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.

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.

Answers in Genesis

Found the website very interesting in defending the faith....

Is this the nature of the new church?

How many give over this perception?

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....

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.

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]

Dive Steve Curtis Chapman video

Watch the google video clip of Steve from some years ago diving in....