Fox on the run!

In this photograph there are three fox cubs and a mother. Can you see them?
Double click should enlarge the picture.

Engaging an alive Christian community

I am encouraged by the conversions, e mails and telephone calls regarding the need for an "alternative worship" for the Highlands.

Already Hi- land P-raise is having an impact on the people of the Highlands.

"Alternative praise" is a better phrase, actually, as worship you do all the time (or don't) praise is the focal point accompanied or not, corporate or not.


I want to see regular praise in a community no matter the size of that community. I also think I want to start collecting names of those interested in supporting and taking part. One does not need to be a musician for that!


If you have n't spoken to be in the last week and you are interested and you live between ....anywhere North of Inverness be in touch.

Thank you
b

Be creative !

I see from the Exodus 35 30 - 36 7 reading we are called to be creative.

The first person mentioned in the bible as filled....with the Spirit of God is Bezalel ....an artist.

God enabled him to make the place of worship a vibrant, attractive celebration of creativity. Bezalel is appointed to teach others so that more creations can be created amongst his people including everyone who is willing to take part.

When new things are happening and many are taking to be personally involved, it creates a surge of enthusiasm and commitment.
look here ! it is expressed in an offering that most churches treasurers could only dream of:

Its so big that the people are asked to stop giving.
The generosity is from freewill. Out of the joy at what God is doing.

Lord Thank you for the skills I have help me to be creative to create things for your glory.
In an area that does not encourage creative things be it art thinking or building help me to work and to help the worship and mission of the church and in the community!


More prayers at Visionbyprayer

Morning rise 6.33 a m Thursday

Rogart today .... need I say more

A9 Rosskeen

Another Presbyertian church on the A9












Rosskeen the land of the "men" of Easter Ross and East Sutherland. What do you know of these men?

Colours at that the garden gate

How not to take a photograph!















With your shadow in the picture tut! tut!

Dingwall and Strathpeffer Free Church of Scotland

The building of the Free Church of Scotland Dingwall is a fine building sitting proudly at the end of the High Street across from the railway station. I am convinced that Dingwall, geographically, has a strategic importance to the Highland church of the future. Interestingly the Theological College moved to Dingwall from Elgin some years ago.

Sandeman Letters Theron and Aspasio

Some one looking for the text of Sandeman's letters to Harvey in Northampton 1755 ish.
Can any one help?


PDF from makidon


Some quotes here.
Not available - Amazon

Harvey

Glassite

What a relief...

Relief Church

Despite the first secession of 1733 from the Church of Scotland a short time after the passing of the Act of Patronage, the further split created the Presbytery of Relief. The founding members being Thomas Boston(2), Thomas Collier and Thomas Gillespie ministers of charges at Oxnam, Ravenstondale and Carnock. The basis of the split was regarding admitting ministers to charges that they were called.

More specifically;

Boston felt led to Jedburgh so much so in the congregation they also agreed to build a church to accommodate his ministry after the split.
Collier wished to take up the ministry at Colinsburgh from Ravenstondale.
Gillespie unable to settle Andrew Richardson in the church at Inverkeithing contrary to the will of the congregation and against his own vow taken at his induction at Carnock fife.
Thomas Gillespie (1708-1774) was a man of weak constitution in life and also of a shy disposition. He went to Carnock after training at the Protestant Dissenting Academy in Northampton. (Could not find a suitable college in Scotland.)
It doesn't appear that the formation of the relief presbytery had any influence in the progression of the two arms of the secession church. Having no theological college, most going to the established churches' halls of education, may well have had some bearing, so also could the churches stance on a more open table at communion and its alignment with baptists and independents with their view on universal redemption. The church of the Relief soon had over 100 churches. The first Moderator being Thomas Boston in 7/12/1761.
In 1847 the Relief Church joined with the two “New Light” bodies from the burgh and anti-burgh churches to form the United Presbyterian Church. This was a sign that many were prepared to reconsider the nature of the church in light of the New Testament first and college Calvinism second. At this time there was a new awakening regarding foreign mission.

Secede or succeed?

Seceeders

Most historians look at the republication of "The Marrow of Modern Divinity" as a trigger for the splits in the 18th century. The marrow was originally written around 1644 by Edward Fisher. With each republication excitement grew, in particular in the Church of Scotland, Synod of Fife. James Hog of Carnock was "highly pleased" with its contents. Of course there was also opposition. Principal Haddow of St Andrews being but one, who responded with "The record of God, and duty of faith therein required" (1719). By 1720 a committee was set up to report on the Marrow. Extracts from the Marrow were highlighted by the committee:

A believer is not under the law (but delivered from it)
A believer does not commit sin.
The Lord can not see sin in a believer
The lord is not angry with a believer who sins
The lord does not Chasten a believer for his sin.
A believer hath no cause to either confess his sins or to crave pardon at the hand of God for them...
These and others were put beside the scriptures and the articles of the confession of faith and the catechisms, so that matters could be considered. An act was passed "all ministers of the church were strictly prohibited from writing printing or preaching in favour "The Marrow".

The "marrow -men" as they were called were agitated by this stance and steps were taken to have the act repealed.
In Edinburgh William Wardrop met with Ebenezer Erskine and his brother Ralph Erskine, James Wardlaw, William Wilson (Perth), and Thomas Boston(1) to name a few. At the 1721 assembly, a defence was made of the marrow by twelve ministers led by Ebenezer Erskine. This "Evangelical " Minister made a defence of the situation, highlighted a need for the right of a congregation to choose its own minister.
His case which was good went back to the claim of the medieval church for independence in spiritual matters.

After some time and several meetings including Erskine being called to the Bar of the Assembly to receive a rebuke from the Moderator, he refused to accept this rebuke in silence and produced a written protest which he wished to be added to the Minutes.

Erskine and three other supporting ministers were suspended. The next step was a document claiming succeeding, not from the Church as such, "but the establishment within" who were not following reformed and covenanting principles! To this end the Associated Presbytery was born.

The Assembly had not anticipated this split and in the days that followed tried to have the suspended ministers back within its authority - but to no avail.

The Original Secession 1733 saw responsibility for prayer and upkeep of Church and minister, however saw no responsibility for surrounding area. -except to gather adherents. These churches grew out of "praying societies".

Barrier Act 1697
Passed to "Constructively insure against hasty action by extremists... that any innovations should be sent down to presbyteries and only enacted with their assent had been secured."

Clan Gathering 2006 St Andrews

Anybody had feedback from Clan Gathering in St Andrews or New Wine down south?

Spiritual Formation Bible

In this major new Bible, the foremost names in Christian spirituality and biblical scholarship, including RICHARD FOSTER, EUGENE PETERSON, DALLAS WILLARD and WALTER BRUEGGEMANN, have combined to produce a unique Bible that rediscovers Scripture as living text.
The book includes:
* The full text of the NRSV Bible
* Introductions and notes for each book of the Bible
* Spiritual exercises incorporated throughout the text

Example Leviticus 5 v 5
Note at bottom of page

Responding
5.5 Confession

In 1-4 the Israelites were commanded to confess their sins when they were guilty of refusing to testify when they could have, touching unclean things, touching an uclean human or uttering a rash oath even if they were unaware of doing wrong.

Recall a time when you did something and only later became aware that it was wrong. Take a momment now to confess it to God. See also Spiritual Disciplines Index

* Profiles of key biblical characters
* 15 essays on living `The With-God Life`
* Spiritual Disciplines Index - a glossary and complete Bible references for all the spiritual disciplines.

HODDER & STOUGHTON, ISBN 0340909013 Price: £29.99

Can be bought from

Scottish Bible Society


I have mine -most pleased.



Look at pages dip in for your self....Here you are

Glas some say Glass

!"Never heard of Glas"


John Glas (1696-1773) of Auchtermuchty was a person who sought the scriptures and at the time concluded that Christ's kingdom is one that is completely spiritual, and therefore as such should be independent of both state control or support. He was a minister from the age of 24 and was the fifth son of the manse. Although he did not want to leave the Church of Scotland he took up a new cause from the parish at Tealing near Dundee and started a new church known as the Glasite Church. Churches sprung up in Dundee, Perth and with the textile industry flourishing at the time further churches were set up in Paisley and Dunkeld. They as a Church were never large in number but their influence was great both national and international by the strong promoter John Glas's son in law Robert Sandeman.
The church was known for its "foot washing" and "holy kissing" and for its love feasts or communion celebrations that resembled banquets. The local name for the church was the "Kail Kirk". This communion was only administered by elders. As a Church they preferred "unlearned preachers".
Sandemanianism
The basis of the Sandemanian Church lies with John Glas the minister of the Church of Scotland devoted to the Church but because of differing opinions at the time forced to leave and set up a church based on his new found principles.
Robert Sandeman who's family business based in Perth was bleachers of fabrics, (1718-1771) took up the leadership of the movement in the 1750s. He had business contacts in London which gave him the opportunities to write and speak in England. He married John Glas' Daughter Catherine.
The result was the son in law of Glas became the strongest and most wide spread promoter of Glas theology. The most famous Glasite from the past is Michael Faraday. The Sandemanian church through its elders demanded total obedience to their decisions from any or all of their congregation. This in the long term caused several splits and was the downfall of the Scotch Baptist Church who followed some of the principles.
The Sandemanian service was one of love and hope with singing of hymns yet unaccompanied at each meeting a roll call was taken and as well as the prayers and study of the word the preaching was taken by the elders. These services would take no account of the Christian calender in respect to Lent, Easter and Christmas.

Old Scots Independents
John Smith, Newburn and Robert Ferrier, Largo having read the papers of Sandeman meet at Balchrstie mid point to their parishes to discuss the content. David Dale did likewise and set up a chapel of ease which in 1769 became an independent church with dale as one of the elders. Both these connections became known as Old Scots Independents- small, and sharing Glasite ideas of Church life and practice.

Touring photos

Bethnal Green East London this week.

Just back from the city and missed the trouble with the delayed flights due to heightened security alerts.
It would be easy to think of life purely in the Highland state ! As I walked along Bethnal Green this week, I was trying to consider how does the Church meet the varied culture of Bethnal Green?

It has an history of Christian witness over many years to an area recognised as having needs.

Where does one start to gossip the gospel to several societies in the one location?

3

3 How should a church call its workers?

from within?
or from where the skills gifts are found?

(workers being more than the minister etc.)


Emergent Church

2

2 Is the Scottish Baptist principle of consensus in the business meeting a drop out for poor leadership?



Emergent church

The emergent and associated church

No this is not a new church it relates to previous blog messages, which need to be broken down.

Emergent church

This blog I think splits in to Three question for further discussion.

1- What has the "emerging Church got for Highland Scotland." (bearing in mind definitions might vary. )

and ....

Story ...continues

Richard Cameron was born in Falkland, Fife. After a formal education Cameron took up the post as School Master at his birth village. He moved to the borders for a change in church life as he was having difficulty in speaking out against the system. He was taking on a covenanting conviction and at that time the borders were more sympathetic. John Welch of Irongay got to know Cameron and impressed upon him that he should take up the licence to preach. Despite Cameron's concerns as to becoming a root of bitterness in the camp he was indeed licensed. He never lacked for a crowd to which to preach, and his best sermons were open air communions, the first of which was at Maybole, Ayrshire. He became troubled with the difficulty in what, he wished to preach, and what was acceptable and for a time, moved to Holland.
In Holland the Scots Kirk would have been a little haven for him. As he preached to the folk gathered there, giving him recognition and to this end McWard gave him an additional charge of sorting out the decline in the standard of gospel presentation in Scotland.
After Donald Cargill wrote the Queensferry paper, a new covenant based and similar to the Rutherglen declaration Cameron compiled the Sanquhar declaration. While his father was in jail in Fife for a godly cause Cameron found himself at loggerheads with the King's army. 21st June 1769 was the Battle of Bothwell Bridge and in June 1680 he prophesied that actions to follow would shake the throne of Britain. Eight years later as he stood fearless in battle, it was fulfilled. He stood for a Godly nation, Protestant and Presbyterian. At Ayrsmoss on the bleak moors Cameron and his followers stood against the King's army as predicted 8 years earlier.
After the Battle the Armed Forces took his severed hands and head to Edinburgh. An observer in Edinburgh noted "these are the hands and head of one that lived praying and preaching and died praying and fighting." Cameron had renewed the determination for those in the struggle of open faith.

Emergent stuff

"under the Mound so to speak..."

Man made meets creation with out a medium.

All this emergent stuff is good for the old brain. Now then did you know that the old Struie Road that joins the A9 at Alness used to emerge at the castle, top of Tullich Street Dingwall.

Emergent or not what are the signs of a passionate church?


And In the Book the Passionate Church There is a comment about " poles" (see previously).


Extroverts and introvert?

But the poles are not this but Pioneers and Settlers.


Pioneers - apostles, prophets and evangelists

Settlers - pastors and teachers

Who relates to this then ?

Lettie update 3

N0 update for this at present.

The emerging church

Thanks for all the viewings and comments.

I will try and keep replying as soon as possible.

The story... continues

Counter Reformation

During the middle of the 16 Century the church based in Rome sought to reunite the church. Pope Paul III continued to use of the Inquisition. It had been successful in closing Italian protestant growth.
With the Catholic counter reformation started the zeal for revival missionary work was taking a fresh hold and in particular in Spain. From the council of Trent Roman reforms were starting but not as fast or as much as the church on the ground wanted. With the Pope endorsing public interpretation of scripture, bishops preaching, and teaching taking place in parishes these were good signs of an establishing revolution by the new pope Paul IV. Dominicans and Franciscans eagerly shaped the work. But in Scotland by 1557 the first covenants (bonds) were signed by several earls and lords which declared their intention to overthrow the Roman Church.

One person who shaped Scottish Presbyterianism more than John Knox was Andrew Melville (1545-1622). After study at St Andrew's and Geneva Melville returned to Scotland in 1574 on the request of the bishop of Glasgow. As a “Charismatic” teacher who made Glasgow a city of learning , he also influenced the seats of learning in Aberdeen and Edinburgh. He for a time lectured in Oxford and Cambridge (1584) whilst he had fled from king James VI's Earl of Arran who wanted to imprison him. Melville was rector of St Andrew's between 1590-1597.

Renovare August news is available at the website.

Renovare newsletter.

Diamond or square

Is this a diamond window or am I just looking at things the wrong way. whats your perspective.

The person who saw from the side an half eaten apple ask two people what they saw.
One said an eaten apple.
The other said a whole apple.
?

History of Stirling Baptist Church

H, sent me a copy of the "Standing on the Rock"

A History of Stirling Baptist Church 1805 2005. This book is by Brian R Tolbot. Unfortunately I am unaware of any outlets stocking it for resale.

Having not completed it yet, I reserve judgment but what I have skimmed looks great and informative.

I am grateful to the increse in traffic to this blog. keep coming back for more related stuff.

Embo last weekend

Another lovely garden, this time in Embo.

Gone fishing... Helmsdale

I will make you fishers of men, fishers of men fishers of Men...so the chorus goes.

Lovely lobster creels at Helmsdale.

Now then how do we fish for men?

Is it to their intellect, is it to show their strength/weakness. Is to show a leader worth following. Do we appeal to something.

"I will make you fishers of men" said Jesus. What was that method and process. Can it be carried out today in this culture. Is the same basis still there?

Is there anyone still fishing?
How do you fish?
What bait are you using?
Which fish do you like to fish?
Have you caught anything lately?

The Church emerging re-forming

Church emergent

emerging church


For the lazy.....

Christianity today article with lots of side pages and info

Oh, and not necessarily my views.

Lairg in the sun..Emergent church

Lairg in the sun ...


The future of the church including in Scotland will be heavily influenced by the "emergent church", whose growth is substantial in America.

It would be good if viewers could check out the writing of Richard Foster and Dallas Willard who are indirectly quoted as linked to this emergent church. It is no doubt because they hope for a community that is God centered and not overly religious for the sake of being religious.

Mark your diary today for looking back in the future the emergent church is on its way. Are you tempted to find out with a google search?

Rosskeen Free Church Ross shire

What a lovely building on the A9 in Ross shire. Every time I pass it I admire it. This was taken on the move through the car windscreen!

Rosskeen parish has a deep heritage of Christian witness over the years.