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.
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