Challenges
CARD!
C- culture
A - age differential
R -resources
D -distance
Solutions?
Monday 17 April 2006
Hi-land P-raise ...about
Vision
A Highland community engaged in worship and praise and the Church developing into maturity.
Mission
To act as a revival catalyst to the Church in developing worship and praise in an appropriate way relative to the Highlands.
January 2006
Saturday 15 April 2006
In the valley
Ullapool, Ross shire, North Scotland
Yesterday we took a trip to Ullapool for the day. We had good weather between the showers. The magnificent views and mountains are awesome.
The day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday always has that sense of hanging around. We are neither in the grip of the terror of the Friday nor celebrating the resurrection. The time 2000 years ago was spent by God in an alien area of separation. Would that this community would celebrate more fully the Easter Sunday not on the diary date but all the year.
Thursday 13 April 2006
The story .... Part Four
Furthermore, omissions have had to be made to allow this blog to be of a certain size and because your interested bit, is missing, or small, does not relate to the impact it had to the Church in Scotland. This blog is not meant to be a specific academic history book of the Church in Scotland but a walk through the life of the Church to aid a future conclusion. Please forgive the fact that the contents do not completely run chronologically but where possible I have tried to be aware of the time line. Deviations are to link subjects or to try and reduce complications.
Results & lessons
Down through the centuries we see calls for reform in community and church life. In Church history these calls have resulted from:
- Change resulting in malpractice
- Wrong emphasis
- Domineering individuals
- Control freaks!
- Loss of Godly practice
From whatever walk of life you come from ask yourself these questions as you read.
Did the Scottish people learn from this situation?
Would they (The Scottish Church) do it differently if the opportunity came around again?
What are the real conditions for a growing Church?
How will it be manifested in these days?
What can the Church do in its situation to speed the process of a lively community in my area that groans for the full revelation of God and His coming?
Finally, at the moment, I suppose the question then comes round- what can I do to move things forward? To the researcher dig deeper. To the Christian with a heart for revival and a maturing Church I hope you find this of help and are inspired to follow those who dared to reach out with religion. If you do take the next step - then do something!
As I pen this in the Highlands of Scotland and remember Katherine Stewart penning “The Croft in the Hill” all those years ago, it would be wonderful if the Church in Scotland was revitalised starting here!
Tuesday 11 April 2006
New book: The Conspiracy of Silence
New book:- The Conspiracy of Silence...Here is the possible cover for my next book on the Church in Scotland. If you are interested in a copy, please be in touch. The publishing date is somewhere out in the future. In the meantime let us debate the situation of the Church life in the Scottish community.
Monday 10 April 2006
Bird flu, wood cuttings, and news of today .....
Bird Flu and Wood cutting
Nothing like an hour or so cutting wood to get the right perspective in life. There is something about the petrol exhausts and the constant burr of noise to dull the senses. I am reminded of a rock concert. There is wood cut for another few weeks. The shavings for the chickens. We are outwith the inclusion zone of Fife by a long way.
It's warmer today. We have had a lot of rain these last 10 days.
Sunday travel by ferry-Leverburgh news
So its back again to haunt the newspapers and media.
I hope that the Christian witness is higher on the agenda than a Christian Standard.
I hope that the Christian witness is higher on the agenda than a Christian Standard.
Monday 3 April 2006
The story....Part three
The requirements for a developing church will be seen as you read on but in the meantime let me tell you what to expect from the pages before you go deeper. A look at the Church and its parts that have had an impact in Scotland. One thing is true the Church will only grow if God blesses it. A whistle stop tour of some denominations to ascertain a little understanding of why they were the way they were and are what they are and what might happen. A glimpse of what might be? And a note of certain conditions that might speed the work of the Church in Scotland in an age where the relevance seems to have been kicked out of touch!
If I prompt you to read further, debate, and If I inspire you to do something more concrete then, great. However these snapshots of histories and comments are to help you affirm your understanding and if you are new to Church life, provide a document that might serve to cover some of the questions about where the church is and where it is or might go in the future. I cannot take any responsibility for errors, and any offence that one individual or corporate group might have from reading this book, is not my intention.
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Saturday 1 April 2006
The story....Part two
What to expect
I have seen many Independent constitutions over the years and one thing that sticks out is the wording in these constitutions tells us of the fears of the founders and how they would write into the founding documents a safeguard for the organisation or more strongly a case for allowing or more specifically not allowing certain things to take place with in the constituted organisation.
One thing about history is clear, soon after any research one can discover that many people were fervent for a cause! Something that is not so clear in human nature these days is that drive for the cause. We are keen to defend the rights of ailing animals, so they will not suffer yet we have other more pressing needs that seem to be deflected or ignored. The Church in the nation and its catalytic place in turning the nation to worship.
I would urge you to look at the Church, and in particular the Church in Scotland and to conclude your findings in the light of my thoughts.
Sir John Sinclair Statistical Account
Don't expect a summary as concise or detailed as Sir John's account from the late 18 century. This record has greatly been of benefit to historians giving a detailed local snapshot of the area and including the church. It would be an enormous task too try and emulate the information collecting and documenting in these days even if the locals were to cooperate with the answers and provide the information.
One thing is true the Church will only grow if God blesses the work, and the people respond to the calling to integrate with the nation's people. The lessons of being set apart from the world is a spiritual walk not a call for us all to become monks.
I have seen many Independent constitutions over the years and one thing that sticks out is the wording in these constitutions tells us of the fears of the founders and how they would write into the founding documents a safeguard for the organisation or more strongly a case for allowing or more specifically not allowing certain things to take place with in the constituted organisation.
One thing about history is clear, soon after any research one can discover that many people were fervent for a cause! Something that is not so clear in human nature these days is that drive for the cause. We are keen to defend the rights of ailing animals, so they will not suffer yet we have other more pressing needs that seem to be deflected or ignored. The Church in the nation and its catalytic place in turning the nation to worship.
I would urge you to look at the Church, and in particular the Church in Scotland and to conclude your findings in the light of my thoughts.
Sir John Sinclair Statistical Account
Don't expect a summary as concise or detailed as Sir John's account from the late 18 century. This record has greatly been of benefit to historians giving a detailed local snapshot of the area and including the church. It would be an enormous task too try and emulate the information collecting and documenting in these days even if the locals were to cooperate with the answers and provide the information.
One thing is true the Church will only grow if God blesses the work, and the people respond to the calling to integrate with the nation's people. The lessons of being set apart from the world is a spiritual walk not a call for us all to become monks.
Renovare
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During June 2005 I attended the Renovare International Conference. Their website is:
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http://www.renovare.org/ And in the UK http://www.renovare.info/index.html
I will try and get these on the links.
The story....Part one
The Church in Scotland
If you are like me you have come to history not for history's sake and memorising dates and events, but rather digging deep to find out what was the reason for certain events. What was the driver to move people or organisations to move in a certain direction in relation to the Church or indeed their Church? Then a book will help you. Would you like the story concerning Scotland ?
If you are like me you have come to history not for history's sake and memorising dates and events, but rather digging deep to find out what was the reason for certain events. What was the driver to move people or organisations to move in a certain direction in relation to the Church or indeed their Church? Then a book will help you. Would you like the story concerning Scotland ?
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