Pittenweem

Pittenweem was lovely for our recent walk.

Kingsbarns harr

Recent walk in the East Neuk of Fife was spendid with good weather. Clear blue skies were broken ocasionally with harr and a cooling breeze. Solo poppy grows in the beach grasses.

Old Gallows Road

Old gallows road last week.

Ben Fogle Landrover

I enjoyed the Land Rover book by Ben Fogle.  It was a generally good insight into the world of this mysterious vehicle. As a Land Rover owner he was able to show the benefits and the challenges that it has brought over the years.

What to me, is amazing, is that Landrover today do not want to make a utility vehicle which I believe there is a demand for , but concentrate on selling high end vehicles from the high net worth customer.  

Sunday ...Rest... I said rest.

Rest
A recent sermon at church highlighted the need for us to observe the rest day.
Now different faiths and religions use different days Fridays Saturdays or Sundays but they all recognise the need for rest. There are many things could be done on the rest day reflect observe discuss all activities that we miss during the working week where we plan, account and act.

I recall the story of the Chinese wall builders where the team that worked 7 days with no rest did not perform as good as the group that worked 6 days and rested on the seventh.

There is a need for work and there is a need for rest.
May this day for you be a rest day.

Contemplate

What observations have I made about the last week?
Reflect on Gods goodness to you?
Discuss with someone the requirement to rest.

In next week where must I plan,act and be accountable.



You might like to read the book The Passionate Church by Breen and Kallestad.
There is a good section at the beginning about rest.

Practical worship on U tube

I came across this site some months ago and while I might not agree with everything I found the approach stable and re freshing.

Practical worship 

Old Gallows Charlie...Battle of Tibbermore

Charlie, The one winged crow who has been around the Old Gallows Road, Perth for at lease 6 years.

Old Gallows Road before the tree trimming 2018. 

This road is the remains of the old Roman Road going south. It carries on out of Perth towards Crieff and passes close to the battle field of Tibbermore.  The details of the battle are here on Wikipedia.

Cap money

 The Money charity details a few posts back has highlighted things that most people do not know about. It is seldom mentioned in the news. This charity has been providing statistics and courses for many years. Give the website a visit. Link at the side of the blog for the hyperlink.

 So Also has CAP money the slightly newer Charity focusing on debt issues and helping people out of poverty.

Here is a link to Cap money

Feed the Alpacas at Southton

Last night I had a good walk which, for part of it, was feeding the Alpacas at Southton. They appreciated the carrots. ( Dont tell)

Blue skies last weekend, Fake tour on 19 May and Praise night in June 2018

Last Saturday, 19 May 2018 ( Wedding day) South Inch, Perth Looking towards St Leonards in the fields.

On 22^nd August 1860 4,000 people gathered to hear a message addressed by all Churches on the Inshes on the south side of Perth. Earlier that year in Buckie (12 Feb, 1860) 1,500 which is the half the population, attended the Free Church to hear James Turner. Some of the congregation went prostrate, there was an uproar and Turner abandoned the meeting. They adjourned to the United Presbyterian Church to continue. 

During one of these meetings two ministers came to investigate the work, they became very interested in the state of a young girl with regard to her posture and voice. Whilst bent down close to her, one of the ministers in acknowledgement to the other minister said “Sir, I must confess this is the work of God”. There are many stories like these of God moving people, including the very young, but somehow unless you are in a particular Church circle, one does not hear of those happenings, or of any today.

Tented area on the South Inch for Fake bands concerts in South Inch. 19 May 2018



Praise night in Perth Concert hall 16 June 2018

Worship just Psalms ?

A few years ago in Scotland some Presbyterian denominations had a challenge about Worship music. The feeling of using new worship songs or old worship songs instead of purely the Psalms becoming a bit of a struggle.

Also there was the wishes of some to use musical instrument to accompany the worship. By the way I am not knocking Presbyterians stay with me.

Background

Opposition to Hymns and instruments is not restricted to one arm of the Presbyterian Church. But James Begg was a promoter of the use of Psalms and no instruments. Robert Murray McCheyne was a Hymn writer who found it difficult to leave the establish Church but did so to support the Free Church ethos.

In 1866 the Free Church voted 3 to 2 for the use of hymns. In 1869 Begg was unsuccessful in curtailing Hymns. In 1872 the Church accepted the “New Hymn book“ 213 votes to 61. In 1877 Prof Bruce wished to have their “Own Free Hymn Book” with Begg supporting a defence of no change position.

Then in 1892 the assembly with drew permission to use instruments for worship and uninspired Hymns in public worship.

The Free Church of Scotland is know for its “Psalm only” singing in Scottish Churches.

In recent years individual Free Churches of Scotland have had the liberty at session level to decide if the local Church would sing only Psalm or include Hymns and spiritual songs. There are about dozen who now incorporate more than psalms in their worship. John MacDonald (The Apostle of the North) 1779-1849 Ferrintosh, was a Gaelic spiritual verse writer. Interesting to have an hymn writer in a Psalm singing denomination.

So in recent years when one church was unable to command a final order on worship in its church it asked its local churches to decide for themselves whither to use other songs, and instruments.

I found that really interesting that a good Congregational/Baptist principle was used to aid the Presbyterian churches outcome. Let the local church decide.

Worship on Sunday...

You know I have been involved in Worship music for over 40 years and yesterday I was blessed to see the new beginnings of what could be great worship in the future at the Church I am connected to. Now let me say I have been and played in Presbyterian churches, played and or led in Methodist type Churches and Also Baptist Churches on both sides of the border and I again was reassured that the worship music can be delivered and have an impact on the Church service. Don't get me wrong the preaching was excellent.

Here is what I think makes the difference to worship music (unaccompanied or not)

• Focus on God - the receiver of the praise
• Individual commitment to make it work and to focus on the God of worship
• A praying community of worship players
• A congregation accepting the direction of worship

It helps if you 

Are in tune instrument wise and spiritually
Arrive on time for set up
Have the appropriate music in the key to be delivered if you can not memorise the music you are playing
Listen to fellow musician and go with the dynamics that are happening from the lead

Be able to adjust to any changes directed from the lead.

Smetimes there is no difference in preparation but the worship just excels, yesterday was one of these days. I am sure God was honoured in our time of praise. Are you looking forward to the next time?