Edinburgh International Book Festival 11 -27 August

Edinburgh International Book Festival

The prayers of Kirkegaard

The prayers of Kierkegaard Can be sought from the University of Chicago Press. A touching book. You have to get used to the English translation which is like king James version. The Prayers still speak.


For a comprehensive read about Kirkegaard there are:

The Kirkegaard reader edited by Jane Chamberlain and Johnathan Ree.

and
Soren Kirkegaard a Biography by  Joakim Garff

Kirkegaard ... books on.

Works of love by Soren Kierkegaard is a challenging in its outlook to living. In it you can see claearly his faith in God and the response to that Love shown to him.

This is a practical ( as can be by Kirkegaard) book on how to live from the most profound thinker of the 20th century. Possible summer read?

Kierkegaard , Soren

Soren Aaby Kierkegaard was born in Copenhagen in 1813, he, the youngest of seven children. He died in November 1855. In the early twentieth century his work enjoyed increase acclaim and he has done much to inspire both modern Protestant Theology and existentialism.
I have a few books on my shelves about him or his work. 
The Humour of Kierkegaard is not the best place to start researching Kierkegaard but it is a good book and fun in a heavy sense.
For a more beginner book try.







 

Questionnaire Still going thanks. Pass it on to those living in the Highlands.

I am reminding you all to fill in the questionnaire.
Please like share subscribe etc. ask your contacts to help as well.

Liink at top right of the blog page
Thank you

Strawbs and cream....

What can we learn from breaking Glas!

So from the post a few days ago What can we learn from John Glas?

In his endeavours to find God in the Bible he reviews all his thinking and that of his peers and denomination. As he seeks to find "truth the real truth he encounters a different opinion. There is nothing wrong with a difference of opinion is there? Some like the colour Purple some like Red others Green! In the search for a Colour one can come across a new shade.

So John Glas, prayerfully checks his understanding of what he is reading and what he sees and hears around. his look in  the book of Acts brings him to see that he and the Church are missing out in aspects and work that should be done.  Many new revivals/awakening have come from earnest prayer and seeking to find the truth or re find truth. for every person there could be a separate interpretation

 Take a town or city there could be several Churches in the place each with a different outlook , each being taught a different way or Gods leading being different. It doesn't make it wrong it means God is more powerful and in control to "allow" this to operate.

As Glas found inconsistencies with the Church of Scotland and what he found in the New Testament, he led a church movement that would be governed by the simple order in the New Testament rather than by human councils and synods. His deep research concluded that the Kingdom of Christ is Spiritual! The introduction of a feast, simple meal (broth and bread),the Kiss and feet washing. His "influence" on rediscovery has made an impact in many denominations and churches such as

Scotch Baptist, Church of Christs, Brethern, Community church, Scottish Baptists, Old Scots independents, Haldaneites, Disciples, Walkerites,and Inghamites...

 Can we sum up

• Prayerfully look to an understanding
• Take recognition of others opinions but strife to find the right understanding
• Revisit book of Acts and ask what is working in todays Church?
• Take care when "control"  takes over and stumbles others
• Do we need to instigate more basic feasts in our church as a sign of care and community?
• The Kingdom of Christ is spiritual!

 Note

 Clyde Reid, in his law of religious evasion, states:

 "we structure our churches and maintain them, so as to shield us from God, and to protect us from genuine religious experience".

 he continues...

" Adult members of Churches today, rarely raise serious religious questions for fear of revealing their doubts, or being thought of as strange."

First 90 days

First 90 days

The updated and expanded, The first 90 days,- proven strategies for getting up to Speed Faster and Smarter: by      Michael D. Watkins

Harvard Business review press support the best seller" The first 90 days". As one would expect its the way to operate in the first 90 days of taking up your new post as ...CEO COO or leader of an organisation, community or company. So it is relevant to the Church as it is a community and there are a lot of gems in this book that would help someone with "accelerated learning".

It includes :
preparing oneself
Accelerate your learning
Matching strategy to situation
Early wins
Build team
Alliances
Managing self
Accelerating everyone.


Best seller  The first 90 days : Micheal D Watkins

 

Glasite John Glas shatters the thinking of the time!!

  John Glas 

Glas "son of the manse" (1696-1773) of Auchtermucty 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. Educated at Perth Grammar School, he graduated from the University of St Andrews in 1713. Glas married Catharine Black, the eldest daughter of a Perth minister in 1721.

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 anew 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".

In Perth while the Balchristies (see previous posts) met in 28 South Methven Street under David Bower The Glasite meeting were held firstly in 267 High Street and 232 High Street (1733)(Glas had moved to Perth. The church members were under attack with mud throwing as they went to church) and by 1839 to 1929 in The building at 251 High Street (now a dance hall, below). Interestingly the building appears in a map of 1823 so it must have had a different use prior to 1839. 

 By Kim Traynor - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link

 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.

These services would take no account of the Christian calender

Robert Sandeman (1718-1771) who's family business based in Perth was bleachers of fabrics, 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 also 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 Balchristie mid point to their parishes to discuss the content. “Like the Secession and Relief Churches this denomination had its origin in Fife. The founders James Smith of Newburn and Robert Ferrier of Largo,were neighbouring ministers of the Church of Scotland, who, on adopting views very similar to those of Glas, resigned from their membership of the National Church in 1768. They organised a congregation at Balchristie (see previous posts) in Newburn Parish, on Independent lines, they themselves being appointed the joint pastors, and deacons being appointed for the administrative work. 

Balchristies this blog

Balchristies and Glas

John Glas 

New Glas archives 

Sandermanianism

Please help me !!!

Hi I am still looking for people in the Highlands of Scotland to fill in my short Questionnaire. Please do so and ask a few others to help.
The Link is on the right at the top.

Building Financial Management Capacity

Building Financial Management Capacity

John Cammack

Before we start the pictures are just a decoy.

I read this book just before Christmas and found it a good text book for charities NGO's and the like.  

It covers presentation of financial statements, planning budgets, and all the things that non financial folks would benefit from reading. Even pastors and church leaders would benefit from it as well as Financial Controllers, Heads of Finance and Financial Managers. At the end of the book there are some "tool kits". Very practical book and on the button in terms of areas where most faith based organisations and charities need support.

Why so many different Baptists?

Baptists Variance

The following is a little, general. There will be differences but for the most it holds good. In different countries where the viewers are there will be differences. I am not promoting Baptist theology but informing readers who might be interested. I would far rather be in dialogue about Kingdom stuff! So... add a comment.

Ana-Baptist

Originally the name given to a German "sect" which rose in 1521. They taught Adult/Believers Baptism as opposed to infant baptism. The term was used later for various sects with a similar view.

Closed Baptists

Branch of the Baptist Church which is exclusive in outlook and doubtful of inter-Church communication.

General Baptists

Branch of the Baptist Church which is Arminian in theology, general as distinct to "closed". Most English Churches are of this type.

Open Baptists

Generally "open" in reference to the communion table i.e. open to believers, as opposed to closed to non-members (Particular).

Particular Baptists

Branch of Church which is closed in membership and closed for communion i.e. the table is for members only.

Reformed Baptist

A branch of the Church which is strong on Calvinistic theology and reluctant to have inter-Church dialogue.

Seventh Day Baptists

Members of a sect founded by John James, who was executed in 1661. His preaching was strong on the second coming of Christ.

“Scotch" Baptists

Founded by McLean and Carmichael with a Glassite influence. Calvinistic with plural "Elders." None left in Scotland however a few similar Churches are found in Wales.

Scottish Baptists

Majority of Churches in Scotland would claim to be Scottish Baptists, "general" in outlook, "open" in Communion. Although not all are closed, membership tends to be closed I.e. membership for those who have been baptised as believers/adults.

Liddells Plean house continued

Sorry I left you in the dark...Continue

So Andrew Liddell (1789 to 1854) was the Senior partner in Andrew Liddell and Co,Iron works Glasgow and retired at age 44 giving his nephew the business.

He proceeded to pastor a church having purchased a building for the congregation in Brown Street( Glasgow?) to use.

There was a will dated 15 November 1848 and a codicil ( Change to will) dated 26 August 1851 written at Plean House Stirling shire. Some one else has researched the census for 1851 but could not find Liddells at the Plean house for that date. Research as to other properties has not resulted in finding them on census day.
 We assume he had several properties.



The Plean estate was owned by the Earl of Dunmore.
 Robert Haldane (Airthrey Estate) bought it from the Earl.
1799 Robert Haldane sold off the Plean estate to pay off debts (funding divinity students)
1800 Francis Simpson, Clerk, Carron Iron Works owns the estate.
1819 He commissions Plean House on the estate
1831 Trustees -William Asylum own the house and estate with Various tenants till the end of the century 
1901 Plean Colliery co. own the house with Coal master William Thorneycroft in residence
1922 Thorneycroft buys the house from the Coal Company. 

So I am left with Andrew Liddell renting around late 1840's and certainly in 1851 the time of the will alteration.

Currently the Plean house is owned by Stirling Council it sits well fenced with in the (Plean) Country park. An Interesting wee review from a wonder what happened.