Cheerio Alex... "Haste ye Back!"

On Sunday 12th December we had a special meeting in recognition of Alex time with us at Peterhead. It was a delight to see everyone attend the farewell send off for Alex. There were many young and elderly, a fitting tribute to the way Alex touched the lives of all generations. We began with a time of singing, which of course is what Alex enjoys most. We sang a selection of his favorite songs. After the singing we watched a slide-show of photo's that portrayed Alex time with us. This was great! It became clear that almost every photo had Alex either doing something silly or making others laugh. Alex had an ability to see the funny things in life. He made it a priority to lift others and help them see the joy in life. We had a couple of film clips in the show. The first was the, "Face plant." If you know Alex, you will have seen this video clip. It was taken during a Harding campaign, when we took a day out to Rattray Beach - famous for it's sand dunes. This clip was followed by one of Alex competing against Brittany in a race to spin as fast as you can while wrapping yourself in toilet roll. The winner was the one who finished the roll first. Off course half way through the race Alex flies off at a tangent and falling over because he is so dizzy! Well, needless to say everyone was smiling after the slide show.

Next on the agenda was was a time for everyone to say something publicly about a memory they have of Alex. Thomas began the compliments with many following with their kind regards for the times Alex had touched their life. I shares some heart felt truths about why I would miss Alex. Alex then responded and passionately talked for a while. At the beginning after making the statement, "I am going to miss you all." Alex broke down for a minute and showed the impact the Church has had on his life.

We then presented Alex with a chorus book. Shaun Main has made the suggestion that we get everyone to leave a comment in the song book, knowing how much singing from it had meant to Alex. The book was full of personal notes of thanks and encouragement for all. I took the book to Anna Ritchie School for the boys who we played football with, to sign it. I have no doubt Alex will treasure this gift. Many gave Alex a gift of money to help with settling back into life in America. The congregation also gave a token gift of money to help a little too.

After the meeting we stayed to enjoy a time of fellowship around a cup of tea and some biscuits. There is no doubt that we will miss Alex and the place will won't be the same without his unique involvement. We wish Alex God's blessing as he endeavours to rejoin life in America and begin a new chapter in his life. Take care brother!

Blitz

Here goes nothing... I have left this way too late! I am going to attempt to remember all that has been of value since the last entry. Where to begin??? I will begin with the most precious first. It has been lovely having all our girls home these past days. I had the joy of going down to get Amy on the 20th. The joy of hearing her sing with the Fife Opera was priceless. Fenella has sent the file of her solo to some of you I'm sure - it is amazing. Beth got an early Christmas break due to the weather conditions meaning the boarding had to be closed. We were hoping to have Beth's new oboe here for her to try before Christmas, but since it was coming up from Glasgow that was not possible, again due to the snow. All of us were ready to be together and have some family time. Holly and Hannah were especially delighted to have their big sisters home. We were able to be together for Amy's 19th birthday and the girls had fun decorating Amy's birthday cakes. Speaking about birthdays, it was Holly and Hannah's 10th birthday on the 4th of December! They are most definitely growing up - FAST! Christmas was really fine this year. We did most of the prep for the dinner on Xmas eve, so on the day there was just the cooking. We shared the day with Fenella's mum and dad and from start to finish it truly was a good day! No stress or struggle, just good company and joy. Fenella has been off work this past week and we have had a couple of days out, mainly through to Aberdeen to do some shopping with the girls to spend their Xmas money on some clothes. Looking forward to this week before Amy leaves for Edinburgh and Beth leaves for Dyce. We are BLESSED!

In the past month there has been some cool things happen at church. I will mention as many as I can remember. I will begin with our night to show the over 60's in church we care for them. A

bunch of the younger (under 60's) did all the cooking and organising. Alex and I were responsible for the entertainment and a bunch did the food and decoration. The meal was lovely - a full Christmas dinner with ALL the trimmings! We fed around 40 of our faithful brothers and sisters in Christ. After the food we enjoyed two games together - "Countdown" and "Family Fortune." This went down well and everyone had a bit of fun in good company. I have to mention the input of the teens. There were about 15 teens there to help serve and make the night memorable. It was a good night and everyone went away full in every sense of the word.



During December we organised a Tour of some of the nursing homes to do some carol singing. We originally planned 4 homes to visit, but due to snow conditions, we only made it to 3 of them. We had the most excellent time! There was a bunch at each of the homes, with as much as 20 in some! We sang our hearts out and it was obvious that the elderly residents enjoyed the singing and especially the joy that came from the group. The group was pretty varied, we had some as young as 6 right through to some in their 60's, all singing together for the encouragement of others - beautiful! After about 45 minutes singing we would have a prayer and would then give the home a gift. The gift was rather special. In Sunday School we made rocking chairs out of clothes pegs and made cute snowmen out of cotton balls to sit on the chair. They were received with great delight. We also gave them a picture that portrayed a Christmas theme also made by the children on Wednesday nights. I was very thrilled to see the number that came to each of the homes, but more thrilling was their joy that they came to share - Memorable!




We had a lot of fun with the young ones at our Christmas party and also during our outing to Aberdeen. On the 6th December we took the young classes through to see the movie "Megamind." Before the movie we all went for something to eat at Burger King. This trip was a plan B, since we had to cancel our much anticipated trip to the Chocolate Factory due to the snow and bad road conditions. Although the kids were a bit disappointed at the change we still had a great night out and it was a fine treat for them. It is good to do this from time to time to show we care. Our party was a blast! From the start at 6.30 all the way to 8.00pm there was fun and laughter. We didn't get through all the games we had planned, but in everything the purpose was to get the kids laughing and share a good time - Mission Accomplished!

We took the teens out on the 22nd December. This again was our second attempt due to the snow and poor road conditions. We were due to go on the 17th, but postponed till 22nd. The night was fantastic!!! This is the 3rd year we have done this. We leave at 4.00pm and half of the group go bowling while the other half play football at an indoor pitch, myself of course, getting stuck into the football match! We then meet up at Pizza Hut to enjoy some food and fellowship, ands then on to the movies to see, "Narnia - Voyage of the Dawn Treader." I love these outings - they are indicators of the groups growth and joy of being together away from home. There was never a raised voice, other than in fun, and I have nothing but praise for the behaviour and attitude of the group. In fact, when I got home I had a comment on my FB from Andrew Stars which read, "Thought you'd want to know that my manager said you were all a delight to serve and the kids in the youth group were patient and polite and no fuss at all, which is rare for a table of that size! So you're welcome back at any time :)" It is always good when those observing can see what you see! There were 24 of us on the trip. My dad and John Campbell came to help out. The only down side was our surprise at coming out from the movie and finding that about 6 inches of snow had fallen! We took it easy going home and finally got home at 12.00!


Throughout all this activity there has been numerous bible classes and teaching opportunities. I don't know how close many are to the kingdom, but I'm excited for 2011!

Reason to lift up our Eyes

I have been reminded today that it is so important to enjoy and notice the happy times along the way. Yes, we feel the pain and burdens of those we are close too, but it is so important when sharing pain to see joy in other situations. I was thinking about the passage when Jesus made the statement, "When I am lifted up from the world will draw all men to myself." I was pondering the idea that it's almost like Jesus is telling us that He is taking the pain and burden of this fallen world on his shoulders as he is raised up on the cross and He is giving us opportunity to lift our eyes upward, away from the mess of this world and looking to the source of hope and salvation. It is so important that in times of pain there is reason and purpose to lift our eyes upward. Jesus is that reason and hope.

Anyway, I just wanted to share some of my joy this week. I have literally been in the door an hour since being hugely encouraged. Friday afternoons are spent at Anna Ritchie School. Alex and I get to play football with around 20 kids. Anna Ritchie is a special school! Every Friday it is like a safe haven and filling station. To be accepted and included into their lives in the way we are is a beautiful thing. This afternoon we went to the school and the weather was pretty poor, so we were planning on going indoors for our session. When we signed in and went to the hall we were met with a bunch of music amps and microphones and it was obvious that we were not going to have the use of the hall. I started to go around the classes explaining to the boys that we would have to cancel because there was nowhere to play and the look of dismay on their faces was so sad. I decided to have a quick check outside just in case the rain had stopped and would you believe it - it had! There was smiles and cheers as we relayed the news that we were going ahead with the game. If you haven't picked up on it yet the game today was extraordinary. Every goal scored was truly amazing and not in keeping with the norm. There was so much smiles and joy as goal after goal went in, Alex and I both knew this was a day to remember. The score finished at 8-6. In the midst of this Lucas scored a hat trick of the highest quality! Afterward I gestured a thanks to Alex for deliberately missing a save on his last goal which was with his head and Alex said there was no way he was going to spoil Lucas' moment to shine.

This is one of the reasons why I love the kingdom! To have the desire to lift people up and to share nothing but encouragement and support. It is a joy to serve in the community and especially in the school's with the children. It is a constant reminder that God is active and we always have times of refreshing and opportunity to lift our eyes and hearts Christ ward.

The photo's are from our bunch at Crimond School. Every Tuesday afternoon we have the joy of working with these kids. I do enjoy football, but I LOVE the opportunity to influence and touch lives with the motivation that comes from knowing Christ!

God Bless!

Words don't come easy...

This entry is not going to be an easy one. There are times when you have to weigh up the for's and against's for sharing information via this avenue. I know there are many, who given the chance, would be supportive and prayerful about our church, but I am also aware that this is a public site and can be viewed by anyone, therefore I cannot share all that is in my heart via this entry. I can honestly say the past week has been hard. We have been faced by circumstances that I wouldn't have dreamt possible in a small town like Peterhead. I would ask that everyone reading this would pray for our church. When you come face to face with the brokenness and falleness of this creation and see the evidence and extent to which evil can overcome and control a person, it makes you want to run all the more keenly into the arms of our Father. This is as much as I can share.

There has been grief within our Youth group these past days too. Ryan, Stuart, Claire, Stephen and Kevin, The Geddes', lost their Granada this past week. It was obvious that he was a great man. His passing has devastated their young lives and shows the extent of how much love there was between them all. Again, I would ask for prayers for this family. We have had a strong connection with the Geddes' over the years and I have to say that their lives have shown much growth and faithfulness toward the kingdom. I'm glad to have had the opportunity to be there for them through this hard time.

Although there has been some dark and trying times here and my mindset may have been tainted as a result, I can't deny that there has been much happiness and joy running alongside this. Last Monday night we had a "Sugar and Spice and All things Nice" party with the younger kids who come on a Monday and Wednesday night. As you can see from the pictures they put in the effort to dress up well! Note also the "Dynamic Duo" of Alex and myself. Alex made a fantastic "Batman" outfit and I came as "Pic & Mix." From the start to the finish we had non stop fun and laughter! It was a chance to enjoy the occasion and just make smiles! We went to a lot of effort to make it a memorable night for the kids and I am confident we succeeded. We made sure everybody went home happy and full of joy, and heavy laden with chocolate! We had a hunt for the golden ticket which was won by Megan, who received the "Month supply of Chocolate." I spoke to her mum, Alison the next day, who was delighted at the bundle of chocolate Megan came home with and hopes to share in the prize!

This past Wednesday night was special! I had asked Shaun the week before to do the prayer for this week, this would have been his first public prayer. When we got started I foolishly forgot about asking Shaun to do it and said the prayer. I forgot with good motives though, my heart was full on behalf of the Geddes' and in my desire to bring them before God's throne, I left Shaun on the bench. However, at the end of the classes we got everyone through and Shaun closed in prayer. I was so humbled by his sincerity and depth in his prayer. After a nervous first few words, his sentiments were truly beautiful. There is something special about being able to witness a heart communicating with their God - a true Joy!

Well, a little note about the plates we are juggling at the moment. We have our meal for the over 60's on the 27th November. Alex and I have to come up with an hour and a half of entertainment. We have an outing with the primary age children to a chocolate factory on 6th December and an outing with the teens on 17th December to Aberdeen. We are also taking a group on the 16th November to a football match in Aberdeen between Scotland and Faeroe Isles. My head is full of events and places to be - crazy, but great!

I have not mentioned anything about the bulk of my ministry in the schools, but know that this term they are going great and the opportunity is very much the same and I am working with some great groups of children. Time is truly flying and every day with the exception of Wednesday I have the joy of being in front of Children with the opportunity to share goodness and God!

As I am writing this there is an overwhelming reality that in December we will be saying goodbye to Alex. I try not to stress about this too much, but the reality is going to be tough. The gap that Alex fills at present will be very tough to fill. I have hopes that our own teens will go some way to closing the gap, but the reality is I am going to miss Alex, greatly! His personality and presence will cause a void here! With this in mind I again request your prayers. We are growing and active and will soon be a man down! Please pray for the right people to be sent, or raised up for the continued good of the kingdom here.

We had a visit last weekend from dear friends. Chrissy and Robin Vick and Jenny Johnson came up for the weekend. It is always good to spend time with those who are desiring to make a difference in this world. It is good to know they are just down the road and not on a whole different continent! All three friends have had an impact in Peterhead and have touched lives here for the good.

Just a note on our family. This weekend we were all home!!! Amy came up from Edinburgh and Beth was home from Dyce! I LOVE my girls! I am so proud of the way they are living their lives and continuing to make good choices. I am not the most expressive of men, but I know in my heart that I am a blessed man and the smile I have on the inside is greatly the work of my girls.

This entry has been tough to put into words, but I hope you get the message.

God bless!

Another - Something Special!

In this entry I want to focus on what went on during our 3rd Sunday night! I had spent a bit of time with Thomas and Shaun challenging them to be involved with the lesson for Sunday night. When we went through the plan for the lesson they both decided to share the reading of Psalm 40:1-4. Thomas would take the first two verses and Shaun would take the second two. Each of them prepared something to say in relation to their section of the Psalm.

We had our customary cup of tea and fellowship before the meeting. It was especially good to see Donald and Ethan come along! I must admit I was quietly delighted to see them come in because I knew this would be a lesson that would make an impression on Donald's heart. I remember telling Thomas and Shaun, before the meeting that even though I preached for 30 minutes and they for only 2 or 3, I would guarantee the audience will remember their contribution far more that mine! John Campbell led the singing and welcomed everyone and the whole time before the lesson I was feeling quite nervous, but not for myself - it was for my two young companions!

At the beginning we shared some photo's of the Chilean Miners rescue and talked about how the events being covered on the news had impacted us. We then talked about the parallel between the rescue mission and the plan of salvation. There were some great points expressed and one moment I loved. Betty Hepburn, a faithful Christian for more than 60 years and a huge encourager made a comment about her getting on her knees to thank God for the deliverance of these miners on the other side of the world. Betty also made an amazing declaration of faith when she courageously shared about her choice all those years ago to accept Christ and how her life has been so rich as a result - when Betty speaks there is instant RESPECT! Her words touched everyone there because everyone has been touched by Betty's life for the good.

Well, after all that we watched a clip of footage from the rescue mission and focused on what the miners said on their T-shirts, their willingness to give God all the honour and glory for sustaining them throughout the 69 days and for their deliverance! It was now time for Thomas and Shaun to share some comments on Psalm 40 in respect of their own lives. Thomas spoke of his relating to the Psalm and how his life was once dark and lost, but since his decision to become a Christian things have turned around in his life. Shaun spoke of his new found ability to put his trust in the church and in God as a result of the godly influence he has found in Christian's since coming in contact with us. I was truly blown away! I struggled to get myself engaged in the conclusion of the lesson, but found strength from knowing that we had seen 1st hand the evidence of faith and the work of the Spirit in these two young men! At the conclusion of the lesson I asked the question, "Why on earth would you not want to be rescued from the filth and darkness of the pit?

It was obvious that we had been a part of something good! Everyone stayed for a good while after and expressed their thanks for the lesson and gave much encouragement to Thomas and Shaun!

Between this entry and the one before I can only give thanks to our Father for the inexpressible riches that are ours, because we are His!

Special Wedding!

Weddings are always special times, but every once in a while one comes along that just stands out a little more. Saturday night was one of those weddings. The bride, previously known as Miss Green, has had a huge influence in the lives of Amy and Beth in regard to their music. Rachel Gill (Miss Green) asked both Amy and Beth to take part in her wedding ceremony, along with three other of her music pupils. Beth had the huge honour of playing the bride down the isle to the tune of "Gabriel's oboe," a gorgeous piece of music, and played it beautifully! Amy had the honour of singing "The Prayer" at the reception, her performance was breathtaking! Fenella and I were extremely proud of our girls and once again we were faced with the joy of knowing our girls can produce such beauty - they are truly blessed!

Anyway, forgive me in sharing my little bit of pride with you all. There are times it just needs to be shared!

God bless!

What did the miners in Chile say on their shirts?

Planning to use this clip this coming Sunday night as part of our third Sunday Gospel lesson. Thought I would give you a sneek peek! Will share more soon about how the lesson went!

Moving Along Nicely - God Willing

It's Monday morning and before things get too occupied I will try to get you all up to speed with what has been going on here. I want to begin with an overall statement. There are times in ministry when things are confusing and there is strain and even frustration when things don't happen as quickly or in the way "I" want them to. There has been a sense of calm these past weeks and the evidence of growth is obvious. There is a real air of belonging occurring within the older kids. I am always cautious now when things are going well and slow to look too far ahead, because things can change quickly and the foundation you thought was there may not be. I am gradually learning to be thankful for the times there is growth and also for the times there are challenges. It is through the trying times that our love and care is best displayed and afterward the evidence of growth is more obvious. Anyway, I wanted to begin with sharing the fact that we are growing.

At the beginning of this term we made a conscious decision to spend more time one on one with the teens if there was opportunity. I want to say that this may be the reason why there is an obvious growth spurt, but I am not sure yet. All I know is that Alex and I have tried to spend one or two morning/afternoons a week with whoever wants to meet up. We usually meet for coffee and either play snooker or tennis. There are usually 4 teens, Thomas, Shaun, Stuart and Ryan who are able to meet. We want the teens to know we are there for them and want them to know we are committed to their lives and their faith. I am constantly weighing up the question of whether we are simply "playing" with the boys or if there is in reality opportunity for deeper relationship and in turn opportunity for Christ to be more real to them. I am settled in thinking that the latter is the case and pray that in committing this time with their young lives will reap a harvest for the kingdom in due time. A couple of weeks ago we spent a morning setting up a "Facebook" page for our youth group. This has been a huge success and I am so dalighted at the comments and encouragment being shared through this avenue. If you want to see it you will have to recieve an invite from us before you can join. We wanted to keep it private so the youth can feel they own it. The page name is "Peterhead Church of Christ Youth Group."

I am prayerful that we are able to spread into family territory through our work with the youth. There is one family who are drawing closer and, God willing, will continue taking steps nearer to the kingdom. They have two sons, one of which is coming to the Friday night teen class. His dad has stayed the past two classes and is loving the time with the group.

Last weekend our church held it's annual "Social" where Christians come from all over the country to spend the day with us. The hall was full! The day consisted of food, Fellowship and worship. We had invited Bert Ritchie from the church in Colraine, N.Ireland to preach - he is one of my favorite preachers! He spoke about the reality of change and our need to embrace and serve within it. The church was encouraged and challenged! The day was a joy, and in spite of much labour behind the scenes getting everyone fed physically, no-one left without being filled Spiritually.

We had a group helping the church for two weeks. The "Sojourners" a group of retired and able workers came over, rolled their sleeves up and got busy doing work around the building. I was able to spend a little bit of time with them and was blessed by their desire to serve. They were a great encouragement to many in our congregation. Michael and Alex Shonie were the ones taking care of the group and as well as putting them to work balanced things out with a trip to the beautiful Isle of Skye. There is no doubt the group left an impression on the congregation for good.

We had a bit of fun with the kids on Saturday. We hired the swimming pool and had a blast! There was a bunch there and a few of the kids who come invited a friend to come as a way of introducing them to the church and potentially sparking some interest in coming to classes at the church. For an hour and a half we just laughed and enjoyed pure fun! There was a huge inflatable obstacle course that we all battled to conquer. For the last half hour we moved to the diving board and played "chicken." You had to copy what the last person does or else jump off acting and sounding like a chicken. There were 5 parents there and we were able to show how Christan's care and enjoy life. The time passed too fast, but there were plenty memories made and memories make for great talking points. As long as I am on the topic of fun, I have shared some funny pics of our "Fluffy Bunny" challenge on Wednesday night.

One last comment about yesterday. It was my joy to preach in the morning. I loved the challenge from preparing the lesson. We shared an insight into what motivated Paul to serve the way he did. We looked at 2 Corinthians 5 and saw how Paul was motivated by, The hope of Heaven, The goal of pleasing Christ, The reality of Judgment, The compelling Love of Jesus and the Great commission to share the ministry of Reconciliation! God worked through my heart and His word was active!


God Bless!

Silence isn't Golden!

The photo's are of a basket that Holly and Hannah made for their sister. We had fun making it and Amy loves it!

These past couple of weeks have been tough! We got Amy down to Edinburgh and had to say goodbye, knowing that this goodbye was all together different. Fenella helped Amy get her room fixed up and put the "car LOAD" of things away. Meanwhile I was sent out to get pots and pans, cups, plates and cutlery! We assumed that the halls would have provided all the essentials, but that was not the case. So, here I am wondering the streets of Edinburgh at 8.00pm trying to find a shop that sell this kind of stuff. A while later I returned triumphant from the quest! We then went for something to eat and after having made sure everything was well with Amy, we set out for home. I am writing this over a week since we left Amy and it is now that we are truly feeling the effects and size of what has just happened. No longer do we have to close the dining room door to dampen the volume of Amy's voice when she would sit at the piano and practice. The house is a lot quieter and the sound of music is not as evident. Anyway, we can't stop time and the truth is that Amy was ready for this stage of her life. She is doing a fine job of getting settled and finding new friends and new opportunities to use her gift of song. Hyvots Bank have become her new church family and we are thankful!

This morning is the first chance I have had to sit and really think about what's going on. Last week was a blur and I remember constantly praying the same prayer before having to teach or work with a group. I would pray that God find something useful from the chaos in my heart. This past week has been one of the fullest I can remember. I had the joy of teaching 6 school assemblies and having 4 after school activities as well as the classes at church and spending some time one one one with some of our young Christians. The amazing thing is that the strength was always there to keep going. I am not saying this for you to be impressed with my work rate, but to recognise the truth that we must rely on God's strength and in His mighty power. For me, this week I got a glimpse of what can be done when we allow God the room to provide from His mighty power. Let me quickly add that this is not the "norm" in my life, but I want it to be!

I want to finish up wit a couple of quick comments about Friday and Sunday night. Friday night we had an amazing class with the teens. Alex and I were blessed with 16 teens who were there to listen and participate. We talked about Romans 1:25 about "Exchanging the truth of God for a lie." We asked the question, "What are some of the lies this world has put in the place of God?" All three discussion groups had excellent points and the sharing at the end was inspirational. We were honest and talked about the danger of replacing God with the pleasure and addiction that comes from sex, drink, drugs, and money. There were also concerns about the role of scientific thinking, especially in light of our TV's being full of the corruption and foolishness coming from the likes of Stephen Hawkins and Richard Dawkins. In all 10.00pm came too quickly. The class was good! On Sunday night Alex and I shared our 3rd Sunday. We wanted to tie in the "Hands" that we have been putting all round the Fellowship hall. We decided to use an old acronym I had from a class with Dan Stockstill, Hugs Affirmation Need Develop. Alex did a great job with the first two and I took the last two. At the beginning we got many of the older Christians to get their hands covered in paint and add to the number of hands on the wall. The atmosphere was really good and the message we were able to share was powerful, again stressing the previous point of God's power.

I am away to meet up with Alex and Shaun Main for coffee to talk about what we will do with tonight's class.

"Finally, brothers, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power."

Taking the Time to Notice!

Thought I would make a few comments about this weekend. You just never know what opportunities you will encounter! For some reason it hit me this weekend the variety and depth of opportunity God places in our paths. I have been humbled, frustrated, proud, delighted, disappointed and useful all in the space of a weekend.

I was humbled on Sunday as Fenella the girls and I went to visit Ian and Avril Bowie from Cullen. We found out that Ian's health was in bad shape. We were able to spend a wee while in their home and find out that Ian has cancer in his bowel. His state of mind was exemplary and his outlook is very positive. It is humbling to not have the answers. Ian and Avril have been a refuge and safe haven for many in times of deep despair. Here again they are facing challenging times. It was good to listen to Ian share his confidence that God is his reason to face this cancer with hope. We were able to share a time in prayer and eventually tear ourselves away. I wish there had been more time to visit! We left at 5.30 and had to rush to get ready for church in Buckie at 6.00.

It is frustrating at times to see teenagers make bad choices in the past that are now affecting their future. I have had the joy of sharing some advice and council to a struggling teen. I can't help thinking how hard it is to go through those awkward years with a less than adequate tool box. I am prayerful, that in spite of some obvious struggles, the Spirit will guide and bring about something of value and purpose. I am very aware that this is always the case when the Spirit is involved, my prayer is for the will to engage and for fear to be overcome.

I am delighted with our Friday night bunch! This past Friday we had our first class of the term. We had to delay the start because of the Aberdeen Youth Weekend. It was a good beginning! We had Lewis and Robert "Graduate" from the Monday night Class now that they are in the Academy. I am so happy that they are now a part of Friday nights! We had two new faces in Jordan and Ryan. Jordan Sutherland used to come a few years back and after some invites he made up his mind to come and to bring his friend with him - fantastic! We added a few more "Hands" to our wall. I taught a lesson based on a fundamental difference between God and Satan, "God waits to be INVITED into your life, but Satan will INVADE any chance he gets!" We had a good crowd there and the atmosphere has certainly rolled over from last term. I am very hopeful and excited to see God continue the good work in this arena of young souls!

I have reason to be disappointed with myself. I have felt a bit flat and know I should be doing a better job in certain aspects of my life. I am reminded of the lesson I challenged the teens with last week and need to put it into practice in my own life. Satan, "The Accuser" will devour you if you let him! I need to spend some time getting back under, "The Mighty Hand of God!" After this weekend I know thing are getting back on track, but I am always conscious of my humanity.

I am not saying this to lift myself up, but to show how great God is and how we are useful in His service. On Sunday Fenella, Beth, Holly, Hannah and I had the joy of spending the day with the Buckie Church. On the journey up I prayed constantly that God use me to bless the church. I am confident that God used my family to encourage the Christians there. I preached two lessons and I pray that I allowed God to use my heart in delivering His message. We had lunch at Elaine Pirrie's and were spoiled big time! We watched a DVD of Elaine and Hunter's 25th anniversary, where they renewed their vows. It was beautiful and there were tissues, lots of them! It was good to spend time with Grace and Alan Johnstone. From a young age Alan, Grace and their family have impacted my faith.

I am proud of Amy and Beth! I see their roots of maturity in their desire to learn and choose a meaningful path for their future. I make these observations with an element of fear, because you never know what trials and challenges their lives will encounter and who they will turn too for advice. Fenella and I take comfort from the fact that they know God and that there is evidence in their young lives that their faith is their own. We don't know what tomorrow will bring, but we thank God for what his instruction and teaching has created through imperfect people.

Well, wasn't expecting to use this as a sounding board, but it is what it is! Please seize the opportunity to pray for many of the joy's and pain's I have shared in this entry - God Bless!

Call of Duty

Want to begin this blog with our first Wednesday night class. We had a good bunch there on the 1st night as you can see from the photo. We started bringing some colour to the hall by getting everyone to put their hand print on the wall - the kids loved it! We told the kids what we were going to do this new term. We are going to go through Jesus teaching, both parables and sermons with a 3 column approach. The bible record is in the first column, the kids write it in their own words in the second column and in the third column they write some applications for their lives from the teachings. The kids do this in their classes, but we all come together to discuss the application part. Will keep you informed as to how this works out! In short we had a great first class!

We just back yesterday from the Aberdeen Youth Weekend! Alex, Elaine and I took a group of 12 teens through for the weekend and in spite of all the usual symptoms of sleep deprivation and exhaustion we had a truly quality time. I can't sing high enough praises for our group. The way they conducted themselves showed a level of maturity and spiritual appetite that was a credit to them. The whole weekend they represented the Peterhead congregation well and I am well proud of them all!

I will try to put into words the essence of the weekend. When we left the building we stopped off at KFC for a snack before turning up at the building to register. We played an epic game of football upon arrival, as is our tradition. Being so close to Aberdeen we always arrive first and after the group are registered we head across the road to a concrete pitch and play for 2-3 hours - excellent! There is something very therapeutic about this football match. It's almost like I get all my anxiety and troubles out there and after the game there is a sense of peace and calm comes over me and I am then ready and focused for the weekend. I get to know everyone well on the pitch and the connections are made for the weekend and everyone has a starting place for conversation.

I mentioned just before my lesson the journey I went on in preparation for the topic I was given. I was given the topic, "Enemy Briefing." The theme is Spiritual warfare and I told the audience that getting the lesson to come together was not easy. I told them that any time you study about our enemy, Satan, you are forced to come face to face with your sin and your brokenness. I was honest about my struggles with Satan's "Strongholds" in my life and the constant struggle I have to keep examining my heart and taking a sledgehammer out every now and again to break through the holds Satan has managed to place in my life. I talked about our need to be consistently behind Christ and the danger of being exposed and out in the open when we forget to "...pick up our cross and FOLLOW Him." I used 1 Peter 5:6 as a foundation and used the illustration there of being under God's mighty hand. Ant the danger of not casting our anxiety on Him. I have to say I was in constant prayer leading up to the presenting of the lesson because to that point I was aware that my heart was not settled on what I would say. I am convinced that any time we expose Satan and his schemes we will come under attack from the enemy. I am thankful that God used me and the words came readily to my lips. I am confident that the lesson achieved it's end and that hearts were convicted and "strongholds" were starting to be demolished.

I was given the honour of sharing some insight into ministering to children and youth. I focused on two points. The first is obvious, but it took me a long time to accept and live by, "I planted, Apollos watered, but it is God who makes things grow!" I asked the question, "Is our mission to "Save" or to "Serve"? We are simply the planters and the realm of growth and salvation is God's! The second is one that has been proved true consistently in my ministry over the past 10 years which is the principle: "What you win them with is what you win them too!" (Thanks Dan!) If you attract the kids with activity then activity becomes the attraction. If you attract the kids with Christ then Christ becomes the attraction. We need to have God's influence right at the beginning in order for His hand to be at work in their young lives. The sessions went well and the comments implied that many were inspired to action, therefore, praise God!

Another benefit of the weekend was to meet Jeremy and Jenny Arron and Richard and Mary Harp. Both these families are now in Scotland and involved in ministry. I was only able to hear one of Jeremy's lessons because he was teaching the teens while I was teaching the young adults at the same time. The lesson I got to hear was titled, "End Game." He shared that the game was already won through Christ. He focused his lesson on Elisha and his servant when Elisha prayed that the young man's eyes might be opened to see the army of god surrounding the enemy. Great stuff! I'm sure we will get to know each these good people over the coming months.

We had one "incident" during the weekend. During our 5-a-side football on the Saturday evening Alex and Thomas had a clash of heads. Thomas went down like a ton of bricks and Alex had blood pouring from above his eye. It took Thomas a while to get things together and after a couple of hours in A&E both emerged looking a little worse for wear, but on the mend. Alex is the proud bearer of a good sized scar above his eye - note from the picture above. Thomas has no such battle scars to show off, just a pretty sore head!

Fenella, Holly and Hannah came through for the Sunday! It was lovely getting a hug from Holly and Hannah, but to see Fenella again, after being totally spent during the weekend, was priceless!

God is good!

New Term - New Opportunities!

Glad to be finally sitting down and collecting my thoughts of what has been going on these past couple of weeks. It has truly been eventful! There has been much to be hopeful about and at the same time there are some deep struggles too. In a nutshell - ministry!

Last week was great! I am still thrilled when I go round the schools and meet up with the head teachers and find out how I can help and find opportunity to serve. There has been one change in the school timetable this year that has meant a big change in how I am able to minister with the kids in school. Last term I focused a lot on lunchtime clubs, but this term it is not an even an option, since the lunchtimes have been cut to 45 minutes. There is no time after the kids are fed to do activities. At the outset I was concerned that this would be a stumbling block, but the reality is very different. I now have after school clubs in 4 different schools which is excellent. I have all my assembly dates plugged in too and it looks like my involvement in the schools is set for another year - praise God! This morning I also got in touch with the High School and from tomorrow we will be involved in a lunchtime club there too - good times!

I have spent a lot of time in study and preparation for this coming weekend. I was asked to hold a conference on "Youth Ministry" running alongside the Youth Weekend at Aberdeen. I have loved going over my class notes from my time with Dan Stockstill at Harding. If I am completely honest this is only the second time I can remember pulling them out and browsing through them. What impacted me the most was looking into my mind and reading all my thoughts and vision captured in term papers, philosophies and 5 year plans! It's hard to believe I am looking back over 10 years ago!!! It has been refreshing to remind myself of the calling I had and the clear and obvious response we made to set out on this path of ministry. I am excited to be sharing some of my insight and experience with the group, but at the same time upon reflection I am very conscious that "ministry" is not something that can be tied down and neatly packaged. My experience has shown time and time again that God's ways are, many times, not my ways! I was also asked to fill in for Robin Vick as one of the speakers. Robin and Chrissy have struggled to get over here, but thankfully the news is breaking that they now have their visa's and their flights are booked - praise God! I have the lesson on "Strategy Briefing." The Theme for the lessons is "Call of Duty" and deals with the topic of Spiritual warfare. I have spent a bunch of time studying for this and much of the study has been out of intrigue rather that necessity for my topic. I got a bit side tracked on the name "Lucifer" which I have always been taught is synonymis for Satan, but a name which means "Light Bringer" or "Morning Star." Like I said I have been easily side tracked through out my prep for this topic. Starting to get more focused and objective now and getting ready for the job in hand of briefing these young souls about our enemy!

Well, I have spent a greater amount time these past weeks in one on one visits. I have enjoyed the many cups of coffee and the time to get closer with people. It is always good to see hearts respond to the need for closer relationship with God. I am hopeful to be able to continue in this channel of ministry even when things get busy in the schools.

The photo's at the start of this entry are from our time in Edinburgh! We managed to get some last minute tickets to see the "Tattoo." It was an amazing spectacle! The pipers and the music was incredibly stirring and made us very patriotic. There is nothing like the sound of a huge pipe band! We managed to get two nights away and loved the time to be together as family. Amy and Beth loved exploring all the jewellery stalls that lined the Royal Mile. Holly and Hannah got T-shirts with their caricature painted by an artist. They loved it and love their t-shirts! Fenella and I just enjoyed getting time away and quietly watched the girls enjoy themselves. We know things are changing and while we were in Edinburgh we saw where Amy will be staying and also visited the University campus where she will be studying. We visited with the Hyvots Bank Church where Amy is planning to worship while in Edinburgh. They are a great bunch of Christians and Amy has already got pretty close with many there. Upon reflection of our time in Edinburgh there is no doubt that time with family is indeed Quality!

To finish. Monday night marked the start of our Youth classes. We had a fine class and brought in a couple of new ideas for the new term. We have created a "faceboard" for the younger kids. Alex and I worked on making a big perspex board with 4 columns. The first column is their photo and user name. The second column is where they update their status each class. The third column is for others to stick messages, and the fourth column is where they can stick a thumbs up if they like the messages. When we explained it to the kids they were very excited about it and it should spark friendship and communication. The other thing we have begun is our "Hands Border" Our youth/fellowship hall is pretty bland, so we have decided to make a border with hand prints. We started it on Monday night and will continue to add as people attend. We will open it up to all ages so that there will be a full range of generations represented. I thought as we watched the hands start to go on the wall how lovely it would have been to have faithful saints of old left their hand print there and be a constant reminder of their faith. We love the idea and love the colour and point of interest it will provide.

Enough for now! Please pray for our school ministries about to start - they will be time and energy consuming, but so much joy - God bless!

So much for taking it easy!

These past days have tested me to my limit. However maybe not in the way you might think! The past three days I have been making a trench all the way round our house two and a half feet deep! We have a burst water main pipe and because the burst part of the pipe is on our property the water authority told us it is our responsibility to get it fixed. So, I started out with a diamond blade say and cut through the concrete and then with a sledge hammer and pick axe got the top layer broken up and removed. Next was a layer of hard core and finally a foot of clay! I have not put my body through this kind of punishment since getting a huge haul of fish all those years ago! I have a bunch of blisters on my hands and from the waist up there are few muscles that don't ache. Happy to report that as of this morning the hard work is done and the plumber is coming just now to run a new pipe from the mains into the house - hooray!

On a different track. I have had the joy of preaching the last two Sunday mornings. The first Sunday I talked about the "Great Sin" of Pride that is so evident and in fact honoured in our culture. Talked about the need for humility in our lives and recognising our place before Almighty God. This past Sunday I talked about "Growth." I took a couple of potatoes that I had planted with Holly and Hannah before setting off to America and shared how great is it to watch things grow. I focused on the fact that it is only God who can bring about true beauty and growth in our lives.

There was a "Growth" moment last Sunday and one that made me very proud. During our "Prayers of the Church" (a time when the men of the congregation share public prayers), Thomas stood up and said his first public prayer. He expressed his thanks for the week we all had enjoyed at camp and for the chance to grow. Shaun told me after that he was ready to pray also, but that Thomas had said everything he was going to. It is such a joy to see their faith and also to see that they are at home with us as a family of believers.

Apart from the burst pipe episode, it is great to be home and to be around Fenella and the girls. We went through to pick up Amy from the airport last night and Fenella was commenting how it just seemed like yesterday they were here to get me! I know how blessed I am. Amy had spent a week over in Norway to visit with her good friends there. She had a lovely time.

I want to finish this entry with a thank you. For everyone who has been instrumental in bringing about decisions that has led to my family not having to worry about money for another year - THANK YOU! This week I was able to sit and gather all the info from my fundraising trip and things look to be in place for another year. Our God continues to provide!

God Bless!

Yes!

We have all managed to get a couple of days to recover and rest. Camp Tayside was quite a journey and ended on an amazing note. The title of this blog is "Yes!" Which was the statement printed on this years camp tee-shirt. This was in response to the camp theme which was, "Does God Exist?" I enjoy Christian Apologetics and to some extent I enjoy looking at the science that supports the Genesis record of Creation. However, there is a limit to our ability in comprehending what the creative power of God is. I really struggle when we as "Man" try to work out everything through the avenue of science. I must confess to not having the most complex or intelligent brain. I take comfort in passages like the Psalm that states, "I do not concern myself with things too marvelous for me." There were numerous evidences for the existence of God throughout the week of camp! When there was a challenging idea or opinion being expressed during the lesson you would see little groups of focused people searching the scriptures for a solid foundation and turning to the "True" source for their answers. I would hear prayers in various small groups expressing desire to get close to God through their struggles and searching. I would hear young men and women share their desire and joy in being able to serve others and be used as instruments that bring others closer to our Father! In everything, the week of camp was very powerful! Yes, there were times when our concepts of creation were being tested to their limits and beyond, but those were the times when the truly godly ones rose up and led the others to the Word and found opportunity for faith to become deeper and more real! It was quite a journey this year at camp. However, I have no doubt that in many ways the theme of camp was answered in each of the campers own hearts and that when they all wear their tee-shirts they can wear them with real ownership that, "Yes, God does exist!"

Isn't it amazing how we have no way of predicting what some outcomes will be! If you had asked me before camp what my thoughts would have been they certainly would not have included any of the above. Again, I am in awe of what God brings about! Looking back over the week it is amazing to see how God was lifted up throughout the week! There were times when the bible was secondary and not even opened to times when the kids couldn't wait to get into their groups and set the bible loose! There were times when science was almost lifted above the Creator God, but then you would see kids in their small groups and devo's sharing how great God is and how amazed they were at His Creation! I have nothing but praise for the leadership at camp! It has been such a joy for me to see more of David Emslie, Paddy Sullivan and Paddy Boyns' love for the kingdom and their delight in passing faith to the generation coming up. I have been richly blessed by their example and count it a joy to be able to serve alongside them in the arena of Camp!

I must mention a few reasons for godly pride in some of the Peterhead young people. At the end of camp there are a few awards give out in recognition of excellence. Megan Strachan was recognised as the "Most Outstanding Girl Camper!" Megan is 9 years old and this was her first year at camp! Shaun Main was recognised as the "Most Outstanding Boy Camper!" Shaun is 17 and just became a Christian a few weeks ago. He is already setting quite and example! Thomas Dickie was recognised as the "Most Outstanding Sports Person!" Thomas was exemplary in how he competed and showed a right spirit during sports and games. It is so encouraging to see obvious signs that God is working in the lives of these young people! Again I refer to the theme of camp - "Does God Exist?" Yes, just look at the lives that are allowing Him to work in them!

One last point about camp. My prime role before going to camp was to work with some of the older teens and young adults. The reality of this was quite different than what I had envisaged. Through the various challenges being presented in the class times, it became obvious that this group needed to become focused on service, both to the physical needs of camp and to the spiritual needs. This group were challenged to go and introduce balance to the campers. To encourage bible study and prayer within camp. Very quickly this group gelled and became a tight group focused on this task. I was very proud of their example around camp and for their devotion to helping meet the needs of camp.

Throughout the week of camp we were constantly being confronted with the question, "What is the purpose of Camp?" In my mind camp is a place where... "The older ones who know God and live in His love, give and share it. The younger ones receive it and learn now to enjoy life with it!"

"As the heavens are above the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:9)

Home Safe and Sound!

Just a very quick not to let you all know that I am now home safe and sound. I had no issues whatsoever on the way home. Waiting for me at Aberdeen were the ones I love most in this world! Amy missed you - hope NYCoS is going well looking forward to Saturday!!

Thanks again to all in America - God is good!

Coming Home

Well, I am sitting at Memphis airport waiting to fly out HOME! There were times I didn't think this day would come, but here I am able to sit and think about nothing else but my family. I know what is waiting for me when I land in Aberdeen later tomorrow. The truth is that the time has passed quickly while I have been here in America. I have lost track of all the places I have visited, all the people i have met and all the presentations I have made. All I can do now is have a little patience and pray that God's people respond to our need and provide what we need to keep going in our journey with the Peterhead Church.

I have been so encouraged from home while being in the States. I must mention Ryan Geddes and Mark Gourlay especially! Almost every time logged onto facebook they would let me know they were thinking about me and would chat for a wee while. That meant a lot to me - thanks guys! It was also good to get a note from Rachel, Thomas and Shaun. I have found a new love for facebook that I never really appreciated when I was home.

These past days have been frantic. I prayed constantly to remain strong in the last days. I hope during my last few presentations I was able continue to express the passion and love for the church in spite of being pretty empty on the inside. I had the joy of meeting with the Central Church in Little Rock. They were a great group of people! Ginny made and impression on me and I thank God for her openness to our ministry. I felt a little sorry for Jerrad, the head of the missions committee. I was relentless in trying to get together with them and I thank God for Jerrad's obvious love for missions and willingness to make the presentation happen! I had a special time with Mike, Deborah and Brian Ireland. Had a good time remembering past times and the bond we all share in Christ. Fenella and I thank God for the involvement of the Ireland's who have always been generous and shown much love toward our family going back to our time when we lived in Searcy, AR - THANKS! I had the joy of heading back to Nashville and staying with the lovely couple that is James and Faye Pitts! I will not think of them without receiving great encouragement - they have been one of the great Joys I have enjoyed this trip. I met with two churches and thank God for being able to see the strength of the Nashville area. I had the joy of meeting up with Lisa Stiles. Lisa will always have a dear place in our hearts. Lisa came back to Peterhead right at the start of our work there and shared in the joy of seeing doors open and kids flood in! It was good to catch up, Lisa!

I had a meeting with the missions committee at College Church on the Sunday afternoon. My only regret was that the meeting was at 4.00pm. The world cup final went into extra time and I missed the second half of extra time and the Spanish goal! Well, that's not really important, but meeting with people who have invested so much in our ministry over the years most certainly was! We have been immeasurably blessed because College Church have supported my family all these years. I was able to present an update on our ministry and report on the potential "new" support resulting from my fundraising efforts thus far. There were so many people in that room who have served the kingdom tirelessly their whole lives - I felt a little out of my depth if I am totally honest. That night I had the joy of meeting with Foothills Church. I had the opportunity to share a presentation of our work and also preach some too. I felt a closeness with the Foothills body. Maybe it was because of L.V. Pfiefer being the preacher there or maybe because Paul and Sharron Pitt and Jim and Nellie Hardin worship there - I don't know, but I do know I had a good time there!

Well, I close out this entry asking for your prayers that the purpose for this trip was achieved. Only God knows how things will finally work out. I know I have spent all my energy and tried to be bold, yet genuine. I have been blessed richly and now look forward to time with Fenella and my girls!

Family here I come!!!

God bless and thanks to all who have been instrumental in taking care of me these past 4 weeks!

America - Week 3

It is so good to be sitting this side of the trip and taking stock of where this journey has led to this point. Yes, I must start by stating the obvious I MISS MY FAMILY, but the truth is I have known a peace and contentment while being here. I thank all of you for your prayers - they are truly a source of strength to Fenella and I. With a mad dash to the finish of this trip I pray I can finish strong and that God continues to work in and through all that I have been led to and have been involved in. I have so much to be thankful for! I have met many new people on this visit and have been humbled many times by the generosity and hospitality of fellow Christians - I have been richly blessed! I have had an opportunity this morning to sit and evaluate the trip so far and although I am not able to say with assurance that the trip has met it's purpose yet, I have confidence that the opportunities gone before and the ones ahead can ensure my family's needs are met - Lord willing!

I spent much of this past week in the Dallas area. I started out with a 7 hour drive down to Bowie, TX. I met with them on Wednesday night and after some issues with the GPS and some rather strange directions to the wrong destination I was able to find the building and meet with the church. I felt so at home there! The atmosphere and the people were so homely and welcoming! I was able to split my time in the presence of the church with an update on our ministry and a lesson from the Word. They were so genuinely receptive to our work and gave so much encouraging words that I left there feeling so honoured that I was serving in the Kingdom. I had the chance to catch up with an old friend in Jonathan Paige. It was soooo good to reminisce about good times we had shared and the possibility of sharing some good times in the future over in Scotland. In everything I was refreshed!

From Bowie I drove up to Lake Dallas and spent the next 5 days there. It is ALWAYS a joy for me to get back to Lake Dallas. The church were the first to get involved with my family and have been a great source of joy over the 11 years we have served together in the kingdom. I spent the first couple of nights with Bill and Sue Allen. Bill has been and elder with the church for many years and is a true gentleman! I was spoiled rotten by them and had the delight of going to a major league baseball game. The Texas Rangers were playing the New York White Sox. The match was postponed for almost 4 hours due to some rain and it was quite hard to stay positive for that length of time. There was redeeming factor - John Bowles! I have known John for a number of years and knew he had a great heart for the kingdom, however this was the first I had been able to sit and talk for any length of time - a blessing in disguise! After being there 7 hours I was ready for bed, didn't get into the house till 2:00am! On the Friday morning we had a meeting with the Missions Resource Network in Dallas. They seem to have a good grasp of what missionaries life and needs. I was by now staying with Glenn and Sammie Johnson. I consider their home to be a safe haven because they are so down to earth and welcoming. I had the joy of sharing our work during the Sunday morning class and again I was asked to preach that morning too. Had a great time, but my favorite time there was at a picnic that night. We had an amazing game of football (soccer) and then settled down to a devotional I was privileged to lead a thought and then invite the teens to share their camp experiences. It was a brilliant night! I met up with two outstanding boys the next morning at Starbucks for a coffee before heading up to Searcy for the last leg of the trip. I had a good talk with Taylor Lively and Adam Goodnight and was well impressed with their faith and love for the kingdom.

PS. I have to mention Hunter and Liz Valls. This was the first time I had seen their son Turner - he was sooo cute! They are a lovely family.

Anyway, during that time I was constantly online and on the phone trying to plan the week ahead and trying to set up some new contacts to hear our appeal and potentially get involved with supporting our work.

This is now the final push and then HOME!!!

Please keep everything in your prayers - God Bless!