Rest continued.. from Last week.

If you read Mark 6 30-32 There is a sense in the coming and going that Jesus was making rest a priority.

If you read Mark 2 13 He ( Jesus) is alone at the lake side before ...teaching
Mark 3;7 Jesus withdraws... with his disciples
Mark 4 35 ..leaves the crowd by getting into a boat
Mark 5 ; 21 crosses the lake to get to the other side ( for rest?)
and in 6 45,46 sends his disciples ahead dismisses the crowd and goes up the mountain to pray

Have a read and see where the peace is. have a good Sunday rest.

Sunday again.

Lionel Ritchie here in Perth today Sunday 3 June 2018.

Battle of Tibbermuir

3 minute clip about the battle. (sound improved)

Please subscribe to the u tube channel after you have watched the video.

Ansthruther trip continues

 

We made it to Anstruther on a glorious day to the birth place

 of Thomas Chalmers.

 

 We made it to the fish and chip shop- several times winner of the best in Scotland etc.

I was reminded of many years ago being involved in mission in Anstuther with the Church of Scotland. The local Baptist church helped. Here is a picture of their building. Near the sea.

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?

Come on you can do better than that.

Can you please go to the previous post and answer the question?

Fresh line of thought

The recent conversation I had with a friend was exciting. Although not in Scotland he has a good measure of the state of play in the Church.

We were left with a question which I hope you can respond to in the comments below and also share with your friends.

What is the gospel? ( as you see it)

Lets see if we can get a varied and thought provoking answer?

Wedding

Great day for a wedding.

Highland Church Part five

Despite the challenges of the North and the Presbyterian culture, there can be new pockets of witness, like Dingwall, where I had a vision for a church way back in 1982,- but the work does need commitment. 

The roving activities of someone building relations is important in addressing the Baptist cause. A lack of relationship will surely reduce any possibility of growth. If we are there at the start of the new work in Fortrose then we have an opportunity to help it grow and add value! Strategically there is lots to consider in the Highlands if looking at a Baptist increase in Witness. 

Firstly What is there to be done where might the focus be? Monthly mass worship in different areas? A quasi church that accommodates some who are members of other churches. An electronic fellowship to link those with distance difficulties. What skills are required. Who are key people with a vision and contacts. What sort of budget is required to move forward. Who will fund such a plan. Who has the commitment for year on year work.

 There is a real difference in church life between the Highlands and the Central belt.

Few appreciate the differences and culture that still exists in the Highlands. Nevertheless. the Baptist witness still has an opportunity to captivate people who are not so drawn to a Presbyterian church form. Concluding thought In a wide spread area it is difficult to pull relationships to have a sense of community in church life. There is a difference between a few Christians getting together regularly and a group wishing to constitute as a church.

A Baptist witness in the Highlands needs to have a clear strategy taking into consideration the Highland culture and investing resources in a long term work with mini “splashes“ as a way of promoting both the Kingdom and Baptist Union. Work may not simply rise up from one corner, and therefore the personnel all need to be flexible in “co-coordinating” work rather than “pinned” to a specific geographical area. I have observed that North folks like to see continuity of personnel and a 7 year plan headed by a “known” person will have a good kick start effect on the work. In my time rubbing shoulders with various Free churches in the Highlands there are many active people with a measure of Baptist conviction but found in their parents Church which is not Baptist. What is needed is a concerted group effort assisted and supported by neighbouring Baptist Churches to address the only alternative to Presbyterianism in the Highlands. Churches be they small, who have recently be created tend to affiliate or take pastor leading from those who they know. 

A Baptist increase presence in the Highlands could encourage groups to grow and in turn constitute to a Baptist fellowship. I sense if we are not there at the beginning we will never be able to help. Finally I would encourage any strategic plan to be most of all encouraging groups to “listen to God” All leaflets and correspondence need to be measured against this observation. Baptists have taken 250 years to conclude their theology,new churches are only on the road to discovery. However right from the start Baptist understanding should be incorporated and I am sure that this “fresh to the hearers” approach will strike a warm cord. A feedback session from Church representatives from neighbouring Baptist churches would be a good starting point to formulate a strategy, a plan, and the implementing of a blessed work.

 May God add to our numbers and maturity as we seek his face.