Just what we really needed
"I was a stranger and you invited me in..." Matthew 25.35 Mother Teresa remarked that the most distressing aspect of poverty is not the lack of basic necessities but loneliness. Not having anywhere to lay your head, or enough nutritious food to eat, or access to clean water and healthcare is bad enough. Worse still is not being precious to somebody else. Tomorrow begins Refugee Week. According to the UNHCR, 79.5 million people in the world today have been forced to flee their
A plastic world?
"Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." John13.17 'The Story of Plastic' is horrifying but necessary. The film charts how this miracle material came out of nowhere to epitomise and dominate the western, consumer lifestyle, which has proved to be the envy of the world - to their and our cost. We are now choking in the stuff. Our rivers and oceans are clogging up with it. Wildlife is getting poisoned, strangled and entwined in it. We kid ourselves
Showers of blessing
"I will make them and the places surrounding my hill a blessing. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing." Ezekiel 34.26 So the G7 Summit begins today and amid the glad-handing and photo opportunities, discussions will be held, commitments made and decisions taken - with far-reaching consequences. How shall we navigate together out of the pandemic? What support will there be for poorer countries? Can we secure ourselves against future outbreaks?
Bring it on
If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Proverbs 24.12 It was hard to stifle a mixture of mirth and sympathy on behalf of the residents of St Ives, Cornwall in their bemusement at the descent of world leaders for the G7 Summit this weekend. I'd like to think, though, that if they ever came to Skye, we'd be ready. Indeed the airstrip is adjacent to our own village! On arrival, the first place I would want them to visit is at
Reasons to be bothered
In 453AD the Council of Calcedon agreed a formula to express how Jesus was both fully human and fully divine. Who cares? Well, the implications are significant. First of all, it confirms that Jesus was not just a good man, or a great teacher. He was God, Creator of the Universe, almighty and eternal. Yet at the same time, in entering creation and being born from the womb of Mary, he went through the formative process that goes into making a human-being just like the rest of u
Coming of age
"... to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up..." Ephesians 4.12 Today is a "red letter day" for at least two reasons: My godson celebrates his 21st birthday - many happy returns, Archie! And the congregation of which I have been Interim Moderator since returning to Skye over 6 years ago celebrates the arrival of a new minister (mu dheireadh thall). Though very different, both occasions have in common that they are rites of passage.
Filled - for a purpose
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1.8 Yesterday was Holy Spirit day on our church Alpha Course. Nothing immediately dramatic happened, though there was a significant degree of emotion expressed in the small groups, as people shared their experiences and prayed for each other. "Come Holy Spirit and fills us afresh with your love and power" w
Come, Holy Spirit...
"The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off..." Acts 2.39 Very excited that today marks the Holy Spirit weekend on our church Alpha Course. The dynamic is different on account of this being a familiarisation exercise for believers - to confirm our faith and acquaint ourselves with Alpha, so we can invite non-believing friends, neighbours, relatives on the next course, which will be evangelistic. Having said all that, we all need to be filled with the
The imposter
"... while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived." 2 Timothy 3.13 Yesterday I completed 'Rory's Alternative MacNab' by ascending Clach Glas in the company of Archie MacCalman, who led the climb. We made our way up B gully, realised our mistake, recovered to A gully at the top of which we traversed along the mountain's rugged face, until we emerged onto the ridge. Turing around, we were confronted by The Imposter, that toblerone-shaped
Coming alongside
"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever..." John 14.16 I have been in enough scrapes to appreciate the benefit of a reliable guide, where possible, and a rescuer, where necessary. But nothing quite like the experience of the lad I heard about yesterday, who was the sole passenger in a light aircraft when the pilot collapsed with a heart-attack and died at the controls. A Mayday message was quickly despatched. Fortu
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