On Wednesday I travelled across our parish under the ground!
I felt like I was on Thunderbirds, travelling through the ground in the Mole, as a member of International Rescue - then I remembered that I was sitting on the train travelling to Glasgow!
I had often heard of the Winchburgh rail tunnel, usually related to some flooding incident. I noticed that the water level in the old clay pit at the North end of the tunnel is higher than the adjacent rail line and tunnel floor. So when the clay pit overflows - the tunnel often gets flooded. Maybe they have a drainage system in place to prevent that now, for I haven't heard of any flooding incidents for a while.
It was a strange feeling, rapidly approaching Winchburgh, the place where I work, sinking down into the ground as we travelled along the cutting, knowing that the tunnel lay up ahead, and soon we would be boring through the ground at high velocity!
We travelled over the Viaduct, and then briefly alongside the canal, before Niddry Castle appeared off to the right, in front of the infamous Red Shale Bings of Old Winchburgh, to quote a song I heard recently!
Then it was into the dark tunnel, underneath the former shale miners cottages, and then under the main road, which was formerly the main A9 road from Edinburgh to Stirling and the North of Scotland.
The tunnel follows the track of the Station Road, down to the disused Winchburgh Station, and the new houses behind it, with the old platforms beside the tracks down in the cutting.
It's a shame that these old village stations are all disused now. We passed another one in Philpstoun just a few miles up the track. There is no time to stop every few minutes along the line. So the train just flies past, hurrying on its way - determined to stick to its schedule.
We were 8 minutes late arriving into Glasgow due to a signalling problem, having only stopped once at Haymarket in Edinburgh, and at Linlithgow, Falkirk, and Croy, before reaching Glasgow.
It seems like a wasted opportunity. The track is sitting there, going through many communities, but not stopping. Surely there would be a good case for a slow train during the off-peak time, that stopped to pick up and set down at all these small places.
Normally a train leaves every 15 minutes. But if the slow train left immediately after a fast train, and the next 15-minute train departure was omitted, then the slow train would have 90 minutes to get to Glasgow, instead of the usual hour.
Of course, it's easier to run all the trains at the same breakneck speed all day. But it's not so efficient. People take their cars, or a taxi, when there are trains running anyway.
South Gyle and Edinburgh Park are two new stations in West Edinburgh that opened in the last few years. Let's get some of the old station platforms out of retirement and back into use again.
We 've been travelling in the dark ages for too long. It's time we brought a breath of fresh air and light into our thinking about transport and made better use of the resources we already have.
The Scottish Government has committed to electrification of Scotland's railways.
Let's make sure that we get all these old stations opened up too, so that we make maximum use of the tracks, instead of seeing them only as transport links between our cities and large towns.
Friday, 30 January 2009
Tuesday, 27 January 2009
Dust & Ashes
It's been a strange day today. I think my supervisor knew I would find it strange, so he let me potter about on my own this morning. It was good to have time to think as well as get some outstanding jobs done.
This afternoon we were at the Crematorium. We've been there before, and at others as well. So it wasn't being at the Crematorium that made it strange.
Perhaps it was because I've been thinking more of my Dad in these past days - it's only a few weeks until the anniversary of his death. But although it was sad when he moved on, it was peaceful too, almost like it was the right time for him. So I don't think that what was making today strange either.
I think it was because today it was me who was saying the phrase, "Ashes to ashes, Dust to dust."
In recent times it has always been my supervisor who has spoken the words of Committal at these events. It didn't take me by surprise. I had known I would be doing that for several days now.
But it has given me pause for thought. Because those words are the trigger for the platform (or Catafalque, as its known in the trade) to lower, taking the coffin, with its semi-precious contents, on its final journey.
I say semi-precious, not due to any lack of respect, but in recognition, that the body in the coffin is no longer as precious as it was when it contained a living person. The person has gone, and the body is now only the empty container.
Yet for those who knew and loved Helen, her body still has value. It is the only physicality that is left. It is all they have, and soon even that will be gone - dust to dust, and ashes to ashes.
And it was me who spoke those words today - heard so often, and always so final.
There was no choice really. If I hadn't said them, my supervisor would have said them. And even if no-one said these words, the process would have continued one way or another. There is no way back - only a journey forwards.
That was the positive message that we spoke of today. That Jesus calls each one of us to go forward with Him. We don't face an unknown journey into the darkness of the grave. Only our body goes there - or if not then burned in the fiery furnace.
The person, who we are, is called onwards, to journey with the Eternal Christ, Jesus the Son of God, who has gone before us, has prepared a place for us, and journeys with us.
He will never leave you, nor forsake you - ever.
This afternoon we were at the Crematorium. We've been there before, and at others as well. So it wasn't being at the Crematorium that made it strange.
Perhaps it was because I've been thinking more of my Dad in these past days - it's only a few weeks until the anniversary of his death. But although it was sad when he moved on, it was peaceful too, almost like it was the right time for him. So I don't think that what was making today strange either.
I think it was because today it was me who was saying the phrase, "Ashes to ashes, Dust to dust."
In recent times it has always been my supervisor who has spoken the words of Committal at these events. It didn't take me by surprise. I had known I would be doing that for several days now.
But it has given me pause for thought. Because those words are the trigger for the platform (or Catafalque, as its known in the trade) to lower, taking the coffin, with its semi-precious contents, on its final journey.
I say semi-precious, not due to any lack of respect, but in recognition, that the body in the coffin is no longer as precious as it was when it contained a living person. The person has gone, and the body is now only the empty container.
Yet for those who knew and loved Helen, her body still has value. It is the only physicality that is left. It is all they have, and soon even that will be gone - dust to dust, and ashes to ashes.
And it was me who spoke those words today - heard so often, and always so final.
There was no choice really. If I hadn't said them, my supervisor would have said them. And even if no-one said these words, the process would have continued one way or another. There is no way back - only a journey forwards.
That was the positive message that we spoke of today. That Jesus calls each one of us to go forward with Him. We don't face an unknown journey into the darkness of the grave. Only our body goes there - or if not then burned in the fiery furnace.
The person, who we are, is called onwards, to journey with the Eternal Christ, Jesus the Son of God, who has gone before us, has prepared a place for us, and journeys with us.
He will never leave you, nor forsake you - ever.
Monday, 26 January 2009
Churches Together
Yesterday evening we enjoyed a very special evening in the life of the Church in Winchburgh. Both the Roman Catholic and Church of Scotland congregations came together for a joint service to mark the beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in 2009.
The people there from both congregations enjoyed worshipping together in different ways from our usual format. We sang new hymns, prayed in new ways, and listened to people who we hadn't heard speaking before. Even the seats were laid out in a new arrangement.
In Isaiah 43:19, the prophet tells us, "God is about to do a new thing; now it springs forth. Do you not perceive it?" (NIV)
It seems to me that here is Scotland there is new life in the body of Jesus Christ, irrespective of which name we call ourselves. Can you see it too?
We are all trying to follow one Lord and Saviour. He calls us to love our neighbours more than we love ourselves.
Thursday, 22 January 2009
Wood Chip Burns
Today I am talking about the exothermic oxidising chemical reaction that we call 'fire' rather than the world-famous Scottish poet whose 250th Birthday we shall be celebrating on Sunday - and the surrounding days.
I was reading an article on the BBC News Site about reducing the carbon emissions associated with heating our homes. Various options are discussed, including improving home insulation, using biomass gas generators, and combined heating and power systems near power stations, and also for large buildings such as hospitals with their own electricity generation capability.
But I was intrigued to see a suggestion that some people are considering using large wood-burning stoves for home heating. When I was at a conference in Gartmore House recently, I noticed that they have switched their heating and hot water system from an oil-fired boiler to a wood-chip furnace (with a 500kW power output!). They receive low-grade logs from the surrounding forestry and have an automated chipper that converts logs into wood-chip and loads it into the furnace wood-chip intake.
There must be many small villages in Scotland that are surrounded by forestry which could adopt this type of system for a community-based central-heating system. A 500kW furnace would easily power a dozen or so houses, perhaps also providing heat for community buildings such as schools, community centres, and even rural churches.
Gartmore were able to justify the cost of conversion by the reduced cost of running the wood-fired system, although they did receive grant-assistance to offset the conversion costs. The Energy Saving Trust were a significant adviser as well as providing funding. And there is a Forestry Commission website promoting wood-fired heating systems.
Such wood-fired systems are probably not very practical for cities and large towns - otherwise I'd be looking into it myself for our own home!
I was reading an article on the BBC News Site about reducing the carbon emissions associated with heating our homes. Various options are discussed, including improving home insulation, using biomass gas generators, and combined heating and power systems near power stations, and also for large buildings such as hospitals with their own electricity generation capability.
But I was intrigued to see a suggestion that some people are considering using large wood-burning stoves for home heating. When I was at a conference in Gartmore House recently, I noticed that they have switched their heating and hot water system from an oil-fired boiler to a wood-chip furnace (with a 500kW power output!). They receive low-grade logs from the surrounding forestry and have an automated chipper that converts logs into wood-chip and loads it into the furnace wood-chip intake.
There must be many small villages in Scotland that are surrounded by forestry which could adopt this type of system for a community-based central-heating system. A 500kW furnace would easily power a dozen or so houses, perhaps also providing heat for community buildings such as schools, community centres, and even rural churches.
Gartmore were able to justify the cost of conversion by the reduced cost of running the wood-fired system, although they did receive grant-assistance to offset the conversion costs. The Energy Saving Trust were a significant adviser as well as providing funding. And there is a Forestry Commission website promoting wood-fired heating systems.
Such wood-fired systems are probably not very practical for cities and large towns - otherwise I'd be looking into it myself for our own home!
Wednesday, 21 January 2009
The First Goudie Lecture
Yesterday I was honoured to attend a lecture at the Museum of Communication at Burntisland in Fife given by Professor Anne Glover, the Chief Scientific Advisor for Scotland, in memory of my late father, Dr. George O. Goudie.
Professor Glover was speaking about "Having Fun Communicating Science" and she delivered a very entertaining talk that showed how scientific activity in Scotland offers exciting opportunities for interesting and productive work in industry, research, and in education.
One of the products which she demonstrated was an artificial hand that both looks and works almost like a real hand. It is invented, designed, and produced, by a Scottish company, Touch Bionics.
Today I read some more about this company and noted that the inventor of Touch Bionics' i-Limb technology is David Gow, who was not only taught by my father at Edinburgh University, but was in the same Engineering class as my wife and I.
Scottish scientists and inventors have a global recognition far higher than our numerical population warrants. Science and Engineering offer exciting and dynamic careers for people of all ages. Don't miss the opportunities to influence the inside of our high technology products as well as using them from the outside.
The Museum of Communication will be promoting several more lectures during the remainder of this year, as well as the summer exhibition at their base in Burntisland. Come along and find out the history of communication from Morse Code to Instant Messaging.
Professor Glover was speaking about "Having Fun Communicating Science" and she delivered a very entertaining talk that showed how scientific activity in Scotland offers exciting opportunities for interesting and productive work in industry, research, and in education.
One of the products which she demonstrated was an artificial hand that both looks and works almost like a real hand. It is invented, designed, and produced, by a Scottish company, Touch Bionics.
Today I read some more about this company and noted that the inventor of Touch Bionics' i-Limb technology is David Gow, who was not only taught by my father at Edinburgh University, but was in the same Engineering class as my wife and I.
Scottish scientists and inventors have a global recognition far higher than our numerical population warrants. Science and Engineering offer exciting and dynamic careers for people of all ages. Don't miss the opportunities to influence the inside of our high technology products as well as using them from the outside.
The Museum of Communication will be promoting several more lectures during the remainder of this year, as well as the summer exhibition at their base in Burntisland. Come along and find out the history of communication from Morse Code to Instant Messaging.
Sunday, 18 January 2009
Church Burns
Oh I do like playing with words! Actually this piece is not at all about Pentecost, or even about a church building being on fire, but about Robert Burns and his writing that relates to Church!
In the years of his life, from 1759 to 1796, the church was a major facet of community life. So its not surprising that Burns wrote about the church, and about its people.
I was surprised to discover a few years ago that Burns wrote versions of the First and Ninetieth Psalms, and perhaps his most obvious work about a church person could be Holy Willie's Prayer. But he wrote many other pieces with less obvious connections to the church, such as To A Louse (as he watched one crawling on a woman's hat during the sermon), or Tam O' Shanter (where the ruined Alloway Kirk was full of witches and warlocks having a ceilidh).
Burns was bold enough to write an Address to the Unco Guid, or the Rigidly Righteous. It is prefaced by his own version of Ecclesiastes 7:16. The NIV reads, "Do not be over-righteous, neither be overwise - why destroy yourself?"
Burns writes,
"My Son, these maxims make a rule,
And lump them ay thegither;
The Rigid Righteous is a fool,
the Rigid Wise anither:
The cleanest corn that e'er was dight
May hae some pyles o' caff in;
So ne-er a fellow-creature slight
for random fits o' daffin."
By request, a glossary:
dight, pronounced dicht, meaning clean, wipe, or winnow.
pyles, same as piles.
caff, meaning chaff.
daffin, meaning acts of silliness or foolishness, acting daft.
The Address itself contains eight verses along the lines of Jesus' saying in Matthew 7:3, "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" It makes an enjoyable read, so long as we don't feel too Unco Guid ourselves!
I think that Robert Burns and Jesus of Nazareth have probably enjoyed poking fun, or perhaps just laughing together, at the over-righteous of this world, not merely during Burns' short life on earth, but all the while thereafter.
In the years of his life, from 1759 to 1796, the church was a major facet of community life. So its not surprising that Burns wrote about the church, and about its people.
I was surprised to discover a few years ago that Burns wrote versions of the First and Ninetieth Psalms, and perhaps his most obvious work about a church person could be Holy Willie's Prayer. But he wrote many other pieces with less obvious connections to the church, such as To A Louse (as he watched one crawling on a woman's hat during the sermon), or Tam O' Shanter (where the ruined Alloway Kirk was full of witches and warlocks having a ceilidh).
Burns was bold enough to write an Address to the Unco Guid, or the Rigidly Righteous. It is prefaced by his own version of Ecclesiastes 7:16. The NIV reads, "Do not be over-righteous, neither be overwise - why destroy yourself?"
Burns writes,
"My Son, these maxims make a rule,
And lump them ay thegither;
The Rigid Righteous is a fool,
the Rigid Wise anither:
The cleanest corn that e'er was dight
May hae some pyles o' caff in;
So ne-er a fellow-creature slight
for random fits o' daffin."
By request, a glossary:
dight, pronounced dicht, meaning clean, wipe, or winnow.
pyles, same as piles.
caff, meaning chaff.
daffin, meaning acts of silliness or foolishness, acting daft.
The Address itself contains eight verses along the lines of Jesus' saying in Matthew 7:3, "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" It makes an enjoyable read, so long as we don't feel too Unco Guid ourselves!
I think that Robert Burns and Jesus of Nazareth have probably enjoyed poking fun, or perhaps just laughing together, at the over-righteous of this world, not merely during Burns' short life on earth, but all the while thereafter.
Sunday, 11 January 2009
Historic Stones
Recently, I watched a Channel 4 TV programme called, “Pilate: the man who killed Christ”. It was a strange programme to be broadcast the day before Christmas Eve, when we were preparing to celebrate the Birth of Jesus. But I particularly remember it for two reasons.
Firstly, one of my lecturers at New College, Helen Bond, played quite a big part in the programme. And secondly, when I was in Israel last June, I saw one of the things she talked about.
It was a stone. Not your common or garden ordinary stone. But a carved stone, with an inscription on it. And, you’ve guessed it, the inscription includes the name of Pontius Pilate.
The stone was found at Caesarea, an important Roman town, on the coast of the Mediterranean. That stone is the only historical artefact from the time of Jesus that confirms any of the Gospel story. It confirms that Pontius Pilate was the governor, or prefect, of the area, just as we read in the Easter story.
All other historical evidence was written afterwards. Some of Paul’s letters in the New Testament were written as early as 20 years after the crucifixion of Jesus. The Jewish historian Josephus was writing at around the same time, and he mentions Jesus too.
Although I haven’t seen that inscription stone itself, I have seen a copy of it, when I was at Caesarea last June, on a trip to Israel organised by New College. I took a photo of it as you can see above.
Why is this stone important? Because it is physical evidence.
Everything else that we know about Jesus is hearsay. It began as verbal testimony, and then later it was written down, a long time after the events actually happened.
In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, written about 52AD, he tells his readers about the Resurrection of Jesus. He tells them that Jesus appeared to over 500 of his followers, before he returned to be with God his Father. And Paul specifically states that most of these 500 are still alive today. They were eye-witnesses. It’s all there in 1st Corinthians chapter 15.
Of course, after some 2000 years since the events of Jesus, it is no longer possible to provide eye-witnesses. We are dependent on the accuracy and reliability of those early disciples.
Did they remember all these events accurately?
Did they write them down correctly?
Were they copied reliably, time after time, down through the ages?
The earliest fragments of the New Testament, written on papyrus, come from about 140AD. They match the same text in the earliest full text of the New Testament, from about 400AD.
And they mean the same as our present-day English translations. So that gives us some degree of confidence that we can go back more than 1500 years and believe in the accurate transmission of the New Testament documents.
But were they written accurately in the first place? Pontius Pilate was a real person, and a real Roman Prefect, at the time of Jesus. The Gospel account is accurate, even spelling Pilate’s name correctly.
In Acts chapter 18, we read of another Roman official, Gallio, a pro-consul of Greece, even more senior than Pilate. Between 1885 and 1910, nine fragments of a temple stone were found that refer to Gallio, the pro-consul of Greece, and a friend of Claudius the emperor. So Gallio was a real person too.
Although I haven’t seen these stone fragments I do have a photo from the museum where they are kept, and you can see that below. In the Greek capital letters, Gallio is written, 'ΓΑΛΛΙΩ'.
Today I was preaching about Paul meeting twelve disciples at Ephesus who had not heard of the Holy Spirit. Paul told them of the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost - and then they too spoke strange things of God and prophesied.
We're so dependent on hearing information from other people. It's nice to know that some things are written in stone. They help us to grasp hold of the things people tell us and act on what we've been told.
Friday, 9 January 2009
New Year started
It's been a strange week - back to work after a few days off.
As I mentioned earlier, it feels like I've been there a long time. Yet when I stood up at the microphone to speak this morning it seemed like a long time since I last did so. I almost felt nervous - but my voice seemed to function as normal!
This week I've enjoyed some social events amongst the congregation. I've invited myself to lunch three times, and the Workers' Chip Shop Supper last night was very good too. Of course, even at social events, there's work going on as well. The Lord neither sleeps nor slumbers, so we have to keep sharp too!
Earlier in the week we were doing some planning for the next few months. It's all very tentative at this stage, since it's quite hard to plan for next week, never mind the next quarter. But without some kind of overall objectives, we would just muddle along and never progress. It good to be moving forwards.
I was glad to get the bulk of Sunday's sermon finished in time to make tea this evening. And after that the boys and I went out to the cinema to watch The Spirit. It was quite apt because the Holy Spirit will get a few mentions on Sunday! Although the Spirit in the movie was not actually a 'spirit' at all. Oops, now I've gone and spoiled the plot somewhat! But then The Octopus was not an octopus either!
So if you've been back to work this week I hope it's gone well for you. And if you're one of the lucky ones, like many students, not to be going back until Monday, I hope it will go well next week too!
Roll on the Weekend! Enjoy!
As I mentioned earlier, it feels like I've been there a long time. Yet when I stood up at the microphone to speak this morning it seemed like a long time since I last did so. I almost felt nervous - but my voice seemed to function as normal!
This week I've enjoyed some social events amongst the congregation. I've invited myself to lunch three times, and the Workers' Chip Shop Supper last night was very good too. Of course, even at social events, there's work going on as well. The Lord neither sleeps nor slumbers, so we have to keep sharp too!
Earlier in the week we were doing some planning for the next few months. It's all very tentative at this stage, since it's quite hard to plan for next week, never mind the next quarter. But without some kind of overall objectives, we would just muddle along and never progress. It good to be moving forwards.
I was glad to get the bulk of Sunday's sermon finished in time to make tea this evening. And after that the boys and I went out to the cinema to watch The Spirit. It was quite apt because the Holy Spirit will get a few mentions on Sunday! Although the Spirit in the movie was not actually a 'spirit' at all. Oops, now I've gone and spoiled the plot somewhat! But then The Octopus was not an octopus either!
So if you've been back to work this week I hope it's gone well for you. And if you're one of the lucky ones, like many students, not to be going back until Monday, I hope it will go well next week too!
Roll on the Weekend! Enjoy!
Tuesday, 6 January 2009
Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza
In these days of serious conflict in Gaza we might remember the work of the Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City. It was built in 1907 by the Church Missionary Society and is still operated as a Christian hospital which provides a service to all people regardless of their faith tradition.
The population of the Gaza Strip is 1.2 million, and about 3,000 of these people are Christians. Yet, Ahli Hospital is known and respected as a provider of the highest quality health care for all the women, children and men of Gaza, regardless of their religion, nationality or background. A significant portion of the care is charitable, as the staff minister to many of the poorest people, in a community where over 60% of the residents live in refugee camps.
Please remember in your prayers the staff and the patients in Al Ahli Arab Hospital.
Continue to pray that a peaceful resolution to the conflict will quickly be found.
The Bible Lands Society in the UK provides a route for us to support the hospital financially in these days of extreme need.
The population of the Gaza Strip is 1.2 million, and about 3,000 of these people are Christians. Yet, Ahli Hospital is known and respected as a provider of the highest quality health care for all the women, children and men of Gaza, regardless of their religion, nationality or background. A significant portion of the care is charitable, as the staff minister to many of the poorest people, in a community where over 60% of the residents live in refugee camps.
Please remember in your prayers the staff and the patients in Al Ahli Arab Hospital.
Continue to pray that a peaceful resolution to the conflict will quickly be found.
The Bible Lands Society in the UK provides a route for us to support the hospital financially in these days of extreme need.
Monday, 5 January 2009
Four Months and another Whole Year gone
As we reached the Year End a few days ago I realised it was also the end of my Fourth Month at Abercorn and Pardovan, Kingscavil and Winchburgh congregations.
Last month it didn't seem like three months had already gone by. But at the end of this month it seems like I have been in the job much longer than four months!
I guess that December will be like that for most ministers. It seems like 2 or more months' worth of effort is required and delivered in that one month. By the time we reached Christmas Day I felt like I had been through the wringer (reference only for old folk like me!).
So that's another whole year of my training gone by. And now only 11 months until I complete this placement (all going well - God willing).
It's a bit strange to think that next Christmas I might just have squeezed into my first charge (congregation). In fact, it's a bit scary, not just strange!
But I've lots of plans and ideas still to work on here at PKW&A so I'll not be getting ahead of myself (most of the time!).
Each week has plenty of demands of its own, without thinking too far ahead. This coming Sunday I'll be preaching at Abercorn and Winchburgh again. It's almost becoming normal!
Stick with me for the white-knuckle ride to the finishing line!
Last month it didn't seem like three months had already gone by. But at the end of this month it seems like I have been in the job much longer than four months!
I guess that December will be like that for most ministers. It seems like 2 or more months' worth of effort is required and delivered in that one month. By the time we reached Christmas Day I felt like I had been through the wringer (reference only for old folk like me!).
So that's another whole year of my training gone by. And now only 11 months until I complete this placement (all going well - God willing).
It's a bit strange to think that next Christmas I might just have squeezed into my first charge (congregation). In fact, it's a bit scary, not just strange!
But I've lots of plans and ideas still to work on here at PKW&A so I'll not be getting ahead of myself (most of the time!).
Each week has plenty of demands of its own, without thinking too far ahead. This coming Sunday I'll be preaching at Abercorn and Winchburgh again. It's almost becoming normal!
Stick with me for the white-knuckle ride to the finishing line!
Sunday, 4 January 2009
Over 9000!
This morning, South Leith Parish Church began the celebrations of their 400th Anniversary year. It was a great service, shared by all five Leith Churches of Scotland.
Early on in the service, the children, and congregation, were asked, "How many Wise Men were there?"
The obvious answers were, '3', '4', and 'We don't know.' The minister suggested that around 300 might have been nearer the mark, since Three Wise Men travelling with such precious gifts would be more aptly called Thee Stupid Men.
No. To keep the precious gifts safe, to travel in reasonable comfort and personal safety, someone has calculated that a group of 300 people might have been the size of the Wise Men's party.
Let's hope they didn't all descend on Mary and Joseph at once!
I was tempted to shout out 'Over 9000!' My two sons are fond of calling that out whenever a big number is needed. It is a quote from a game or TV series when someone accomplished a huge score of points. It made me chuckle to think of the Wise Men's group having 'over 9000' people in it!
These days, when people go to the maximum in their efforts to follow Jesus, they are often ridiculed for their zeal. One wonders, 'Just who are the Wise Men?'
Currently I'm watching this year's World's Strongest Man competition. It's only the qualifying heats just now. I think the Final will be shown during the next week - perhaps on Channel 5, or the Fiver channel.
It's hugely impressive, not only because the guys are huge! I weigh about 147lbs (66kg). But these guys weigh 315lbs (143). And they're lifting 300lbs () over their heads, and 800lbs (363kg) off the ground! And some of them have just finished pulling a 25 tonne truck 20m along a road!
Of course, DNA plays a part, and childhood lifestyle also plays a big part. But the biggest part is the determination of these guys to be stronger, faster, and bigger, than anyone else.
Most of them are full-time professionals, although some contenders have other full-time careers, and only compete and train for Strongest Man on a part-time basis.
How 'wise' is it to commit that amount of effort and resources to achieve this particular goal? Indeed, for any World Champion, the amount of effort and resources is usually fantastic. The payback is a combination of fame, fortune, and fun. Is it worth it? Is it Wise?
To achieve the success of becoming Top Person requires total commitment and effort. But when God calls us to follow Jesus, by loving God and our Neighbour, how can one justify the effort it requires today to try to become World Champion?
Eric Liddell, a Christian from Edinburgh, won Olympic 200m Gold after he refused to run the 100m Final because it was on a Sunday. Back in those days it was still feasible to be the Best without it consuming your entire life.
After his Olympic success Eric Liddell went to China to become a Missionary. His desire was to introduce people in China to the joy that comes from knowing and following Jesus. He died there living his life for others.
There's no way I can compete with the World's Strongest Men, or even the World's Fastest Men, such as Eric Liddell. But I am glad to be following in the footsteps of Eric Liddell as I help people to follow Jesus.
Jesus doesn't call us to be the Best, but to be our Best.
Let's go for a Maximum Score - over 9000!
Early on in the service, the children, and congregation, were asked, "How many Wise Men were there?"
The obvious answers were, '3', '4', and 'We don't know.' The minister suggested that around 300 might have been nearer the mark, since Three Wise Men travelling with such precious gifts would be more aptly called Thee Stupid Men.
No. To keep the precious gifts safe, to travel in reasonable comfort and personal safety, someone has calculated that a group of 300 people might have been the size of the Wise Men's party.
Let's hope they didn't all descend on Mary and Joseph at once!
I was tempted to shout out 'Over 9000!' My two sons are fond of calling that out whenever a big number is needed. It is a quote from a game or TV series when someone accomplished a huge score of points. It made me chuckle to think of the Wise Men's group having 'over 9000' people in it!
These days, when people go to the maximum in their efforts to follow Jesus, they are often ridiculed for their zeal. One wonders, 'Just who are the Wise Men?'
Currently I'm watching this year's World's Strongest Man competition. It's only the qualifying heats just now. I think the Final will be shown during the next week - perhaps on Channel 5, or the Fiver channel.
It's hugely impressive, not only because the guys are huge! I weigh about 147lbs (66kg). But these guys weigh 315lbs (143). And they're lifting 300lbs () over their heads, and 800lbs (363kg) off the ground! And some of them have just finished pulling a 25 tonne truck 20m along a road!
Of course, DNA plays a part, and childhood lifestyle also plays a big part. But the biggest part is the determination of these guys to be stronger, faster, and bigger, than anyone else.
Most of them are full-time professionals, although some contenders have other full-time careers, and only compete and train for Strongest Man on a part-time basis.
How 'wise' is it to commit that amount of effort and resources to achieve this particular goal? Indeed, for any World Champion, the amount of effort and resources is usually fantastic. The payback is a combination of fame, fortune, and fun. Is it worth it? Is it Wise?
To achieve the success of becoming Top Person requires total commitment and effort. But when God calls us to follow Jesus, by loving God and our Neighbour, how can one justify the effort it requires today to try to become World Champion?
Eric Liddell, a Christian from Edinburgh, won Olympic 200m Gold after he refused to run the 100m Final because it was on a Sunday. Back in those days it was still feasible to be the Best without it consuming your entire life.
After his Olympic success Eric Liddell went to China to become a Missionary. His desire was to introduce people in China to the joy that comes from knowing and following Jesus. He died there living his life for others.
There's no way I can compete with the World's Strongest Men, or even the World's Fastest Men, such as Eric Liddell. But I am glad to be following in the footsteps of Eric Liddell as I help people to follow Jesus.
Jesus doesn't call us to be the Best, but to be our Best.
Let's go for a Maximum Score - over 9000!
Saturday, 3 January 2009
Control
Temperature controllers are fine when they work. Ours had stopped working. If the power source had been electric then we might have suffered catastrophic overheating. As it was our hot-water central heating system merely heated the domestic hot water to the same temperature as the heating water from the boiler.
Most of the time we run the boiler at 60°C which is an OK temperature for the domestic hot water. But when the weather is cold we need to increase the boiler temperature to increase the power output from the radiators.
Unfortunately with the faulty thermostat stuck on this meant that the domestic hot water became rather too hot for safety.
So today it was a return to engineering for me. Not returning to design though, but fixing a defect. I had to check out that it really was the thermostat that was faulty; purchase another unit from the valiant Plumb Center; and then replace the old thermostat with the new one and check it all worked properly.
It was an enjoyable task. It reminded me of all the nice things about being an engineer (albeit electronic rather than electrical) without any of the exasperating irritations that often go with engineering tasks. The fault was easily identified, it was what I thought it was, the replacement was easily found and was not too expensive (actually cheaper than I expected), and easily replaced the old broken thermostat. And best of all, everything worked when I tested it.
If only the people problems that I encounter in my new career as a church minister were so easy to fix. People are often sick, in body, mind or spirit. It's not easy to diagnose what is wrong. And even more difficult for us to fix.
In my engineering career, if there was a problem with a unit in production that the production engineering team couldn't solve, then the final resort was to call in the Designer - the person (or team) who had put the product together - sort of created it.
And that's what we do in ministry too. Even if we can see what the problem is, it's usually too difficult for us to fix on our own. And if we don't know the problem then we have no chance of fixing it.
But the Maker knows. He Created each one of us. He knows us intimately - right down to our component parts. When something's wrong - he knows what's wrong. And what's more he not only knows how to fix it, he is able to fix it, and he wants to fix it.
All we have to do is invite him to come in to help us with the problem. He won't interfere if we don't want him to. If we are determined to manage ourselves - that's a choice he allows us to make.
But if we will allow him to direct the solution, and we take the prescribed medication, then he will solve our problem, in his way, in his time, by his power.
When you're getting overheated and about to blow your top - call in an expert!
Most of the time we run the boiler at 60°C which is an OK temperature for the domestic hot water. But when the weather is cold we need to increase the boiler temperature to increase the power output from the radiators.
Unfortunately with the faulty thermostat stuck on this meant that the domestic hot water became rather too hot for safety.
So today it was a return to engineering for me. Not returning to design though, but fixing a defect. I had to check out that it really was the thermostat that was faulty; purchase another unit from the valiant Plumb Center; and then replace the old thermostat with the new one and check it all worked properly.
It was an enjoyable task. It reminded me of all the nice things about being an engineer (albeit electronic rather than electrical) without any of the exasperating irritations that often go with engineering tasks. The fault was easily identified, it was what I thought it was, the replacement was easily found and was not too expensive (actually cheaper than I expected), and easily replaced the old broken thermostat. And best of all, everything worked when I tested it.
If only the people problems that I encounter in my new career as a church minister were so easy to fix. People are often sick, in body, mind or spirit. It's not easy to diagnose what is wrong. And even more difficult for us to fix.
In my engineering career, if there was a problem with a unit in production that the production engineering team couldn't solve, then the final resort was to call in the Designer - the person (or team) who had put the product together - sort of created it.
And that's what we do in ministry too. Even if we can see what the problem is, it's usually too difficult for us to fix on our own. And if we don't know the problem then we have no chance of fixing it.
But the Maker knows. He Created each one of us. He knows us intimately - right down to our component parts. When something's wrong - he knows what's wrong. And what's more he not only knows how to fix it, he is able to fix it, and he wants to fix it.
All we have to do is invite him to come in to help us with the problem. He won't interfere if we don't want him to. If we are determined to manage ourselves - that's a choice he allows us to make.
But if we will allow him to direct the solution, and we take the prescribed medication, then he will solve our problem, in his way, in his time, by his power.
When you're getting overheated and about to blow your top - call in an expert!
Friday, 2 January 2009
New Year Sales
At this time of year the Consumer seems to go mad.
Those of us who have any money left after Christmas seem desperate to make the most of the sales in the shops to snap up bargains on items they may, or may not, need.
I've had a jacket and shoes on my shopping list for a month or two now. So today I plucked up courage and went to find my favourite mens' wear shop. Given how rarely I visit such establishments, it's not surprising it had closed down not long ago!
I guess it's a sign of the times, that shops can't stay open on the offchance that us rare shoppers might drop in some day soon and make a purchase. In this harsh business climate, if you're not selling, then you're going out of business, and soon.
At least when I got to my favourite shoe shop it was still trading. They were pleased to see me, and I was pleased to find two pairs of shoes that fitted me. It's a rare occurrence even to find one pair - so I bought them both. After all they were 20% off - so the second, cheaper, pair was free!
As I continued in towards the city centre in my search for a jacket the prices were on the high side, until I found a shop having a real jacket sale! The one I bought was reduced from £179 to only £79. I felt pleased with myself, and enjoyed the bonus of meeting one of my fellow trainees in there too. Obviously he too had a keen nose for a bargain!
In these days of international trading turbulence I have been giving a lot of thought to the ethics of trading and purchasing. I haven't yet come to any firm conclusions.
It seems most reasonable to purchase goods from local producers. This not only supports our own local economy, but minimises the transportation of goods. However, it is notable in our shops that the cheapest items often come from India, China, or similar countries where labour costs are very low.
Is it ethical to purchase such cheap items at the expense of a decent wage for the production workers? The high transportation costs, add to carbon emissions and global warming, raises another ethical question.
But if we choose to purchase high-priced locally-manufactured items then we cut off these low-cost workers from their means of trade. The problem is that we pay ourselves too much in Britain in order to finance our extravagant lifestyles.
If we were to downgrade our expectations of luxurious living then our wage costs would be lower and our carbon emissions would be less. Home-based products would be cheaper. And if we do it properly then we still have resources to support developing countries in their efforts to eliminate poverty and develop their technology and infrastructure.
But who's going to start that ball rolling? It won't be a popular move. But I am coming to the conclusion it's the only way out of this inflationary madness we have been sucked into by those who are greedy for a quick profit and an extravagant lifestyle.
In reality each one of us is to blame for this situation in which we find ourselves.
Those of us who have any money left after Christmas seem desperate to make the most of the sales in the shops to snap up bargains on items they may, or may not, need.
I've had a jacket and shoes on my shopping list for a month or two now. So today I plucked up courage and went to find my favourite mens' wear shop. Given how rarely I visit such establishments, it's not surprising it had closed down not long ago!
I guess it's a sign of the times, that shops can't stay open on the offchance that us rare shoppers might drop in some day soon and make a purchase. In this harsh business climate, if you're not selling, then you're going out of business, and soon.
At least when I got to my favourite shoe shop it was still trading. They were pleased to see me, and I was pleased to find two pairs of shoes that fitted me. It's a rare occurrence even to find one pair - so I bought them both. After all they were 20% off - so the second, cheaper, pair was free!
As I continued in towards the city centre in my search for a jacket the prices were on the high side, until I found a shop having a real jacket sale! The one I bought was reduced from £179 to only £79. I felt pleased with myself, and enjoyed the bonus of meeting one of my fellow trainees in there too. Obviously he too had a keen nose for a bargain!
In these days of international trading turbulence I have been giving a lot of thought to the ethics of trading and purchasing. I haven't yet come to any firm conclusions.
It seems most reasonable to purchase goods from local producers. This not only supports our own local economy, but minimises the transportation of goods. However, it is notable in our shops that the cheapest items often come from India, China, or similar countries where labour costs are very low.
Is it ethical to purchase such cheap items at the expense of a decent wage for the production workers? The high transportation costs, add to carbon emissions and global warming, raises another ethical question.
But if we choose to purchase high-priced locally-manufactured items then we cut off these low-cost workers from their means of trade. The problem is that we pay ourselves too much in Britain in order to finance our extravagant lifestyles.
If we were to downgrade our expectations of luxurious living then our wage costs would be lower and our carbon emissions would be less. Home-based products would be cheaper. And if we do it properly then we still have resources to support developing countries in their efforts to eliminate poverty and develop their technology and infrastructure.
But who's going to start that ball rolling? It won't be a popular move. But I am coming to the conclusion it's the only way out of this inflationary madness we have been sucked into by those who are greedy for a quick profit and an extravagant lifestyle.
In reality each one of us is to blame for this situation in which we find ourselves.
Thursday, 1 January 2009
Beginnings
On Monday, as we were coming back from town on the bus, there was the beautiful skliff of a New Moon hanging in the clear sky shortly after the sun had set.
Back on May 6th, when I previously saw a New Moon, I didn't have my camera with me. But this time my new camera from the Summer was already round my neck. So when I got off the bus, I headed along the street to where I could see the Moon across the nearby fields. The horizon was far away and low down so I had a great view.
There were two other planets in the sky - Jupiter and Venus. Jupiter was below and right from the Moon, and thus nearer the fading sunlight. If you can't see it on the picture above, then if you double-click on the photo you'll see the full image. I can't resolve any of Jupiter's moons or other features, but can just about discern the planet as a disc, as you may see in the cutting below.
Venus was higher than the Moon, and left, and thus in darker sky. In the two photos below you can clearly make out the disc, although with Venus being covered in bright cloud the disc is featureless.
<-- Bright Venus & Dim Venus -->
I like what I wrote on that day back in May.
'Twas all about beginnings coming into play.
As the Moon reappeared from behind the bright Sun,
Another New Year has appeared and begun!
Happy New Year everyone!
May all my readers know the blessings of God throughout 2009.
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