me wonders if this is spiritual attack by dark forces bent on hindering the
advancement of God's kingdom. Perhaps it is a little bit of both. Regardless, I take this con-
dition of mine to the Lord in prayer. As always, I covet your prayers.

Blessings to you and yours,

Mothering Sunday 2013, Scotland

Before I get onto Mothering Sunday, I want to give you a quick update on my right eye and the
continued lack of heating at home. First, my right eye continues to remain stable. I do experience
an occasional dull eye ache, but it doesn't last too long. I am into the fifth week of a strong regi-
men of eye drops and steroids. I see the eye specialist on Friday down in Aberdeen. Second, my
heating situation has not changed since the Sunday before last. I still do not have central heating.
An engineer was here today to install a new water tank that burst, but the situation still is not re-
solved. He's coming back tomorrow with a necessary part. Hopefully tomorrow I will have cen-
tral heating. I am getting by on three space heaters to keep me warm. I am getting by ok.

This past Sunday was Mothering Sunday in the United Kingdom. It is a special day that has
long been observed on the fourth Sunday in Lent in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern
Ireland. Mothering Sunday has not only been an established Sunday in the Church, but is now
a special day in the wider society. Businesses especially take advantage of doing Mothering
Sunday promotions, although it is not as strongly developed as it is in the USA. There are var-
iations of observance of the day among churches and in society as a whole. However it is done,
Mothering Sunday is a special day in Scotland and mothers are honoured.

Last Sunday, Mothering Sunday, I asked the children about what God is like. They shrugged
their shoulders. Then I asked them about their moms and the response was very favourable. I
told them that God is like their mother. Their mothers gave birth to them, guide them, protect
them, comfort them, love them even when they do something bad..... I encouraged them to
always honour their moms, even when it is not Mothering Sunday. Then the children were
given carnations to hand out to all the women in the congregation. Later on, two elders and
myself made sure mothers of our congregation who were not there on Sunday got a flower
during the next few days. The feedback I got was that many women were touched by this.

My text for the day did not really deal with mothers directly: Genesis 1:26-31. My main idea
was that Motherhood is God's idea. God created men and women in God's image. Who God
is and what God is like is reflected through women and men. Mothers reflect to their children
in very simple, yet powerful ways who God is. The relationship between mother and child is
a primary relationship that we all experience. There certainly are bad relationships of mother
and her children; but generally it is a very beautiful and basic relationship that shapes our lives.
I pray to God my Father, yet I would never pray to God my Mother. It isn't like that at all. Yet
the love, tenderness and care expressed through mothers to their children is a powerful picture
of God's love, tenderness and care to us, God's children.

I ended the sermon noting how much I had been hearing about people making great efforts to
honour their mothers. In numerous conversations over the last few weeks I had been hearing in
many and different ways about adult children honouring their parents. It is right and proper that
children honour their mothers and fathers. Yet we all have the tendency to neglect our primary
love relationship with the Lord, our heavenly Father. Over the years I have witnessed the sad-
ness of several mothers who yearned for contact with their children. There was occasional con-
tact, but they did not have a warm relationship with their sons and daughters. A mother's love is
rich and lovely, but God's love is so unfathomably richer and lovelier; yet we avoid and neglect
our relationship with God. I encouraged the congregation to honour and love God to the same
extent that they honoured and loved their mothers. It seems that no mother is content with an oc-
casional contact with her children over the course of the year. our Lord Jesus calls us to daily
and intimate contact with him. I took the message to heart; I hope others in the congregations
did as well.

Blessings to you and yours,









 

My Eye, Home Heating, and the Power of Prayer

 Things continue to go well with me. My right eye is in stable condition and I have an appoint-
ment to see the eye specialist the Friday after next. I do not know what will be the next course
of action in regard to my eye. But what I do know is God's gracious care for me during the last
several weeks. I feel closer to God now than I did even before this whole situation came up. I
have especially grown in my attitude and dependence on the power of prayer.

It is now Wednesday afternoon. I haven't had heat since Sunday. Sometime Sunday evening my
heater turned off. It took me a while on Monday to realise that the furnace was out and call for
a service visit. I was told an engineer would be out on Tuesday. So I waited at home the whole
day, but no one showed up. When I called later in the day, I was told my order had been lost. I
made another appointment for today. Finally an hour ago the Scottish Gas engineer came to ser-
vice the furnace. Now I have been informed that the water tank in the furnace has burst and to get
a new tank could take as long as a week. Scottish Gas will call me as soon as it is available.

In this challenging time of issues with my right eye and home heating, I have been re-learning
my lessons about the power of prayer. I have always failed to retain my lessons that I have
learned through experience about the necessary place of prayer in my life. I am shocked by how
quickly I forget those lessons the Lord has led me through. Over the course of the last four weeks
I have been reminded about the power of prayer, especially in these trying situations I'm in. I've
been being reminded of lessons learned in years past.

I firmly believe that Jesus heals and that His people are called to pray for healing. I have been
asking Christian believers in the area and in the USA to pray that my eye would be healed. I
have experienced Jesus' healing touch on my eye. I do not minimise the critical healing power
of modern medical technology, but neither do I reject the healing power of prayer to Jesus. I
give thanks and praise to the Lord for His healing mercies. I also pray that through these try-
ing circumstances I am led closer to God. Therefore, what is of utmost importance to me is that
I find my deepest joy in communion with the Triune God, whether I am healed or not. Finally,
I pray for spiritual protection from the wiles of the Devil who seeks to work woe upon God's
people. Wherever the Lord advances, the enemy is sure to strike back against God's people. So,
I've been praying for spiritual protection.

In early March, gas was injected into my right eye two times in order to build up the internal
pressure of the eye. For twenty-four hours after each injection I had to bow down with my
face to the floor. This was done to keep the gas bubble towards the back of my eye where it
could do the most good. I realised that through no intention of my own, I took on an attitude
and posture of prayer. So, I prayed: I prayed that my eye would be healed; I prayed that I
would grow closer to Jesus through this challenge; and I prayed for spiritual protection against
the schemes of Satan. I lifted up people I pray for in the USA and a growing number of peo-
ple here in NE Scotland. I heard from people in the USA and here in Scotland who were lifting
me up in prayer. It has been a time to remember the lessons I have learned about the power of
prayer.

As always, I ask for your continued prayers for me: that my eye would be healed; that I would
be drawn closer to Jesus; and that I would be protected from attacks by the enemy.

Blessings to you and yours,

Sunday, 03 March: My Eye Condition

It has been nearly two weeks since I last posted. Things have been happening, and I am glad to
report that I am doing well, including my right eye. But last weekend, I was beginning to wonder.
I have re-read my last posting and realised that I had not really called it right. What I had seen as progress in the healing of my eye was not actually taking place. I was confronted by the reality of
that when I visited the eye specialist the Friday before last, 22 February.

That Friday the specialist examined my eye. The pressure in the eye was dangerously low. The bleeding had stopped, but there was nothing to prevent it from starting up again. I was given the opportunity to have gas injected into my eye that very afternoon in order to increase the internal pressure in the eye. I had the sense that later would be too late to save my eyesight. I had not
had any idea that this would happen, but I agreed to do that and was immediately sent to the Eye
Ward at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

So early Friday afternoon gas was injected into my eye. It was a three minute procedure done
under local anesthetic in an operating room. It was nowhere as bad as I had been imagining it
to be. I was told to bow over with my face to the floor for the rest of the day and to sleep on
my right cheek at night. This was done to keep the bubble of gas in the back of my eye where
it would do the most good. The procedure was judged a success when the eye was examined
Saturday afternoon. The pressure within the eye was rising. I was allowed to return home and
report back Sunday afternoon.

I did not preach or lead the service at church on Sunday. Even though I had expected to be able
to do so, I had one of my elders who is a lay preacher be ready just in case. He filled in for me
that Sunday and I rested. Later in the afternoon another one of the elders drove me back to the
hospital. The next morning more gas was injected into my eye. Again, I had to keep my face
down all that day and into the next morning. The specialist examined my eye Tuesday morning
and was pleased with the results: the eye pressure was good and I was released from the hospi-
tal. I will see her again in two weeks when the next course of action will be considered.

Since Wednesday I have been back to pastoral duties. I led the service and preached today. It
was so good to be back after not being in church for three Sundays. My eye and sight are con-
tinuing to be stable. I still have so much work to catch up with. Over the last two weeks I only
did what was necessary to do. I am grateful to the prayers of many people; the skills, talents,
and training of the eye specialists; and to God's gracious healing power. As always, I covet
your prayers.

Many blessings to you and yours,

The Tide Has Turned

When I woke up this morning, I had a strong sense that something in my right eye had broken;
not in the sense that eye was broken down and no longer working right (my eye may be broken
down in that sense), but that the negative condition of the eye had reached its highpoint and it
had started to go down, to decrease. I spent four months of 2008 as a volunteer at a Christian
Retreat Centre on Holy Island/Lindisfarne, a tidal island in north coastal England. I remember
sitting in the garden with the director and hearing him remark to me that the tide had just reached
its highpoint and was now going out. He had no way to verify this, but he could sense it. The
tide had broken; it had turned. There have been times that I have gone to bed sicker than a dog
with fever. Later I woke up in the middle of the night, having a strong sense that the fever had
broken. I expected that I would be getting increasingly better from then on.

That's how I felt when I got up this morning: the condition of my eye was still poor, but I sensed
that the highpoint of the condition had been reached and it was decreasing from that time onward.
My sight, as poor as it is, is improving day by day. The sharp jabs of pain have disappeared. I am getting perspective of two eyes rather than just one. I am resting well. I finally received the medi-
cal records from the eye surgeon in Boston who performed the surgery on my eye in 1992. I will
pass those on to my doctor here on Friday. I still may lose my sight in the right eye, but for now
that is not the direction it is headed. I receive the comfort and peace that only Jesus can provide.
The condition in my right eye has broken, the tide has turned. I covet your prayers.

Blessings to you and yours,
      
 

A Saturday Report on My Eye

Yesterday, Dr Kuffova again examined my right eye at the Eye Clinic of the Aberdeen Royal In-
firmary. I am grateful for the quality of care that I have received at the Clinic by Dr Kuffova and
the staff.  She and several other resident doctors had examined my eye three weeks before and
had proposed the option of removing a buckle that was inserted in '92 to hold my retina in place.
The buckle was protruding and irritating the eye. She prescribed drops and steroids to stabilise the
eye and made an appointment to see her in three weeks.

When I saw Dr Kuffova yesterday, it had been the three weeks since she had last examined my
eye. But a lot had happened since I last saw her. On Saturday, I experienced jabs of pain in my
eye. The next morning I was examined by three eye doctors down in Aberdeen. They told me
my eye was shrinking and shutting down. My daily routine of drops and steroids were increased
in strength and times per day. That night I lost all vision in my right eye.

Yesterday, I had hopes that my eye had been stabilised, but that was not the news I received.
Dr Kuffova saw bleeding inside my eye and this was was causing the pain. The bleeding was
not stopping because I am on warfarin to thin my blood. In the case of my aortic valve replace-
ment, warfarin is important for preventing life-threatening strokes; but in the case of my eye,
warfarin was preventing blood from gelling and stopping. Pressure was continuing to decrease
in my eye. My condition was serious: I could lose the use of my right eye. She increased the reg-
imen of drops and steroids to stabilise the eye. I will see her again next Friday.

I have been on the increased regimen of medicine for 24 hours now, and already I see and feel
positive signs. I put drops in my eye or take pills nineteen times a day. I slept well last night-
for over nine hours. I took a delicious three-hour nap early in the afternoon. The pain has di-
minished greatly, but I don't know whether it is because of pain relievers or the bleeding is
starting to stop. I did wake up from the nap realising that I had missed my time to take pain
relievers, yet I was not overcome by pain as I was before. I have asked replacements to take
over two services for me. I do not know how this will turnout. All I can do is follow the doc-
tor's orders, praise the Lord, and entrust myself into his God's loving arms. I am resting well
and I feel at peace. As always, I ask for your continued prayers.

Blessings to you and yours,

A Further Eye Update

Until last Saturday, my right eye seemed to have been getting better. The redness and irritation

were disappearing and I wasn't experiencing any pain. But early Saturday morning when I was preparing for a Saturday prayer meeting I lead, I felt a sharp pain in my right eye. It was so strong
that I fell on my knees. The pain was excruciating. The sharp pain subsided after a few minutes,
but I felt the steady dull pain in my right eye and head that is still with me as I write this post five
days later. 

In a previous blog about three weeks ago I wrote about visiting the doctor at the local health clin-

ic who was concerned about my eye.  She made a mighty effort to get me an appointment with
an eye specialist after hours at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. One of the church elders drove me
down to the hospital an hour away in Aberdeen. I was seen by another British-born Pakistani doc-
tor who expressed his concern about the serious condition of my eye. He focused on the buckle
of a belt that had been preventing the retina from detaching. It had served its purpose for over 20
years, but now was protruding through the eye membrane. He said that it does have to be re-
moved. He wanted his supervisor to see me early the next morning at the Aberdeen Eye Clinic.
The doctor prescribed a regimen of drops to help stabilise my eye and reduce swelling. 

Early the next morning, the elder, who has become a dear friend, drove me through Aberdeen 

rush hour traffic to the eye clinic. Even though I did not have an appointment, the staff there 

made time to see me.  The Resident Supervisor examined my eye and supported the conclusion
that the buckle needed to be removed. She set a date in three weeks to see me again. She asked
me to obtain the medical records from the surgeon in Boston who did the surgery in 1992. The
regimen I followed was three different pills and drops, 11 times a day for three weeks. I was en-couraged when I felt that my eye was getting better. But that was until last Saturday morning.

Last Saturday my eye was extremely painful. The eye had not been so before. The eye was
watery and sensitive to pressure anywhere around the eye. Another elder who dropped by the
house expressed her concern about how my eye looked and made arrangements for me to see a
doctor. The doctor at the local hospital arranged for me to see an eye specialist in Aberdeen Sun-
day morning. Nothing would have stopped me from seeing the doctor the next morning, even
church. Fortunately St Fergus Parish Church was participating in an united service Sunday morn-
ing, and I did not have a major part in the service. The pain persisted throughout the day and eve-
ning, but at least I was comforted that I would be seeing a doctor soon.

The next morning I did see an eye specialist. As he examined my eye he called in two other eye
specialists. As I understand it, my eye had entered a new phase. The buckle was eroding the
membrane of the eye. This resulted in the eye losing internal pressure; it could not maintain the
proper pressure. Therefore it was shrinking. It was 'shutting down.' Because of the low pressure,
the eye was painful. Pain has been my constant companion since Saturday. They increased the
steroid drops I was using in order to build up the pressure in the eye. They planned to see me
again at the Eye Clinic the following Friday. As I write this post, that appointment is tomorrow
morning.

Sometime on Sunday I lost sight in my right eye. It was like a black curtain came over my eye.
I had never known that before. It was rather disconcerting to me. I have been praying fervently
that my sight would be restored. I have been disciplined in following the regimen of drops that
they had me on. Only yesterday, Wednesday, did I start to see the black curtain start to dissi-
pate and replaced by more of a light fog. The pain has not subsided. But tomorrow I will get
a bigger picture of what is happening and see what the next step is. I covet your prayers on my
behalf.

Blessings to you and yours,

Still Learning to Rest

Four weeks ago I was feeling pretty worn out. Advent and Christmas week sucked the energy
out of me. A heavy theological conference, two funerals, and a rush to prepare a Sunday ser-
vice drained even more energy out of me. I really needed time off, but somehow it is difficult
for me to set down my activities and ministry. Three Mondays ago and several days after that,
I finally did it. And, boy, was it ever good. I just laid low at home.

When I have had time off before, I had a tendency to plan trips and explorations to places far
away. It takes time and energy to plan these jaunts and to actually do them. The result is that I
am usually in need of a real holiday when I come back. I am also confronted by a pile of mail
and emails that was thrown on top of a huge pile of mail I had neglected over the past two or
three months. This time I just decided to stay home and do what I wanted to do.

I just took it easy. I most enjoyed reading Scripture and praying, followed by times of journal-
ing. I read and finished one book that I had struggled to find time to read. I went to the BBC
iPlayer to watch wonderful shows on great British Railway journeys and 20th century world
history. I enjoyed taking a nap every day. I did not have any interruptions that took away from
my time off.

I did not do anything that substantially contributed to ministry in St Fergus, yet the time off was
vital to my well-being, my walk with Christ, and my service to our Lord and his kingdom. I strug-
gle to rest, especially to rest in the Lord Jesus. It is difficult for me refrain from doing something;
thus I neglect my relationship with God. It is a fundamental issue of my life. Even though I bold-
ly profess that I am saved by grace through faith, I live as it it all depends on my works and ef-
forts. That is wrong; it is sin. I have to keep re-learning that lively faith focuses on what God has
done through the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ, not on anything I do. Yet I need to learn
that God has redeemed me in Jesus to do good works that God planned for us. I ask for your
prayers as I seek to take this to heart and live it out.

Blessings to you and yours,