Saturday 15 December 2007

10 December 2007
Tall Skinny Kiwi says:

Absolutely awful to hear of the shooting at the YWAM base in Denver. 9News says two dead (pictured), one critical, another inured and the 80 other missionaries moved to Golden for the time being. Youth With a Mission is a great mission organization and I have had the priviledge of teaching on many of their training bases, but not Denver. Our prayers are with the families of those involved and the other missionaries. Avarda police are working hard to find the suspect.

Update: Apparently, the gunman at both Colorado shootings, Matthew Murray, was once enrolled in a DTS at YWAM but was let go for "health" reasons. ChristianPost has the skinny and Benediction is looking at it also. Technorati Tags: ywam

Saturday 1 December 2007

New deacon

Time rushes by and one can easily forget the communications that one promised.
But Im back.

Local topically thing this week refers to the appointment of "leaders" in the church.

If you were having a new Deacon on your church what advise would you give him/her?

CCLI


The UK office of Christian Copyright Licence International. Where Churches advise of the songs they have used in worship to allow payments to the writers.
www.ccli.co.uk/

Based in Eastbourne

Heartland FM

My next Tuesday night programme is likely to be on the 11 th of December 2007.
here is the possible list of contributions.

Track Singer/s Album
God in heaven Delerious
world service 2003
Alien youth Skillet


we are one Resurection life church
For you I live 2007
Colourful world CE CE Winans
Purified 2005
What the world needs Casting crowns
The altar and the door 2007
Shepherd Robin Mark
East of the river 2007
Hossanna Exerience his presence

2007
so come intro Isreal new breed


so come



No place like home
pax217
2000
Let it rain Lou Fellinghamf


Shipwreck
Starfield


Be still and Know SC Chapman
Speechless

Friday 16 November 2007

How to gather the masses

I thought it interesting that when in America a couple of years ago a Church leader was advocating that the church takes to much energy trying to make the church attractive when in fact if there were obstacles for people to get to church it would be in the long term more fruitful.
The age of attractive church might be over. How do we change the culture if we are touching a church centred image when we should be flavouring the world.

Sometime you need to stand on your head to see a different point of view.

Sunday 11 November 2007

Heartland playlist 2

It is a bit lis tbut here is the plavlist from the last programme.

Mama s Kitchen
Ce Ce Winans her current album - Purified,.
Anybody want to pray?
Ce Ce Winans
How great is our God
Open the eyes of my heart
Coming home Lou Fellingham
Worthy is the lamb Hillsongs
Some where east of the river Robin Mark
Heavens gate Robin Mark
Barlowgirl the
This Generation Starfield
Lord you have been good to me

New beginnings

I have often seen the "new beginnings" statement in organisations including churches. What does that mean? Is it a call to shake off what has reduced the effectiveness of ministry?

Most in church circles acknowledge that traditionalism is dead and will not survive but how does one keep alive that which should be growing and developing.?

How does the streams of living water continue to flow when there is stagnation and dams blocking the flow.

It takes wise council to move matters forward.
Some times rushing can be counter productive sometimes waiting too long means a lost opportunity.

What are the answer keys to these questions?

Saturday 6 October 2007

Amber continued


Behind the dam at Pitlochry.

"Personal" Amber

The last few days have shown the start of the autumn colours here in Pitlochry. Perthshire Amber is a celebration at the end of summer.

I hope to get some photos in this short time when the contrasting colours are at their best.

Monday 1 October 2007

Open office 2.3

2.3 open office is availabe for download. Its the alternative to Microsoft word etc.

Tuesday 18 September 2007

Heartland FM 10.00 playlist

1 Track 1
Kevin Prosch “Lord of the Dance.“ from “Reckless mercy”

2Track 3
That was “Lord of the dance” and now
Steve Curtis Chapman “The Change” from the album “Speechless”

2Track 3

A lively warm song from Hillsongs Australia
“Touching heaven Changing Earth”

4 Delirious
Grace like a river from World service

5 Track 1

Acapella pure voice no instrument sound. A warm track

Called “Teaching the truth in Love”

6 Track 20
Howard Prior Rick Wakeman

“There is nothing to difficult”
What do you think?

7 Track 4
CE CE Winans
From the most recent “Purified album”
Ce Ce Winans sings a variety of styles this softer one is
“All That I need”

8 Title track 1

Kelita Who used to have a support singer on her Gospel tours in the name of Shinia Twain!
“The strange one”

9 Title track 9
Avalon
“Oxygen”

10Track 10
Mal Pope - haunting track about our world
“This is your land” from”City of gold”

11 Track 1
Lou Fellingham
“O God of love”
From her first solo offering Lou Fellingham known for her distinctive voice on Stoneleigh music and the rock band Phat Fish, based in Eastbourne

Lou has brought together some lovely tuneful songs and reworks in to an album that seems to be as yet undiscovered by the masses.


12 track 6
Acapella once more with there focused song
“Get to the point.”

13 track 9
CE CE Winans
Best singer 2005 in USA

From the album of that year CE CE from a musical background sings the mellow song “The way things were”.

Enjoy...

Thursday 6 September 2007

Heartland FM


Looking forward to my programme on heartland Fm Tuesday night the 18 of September. What an opportunity to present my choice of music. 97.5 FM in the heart of Highland Perth shire as the advert goes!

Bourne Ultimatium


Bourne Ultimatum on 1 September in Dundee, followed by pizza and then home. Enjoyed the film but strained my eyes from being to near the front.

Thursday 30 August 2007

Sunday night at the Theatre garden

150 came out to the "churches together" service.
A bit tight for set up time but it was a good service. The sing by way of solos and the congregation was tip top. A team approach meant the whole setup was taken down packed and replaced in little time.

Saturday 25 August 2007

Pitlochry Festival Theatre


And here it is nestling behind some cottages Pitlochry Festival Theatre.
Toffee and fudge single nought wafer.
Lovely day looking forward to the service in the Theatre garden on Sunday.
Hope there is not rain or midges!

One show


Whats his name on the One show is a follower and has an interest in clouds. Here is some from Dornoch beach from a few months ago.
Before the summer!


The green that we are experiencing at this time is exceptional . Usually the green has dried to orange and yellow. I wonder if the tree leafs will fall quicker this year due to their weight? or are we in for an indian summer.
Today in North Perthshire it is warm bright and a breeze. Must go down to the theatre and get an ice cream. Summer days.....

Casting Crowns new cd

"Casting Crowns'" new cd is out 28 August 2007.
I wonder what deal I can get from Amazon?

Sunday 5 August 2007

Helicopter view of things


I recall the Rev Bob Jones in a sermon some 30 plus years ago talking in terms of the choppy sea and when one is in the sea things look bad. Yet from the helicopter view, the rescuer sees a different aspect all together. Some times we as humans can be taken up with the current situation and forget to look at the helicopter view of things. In the fullness of time it might not look so bad.
Now from Gods view, where there is no time it looks even smaller. So next time it looks a bit daunting try and see it from the helicopter view.

Friday 3 August 2007

Printing to culture change


It is not a simple matter of the church re branding. The changes in culture have been too great for a change in “window display”. Recall the printing press and the education of the community linked to the church. The corresponding requirement for an engaging church in the community that is not a sub-culture but is or changes the culture is clear. This has not to be a liberal or compromising stance but rather relevance rediscovery and in fact more biblically based mission. The “Hillsongs” mega churches might not survive even if they don't ever make an impact in Scotland.
The church needs to be looking at ways to deal with those who want to be submerged in the culture and not seen to be different from others and to the individualists who make a stand on his or hers pet conviction. A tough task. Yet I think there are those being groomed by God for the job.

Sunday 29 July 2007

Thursday 26 July 2007

Renovare July 2007 newsletter.


The July 2007 issue of the RENOVARÉ Perspective is now available at www.renovare.org.

In this edition, Richard J. Foster addresses "Spiritual Formation and the Local Congregation," noting that institutional maintenance as a primary concern needs to be avoided and the development of a kingdom heart should be primary for spiritual fromation efforts to bear fruit....

Sunday 22 July 2007

Emerging Church questionaire and poll

Thank you for taking part in the poll.

Roof tops thoughts


Getting re established in a routine is good for the behaviours as well as creating a anchor for the future. many yearn for the summer holidays and when they are into week two they wish they were back to work. Not because they particularly want to be at the desk or machine or vehicle but to get back to the reassuring routine that gives stability to the day.

Great thinkers, developers, strong theologians or writers and the likes of new ideas people have needed to switch off from the routine and break through the confines of "normal" thinking. Today when we have so many self ego thinkers how much more do we need people who will suspend the normal to deconstruct and reconstruct their lives.

I really like the possibilities of back to basic thinking that can then revitalised the present for the future. Yes there is nothing new under the sun but there is a need for freshness in the thinking of the present. last weeks fruit and veg is withering...

So as I look over the Pitlochry roof tops in another wet weekend, as we settle in our new area of responsibilities and look forward to a holiday break I consider the winter ahead and the possibilities that might be in this part of the Highlands

WIKIKLESIA 23 July 2007


Tallskinnykiwi says"Wikiklesia may be the world’s first self-perpetuating nomadic business model - raising money for charities - giving voice to emerging writers and artists - generating a continuous stream of new books covering all manner of relevant topics. Nobody remains in control. There is no board of directors. The franchise changes hands as quickly as new projects are created." Wikiklesia Press Release

As a missionary and church planter, I like anything that can self-perpetuate, multiply, reproduce spontaneously and keep on giving itself away until it reaches it goal. That means churches, conferences, training systems, and also this little publishing experiment called WIKIKLESIA that LAUNCHES TOMORROW on Lulu."

Read more at Tallskinnykiwi.



Monday 16 July 2007

Moulin Church



Duff was minister here in Moulin Before his international mission work.

Duff monument Pitlochry


Alexander Duff (2)

Pitlochry memorial to A Duff The Church of Scotland's first appointed missionary to India was Alexander Duff. Born in Moulin in Perthshire his academic career was at St Andrews. He carried off the top honour for Greek Latin. Logic and moral philosophy. He also gained the essay prize for best translation into Latin of Plato” Apology to Socrates. he was indeed a excellent scholar. He was in debited to the encouragement of Dr Thomas Chalmers who took up the post of professor of moral philosophy in 1823. It was Chalmers the most prominent evangelical in Scotland who later became a national leader that inspired Duff in to the mission and its work in the church. It was doctor Ferrie of St Andrews who proposed Duff as the first missionary of the Church of Scotland in Calcutta. Duff felt at this time in 1829 ready to be sent to India. Before departing for India he was married to Anne Scott Drysdale (July1829) and ordained on the 12 August of that year. Next month Duff and his new wife boarded the Lady Holland at Leith for London and on route the trials started with a ship wreck off Cape Town with no loss of life. The continued later on the Moira which also had difficulties after a cyclone, which left them all having to wade, to shore through the undignified mud of India. At a little over 24 and two narrow escapes not to mention the many dangerous escapes as a youth Duff was obviously being preserved to carry out the mission work. Duff, the educationalist went on to attract the attention of many including the governor of the East India company and indeed Gladstone. He was the founder of the University of Calcutta. It is unfortunate that his efforts on education and mission have been neglected in the last 100 years. He had several travels back to Scotland and it is noted that in 1839 he raised the foreign giving for mission from £1200 to £ 7,538. On one return to Scotland Duff found himself in the middle of the debate that would grow into the “disruption”. In early 1843 he was still silent on how he would act in respect to his loyalty to the mission, church and conscience. He in due time sided with the Free Church and was instrumental in raising the first endowment and to become the first professor of the Free Church College Edinburgh of Mission and Education. In 1871 Lord Shaftesbury wrote to Duff asking if hos name could be added to the list of vice-presidents of the bible society. Duff was highly honoured and accepted. His life had been a life of many seasons in Scotland in India, married and widowed early. He also advocated the mission work outside of Scotland. It is unfortunate that Alexander Duffs contribution to the church, abroad has not been greatly recognised. At his death the tributes showed what a godly man he was- Gladstone acknowledged his intelligence energy devotion and spirituality and likened him to William Carey. [Andrew Duff]

Thursday 12 July 2007

Tuesday 26 June 2007

Alexander Duff

I never thought some few months ago I would be living in the village that Alexander Duff preached and lived in before his Indian mission work. But here we are in Pitlochry area. So how do you find the church for you when you move to a new area?

Is it doctrine ...? Is it closest to your experience..? Is it catering for the family unit? Is it the church that invites with a warm welcome?

What about worship or should I say Praise accompanied or not modern What ever that means or traditional- what ever that means!

And the leader/pastor is there vision? has the church got behind the work ?

And finally you have to agree there is compromise...

The Church compromises and accepts you the way you are!
That is a sign of the kingdom. Happy hunting.

Thursday 7 June 2007

Changes

Pitlochry is a lovely place. Now that we as a family have moved we can begin to pick up the thoughts old and new. Thanks for holding on. I hope the meeting in Lairg have been fruitful.

Saturday 26 May 2007

Moving house

So Pitlochry is about to get a new family. The next few weeks will be hectic!
Returning to Perthshire was not really in the plans but as we adjust to the new chapter in lifes book there is a sense of real anticipation.
Dont expect much from me until the boxes are packed and un pack.
I am so pleased Connect Scotland has been a success... hope its dry for the rally in Edinburgh tomorrow.

Wednesday 16 May 2007

Gathering of like minded people

It is encouraging to hear of some meetings coming up in Lairg drawing people from all parts of "stations" North of Inverness. Hope these meeting are fruitful and last. First on Friday 17 May.

Sunday 6 May 2007

New job new focus

With the speedy run around the country of late i have not been attending to you good readers. With a new job just started I hope to get back into routine soon.

Consider this:
Jesus could not go straight to heaven from the cross. He had all the sins of the world and there is no sin allowed in heaven. So he dumped them in hades and preached there before the Resurrection.!

Monday 23 April 2007

PFKTC etc


The post of a few weeks ago The people formerly known as the congregation has had several updates. You might like to track the developments via achievable ends or the last comment version VII.

Meet the neighbours...

When the new neighbours came to town we were wondering what they may be like? What interests they might have and would they be good neighbours?
What makes a good neighbour?
They arrived recently and with a few more added to the offspring they already had, I hoped they will not be noisy. They settled in quickly.
Strange how we have got accustomed to their habits. They have really become part of the community. But I don't like it when they come in to my garden and lounged around...you got to draw the line somewhere. How will I tell them that they are upsetting that their approach is not to our liking? Would it be too forward to raise the issue?
I remember last year a party of French students stopped on route on their holiday travels and as it was a nice day thought they would sit on the grass to have a very European lunch. They kindly asked if they could sit in the garden for lunch. Because I was taken aback I had said yes without realising it. You could tell they were continental...wanting to sit on the grass... chequered cloth... eating French stick bread in Sutherland.
Well the French students had a good relaxing lunch and set off South. It was a first for these parts. We often get strange glances as we eat out in the garden in Sutherland. Our garden table from B & Q Huntington has been well used.
That reminds me I must get some paint and stop the enset of rust.
But as for the new neighbours they continually eat out and have taken to eat in our garden without a request to us for approval!
Well maybe we will have to tolerate their different habits... I suppose they havent carried out any damage and it does increase the numbers in the community.
Here is the proof of their anticts.
The neighbours...


Tuesday 17 April 2007

Wating for a train...


"Waiting for a train waiting for a train the whole wide world is waiting for a train...but the train aint coming..." words to an old gospel song sung at many a beach mission in the seventies.
There has been tremendous changes since then.!

Saturday 14 April 2007

Kierkegaard meets the emerging church




It was only the other day that Soren A Kierkegaard embarged on a review of the emerging church.




He was reminded of his earlier thoughts in as much as the wider community around him was transforming in to a theatrical exsistance and stage sets.


He had concluded that society no longer consisted of individuals or groups devided in to social hierarchy. Its make up was of an undifferentiated mass, " the public". He had concluded that the mass "the public" was most dangerous and significant in power.


It , "The Public" would march as soon as someone said march! It would never ask the least of questions which could make it seen as the power more or less proportionate to its state of anonymity..



His observation of the mass and its "great levelling" had impact in the mass psychology of the age. It would also highlight the phenomenon of alienation. With the colapse of the social pyramid ( all have stations in the paramid higher or lower.) the levelling did not lead to equallity as such but to a rivary of one another as like in a game.


One outcome of this was that place were once there had been a fear of God was now a fear of man.




Kierkegaard said " close air always becomes noxious"


So Kierkegaard walks along the street to a cafe orders a Starbucks and reflects.
He gathers some around and tells the story.


A rare treasure that is the desire of everyone is located so far out on thin ice that whoever goes out to retrieve it places himself in mortal peril. But the hero who of course dares where others are scared rushes off, attended by the breathless crowd. The crowd would tremble for him and with him in the mortal peril of this decision; it would mourn him in his death:it would deify him if he gained the treasure.

But Keirkegaard repeated the scene to the listening group. This time the crowd less breathless and more a crowd of spiritless public that rationally calculates the extent to which such a feat of daring will pay off: “ They would go out there. They would stand where it is safe and sound, and putting on the airs of experts. They would evaluate the skillful skaters who could skate almost the the outermost edge... and then turn back.

Among the skaters there would be someone or other who was exceptionally talented: he would even manage the tour de force of going to the extreme edge, making yet an other attempt, replete with the deception appearance of danger, so that the spectators shout and I translate into Scottish ,

Dinne da that yur mad.... he's risking his life!.

But see he was remarkably skilled that in fact he was able to turn away at the extreme outermost edge, that is where the ice is still quite safe and the mortal peril has not yet begun.
Just as in the theatre the crowd would shout out “bravo” and salute him with acclaim; they would return home, bringing with them the great heroicness artist, and they would honour him with a sumptuous banquet. Reasonableness had come to predominate that it had transformed the challenge itself into an unreal stunt and reality into theatre.

While the passionate hero had been honoured because he alone ventured where none of the others dared go, the hero of reasonableness was celebrated because he understood how to simulate the seriousness of the danger – that is, how to “transform an inspired feat of daring into a stunt”. A twisted transformation of this sort is greeted with approval because, first of all, collective self-deception is easier to endure than envy of that single individual, and second, levelling has broken down the representative function formerly exercised by the hero in the days when he could “exalt the idea of what it is to be a human being”.

And the emerging church as it skates to the outerlimit not because it is there but to collect the rare treasure " the desire of everone" can continue to be passionate.


Then the establishment may not try and "level it out."


We so need feats of daring and not calculated stunts.


So I am left with the conclusion that Kierkgaard is most comfortable with the discourses happening around the globe as christian discover the Church is far more than a building or a group of likeminded people who are religious.

May the skating be spectacular.


Steam train return South 13 April






Friday 13 April 2007

Steam trains through the Highlands



Going North 12 April
The last two days have seen the steam train go North to Caithness and today(13/4/2007) return on its way south via Inverness.

Prayer for Scotland. Connecting Scotland


12 April 2007
Connecting Scotland is well on its way, having started in Shetland earlier this week in its praying for Scotland campaign.
With 5 rallies under their belt the team need endurance to complete this prayer drive, walk, and move through Scotland to the final rally on the 27 May in Edinburgh.
Connecting Scotland have a really clear vision which is being translated on the ground and will hopefully unite christians throughout Scotland.
Last night the Lairg rally saw people from truely all walks of life and church experience pray, praise and listen to pastor Bert expound :
On John 17 Love one another ...a mesage to the churches in Scotland.
He highlighted
The Church needs to be different.
A need to make every effort with ones brothers in the church.
Call not to waste time.
Unity is not automatic.
Unity is not uniformity.
There is and should be diversity in the Body of Christ.
The Church was urged to maturity.
Mindful of the 50 year old vision and prophetic word from a lady regarding UK revival coming from the North of Scotland. We are nearing that time!
A splendid unifying meeting. Praise God.

Thursday 5 April 2007