Seasons will pass me by ...I get up

Sun beating down has become a regular occurance in Perth with temps  in the good side of 20 for a few weeks. We can get used to this however the rain is required and I heard there was rain further North yesterday. Lovely how we have changing seasons. just when we were getting down with winter the season changed and this year it seemed so quick. planting out and then going to seed due to the heat.

A question, if you had created the seasons would you have had 4 or just two?

Is Academic freedom in jeopardy...?

The most recent Cambridge papers looks at Academic freedom and hints to a    

widespreed perception that academic freedom is under threat. Tom Simpson wites a reflective piece which can be downloaded for reading. In fact you may what to register for future papers that come out quarterly.

The latest Cambridge paper  

Another plea....

Hi This is another plea to engage in my questionnaire and to ask others who live in the Highlands to complete it. Thank you

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.