GatheringTwenty years ago Iain Jamieson and myself wrote this song.  For a number of years it was a kind of theme tune for the Bogle Band.  We used to close concerts with it and I know it has touched many peoples lives. I remember singing it in Union Street Aberdeen. We were playing at a Pentecost Rally organised by the churches in Aberdeen.The street was closed off and a few thousands people turned up to participate. Now twenty years on I think the song has a significance once again.  In just a few days people from all over Scotland will be coming to the  CWW National Gathering in Edinburgh. Many people are coming to tell their stories of faith and renewal, others are coming to be encouraged. Some will be coming out of a sense of duty, while others will come with a sense of expectancy. I’m sure what ever the reasons , God is at work in all our hearts. making us see things in a new way. it is my prayer that everyone to comes to Ingliston might encounter the presence of the living God.  I’ve been encouraging people to look at the whole faith story that is encapsulated in the tents. Its not just our local stories we are telling, its the story of a people longing for intimacy with God down through history. This longing led Israel out to the wilderness, where they had to eventually face a journey for forty years because their was disbelief in the camp. They lived in tents to remind themselves that they had no abiding city in this world. Surely we are being continually reminded of our calling as Christians. We have to live expecting the return of Jesus while preparing for the long haul involved in just being a waiting people. Anyway there’s a crowd of people out their who will be making their way to Ingliston, on Saturday and Sunday. I want to welcome them and remind them that  this is going to be one of the best events ever and we all need to be there. You know something the most important person of all is going to be there JESUS! So lift your banners, pull them out and bring them on down to the Gathering.  

 The last few days have been pretty busy as we begin the countdown to the CWW National Gathering. I’ve been trying my best to get publicity in the press and also on the radio. I’m grateful to the journalist who have written about the event. We’ve have coverage on a number of local radio stations, as well as a five minute slot on Radio Scotland’s “Sally on Sunday” if you click here you can listen to the programme again but you need to wait for the last 5 minutes before the interview about the gathering comes on. (I think this link will remain live for about a week after the radio broadcast.) This week has been taken up with writing press releases and trying to get journalists interested in writing pieces about different aspects of the event. The truth is that its a bit of a lottery you have to keep on trying until someone eventually thinks this might fit our programme or this could make an interesting story. So keep praying.

 I was at a conference yesterday in Perth. It was hosted by the Evangelical Alliance, in St Mark’s Church of Scotland. St Mark’s has just undergone a major rebuild of their church. They knocked down the 1960s building and have put up a building that enables them to connect with their community as the move into the 21st century. I had to go to this conference because the title intrigued me .  (You must bear in mind the impending oil strike could effect the numbers at the CWW National Gathering) , so I  was keen to see if there was a prophetic word for me about the oil still flowing.  The keynote speaker was Krish Kandiah , he explained to us that he wrote his doctorate on the work of the Church of Scotland minister, who eventually became a Bishop in the Church of South India.  Newbigin made an interesting contribution to the Church’s understanding of  Gospel and Culture.  Krish is an engaging speaker, he was highlighting the need for evangelists to understand their culture and discover relevant relevant models to explain the core gospel. The more I engage with this topic the more I am convinced “that faith comes through” I think their is a lot in that phrase “comes through” faith is seldom an instant experience i think it is a journey a process, that beings from the cradle and ends … well does it ever end?  I was sitting next to David Clark the minister of the Steeple Church, as Krish was speaking he was proposing an alternative model to that of the diagram which involves the cross and the bridge. He was proposing the Augustinian idea that man is a restless being and can only find his peace in God. All very interesting. Krish was explaining the fall and then eventually understanding the gospel in terms of creation being restored. I think I’ve long since moved away from this view, I think that redemption is all part of the whole creation process. I wonder if the Adam and Eve picture in Genesis was ever  meant to be understood as the completed creation . Could it be that it was only the start?  Could it be that God built into his creation process, an understanding of sin, rebellion, and redemption? Could it be that God in creating the world and the kind of people he created, also planned for am incarnation and a resurrection? The first two chapters of Ephesians would lead us to consider this as a real possibility.  For me this kind of thinking is important because it allows me to understand that God’s providence is at work in every aspect of creation even today. Anyway, a big thanks to Fred  Drummond who organised the day. 

REM I put my car into the garage last week to get fixed, they gave me a courtesy car. This is where my story starts. I didn’t realise how much I like my old Passsat until I was given another car to drive. The one I had for nearly a week was a bit tinny, however what really bugged me was that I had bought a copy of REMs new album called “Accelerate” I put it in the CD player but the darn thing wouldn’t work.  When I pressed the release button, it didn’t work either, so I was driving about for 5 days with a CD  in the player  but no music.   When I returned the car, I was told they didn’t have the code to make the CD player work, but they’d get it, and mail me my CD . A week later I’m still waiting.  Anyway I thought you might like listening to one of the songs on the new REM album.  As I listened to this song I started to think about the opposite of hollow could be holy. The CD incident is a bit like what happens in so much of our church life. We are full of hope trying to play a new song and the infra structure just won’t work. Then someone tells us that we have to  wait till we get a code.  I think CWW is telling us we can’t wait any longer we are desperate to hear the new tunes so we go to You Tube.  We go outside the car outside the walls and play the tune. I’m sure that God is calling more of us to step outside the in-car entertainment system and play the tune. I don’t want to be a hollow man anymore!    The next thing that I want to talk about is the fuel strike. I have just listened to Michael Connarty our local MP speak about the issues surrounding the strike. I think he made a good case for the plight of the workers.  How despicable is it to try and steal money from people’s pension.  I know some folk think that the Eneos workers are should pay for their pension like everyone else. However the point is that this pension contribution from the company is part of the workers salary. It is like a deferred payment of their wages that they receive once they retire. So I’ve decided I’m in sympathy with the workers. As for the strike. Well I don’t like strikes, because they usually affect people who can’t really do anything about the dispute. I don’t like this one in particular because I’m conscious that it could affect the attendances at the National Gathering.  So I’m asking everyone who comes on to the blog to remember the Gathering in prayer and make a point of getting there. 

 Things are beginning to shape up for the CWW National  Gathering.  The next few posts will try and keep you up to date with all the things that are going on in the background. I believe its going to be a great day. The sun will be shining and literally thousands of folk will be really enjoying the day just like we did when we all went marching to make” Poverty History”.  The above picture is just a reminder of that day.Can I say that I feel really proud of the brilliant team that we have brought together to put on this event. Guy Douglas our project manager is just ace, unflappable keeping our work on schedule.  Neil MacLennan our operations man, is on the ball, he  has just completed the layout for the event. It looks really cool.  He has even given names to all the streets in the complex. New Testament names. So you won’t get lost.  As for Peter Johnston our publicity man, his talents are legendary. He has just put  together a great little booklet outlining all the things you need to know about the event.  And because Neil has made up street names  the wee book is an essential guide to getting around the  site. We also have a first class administrator in Ann Mitchell, keeping all the correspondence and communication on the go. Ann’s the one who will help you if you phone the CWW Office.Then of course we have team of managers each responsible for different aspects of the event and their contribution is beyond price.  I was just thinking the other day what amazing amount of talented ministers and elders we have in the wider church.  The real wealth of the church doesn’t lie in bank accounts. The real wealth is people who seem to carry on despite the mishaps and disappointments that often get thrown our way.Anyway, it won’t belong before it is all played out. How I pray that God  the Holy Spirit will visit us in a big way that weekend in Ingliston. Till then it is just about keeping everyone focused. It certainly is beginning to feel like something is stirring here in Scotland. Friday was really busy day for me. I gave two radio interviews one for Central FM and the other for Radio Forth. I also had the Sunday Times and the Edinburgh Evening News phoning me asking about the programme.Tomorrow evening I’m at Palmerston Place  Church in Edinburgh, taking part in one of four Prayer Gatherings that are taking place throughout Scotland for the National Gathering.  We really need to be covering this event with much prayer.  I’m delighted that the group Praying Across Scotland have been supporting us with their prayers. We’ve been encouraged by their interest. I’ve been hearing a number of really encouraging stories about congregations preparing for the event. It is just wonderful to hear about buses being booked and people preparing  for a gospel adventure.We’ve now had three congregations offering to buy tents for any congregation who would like to tell their story but feel they don’t have the money. So if you know of any let us know.    Tomorrow I tell you a bit more about the wider team. 

When the Special Commission was writing the CWW Report in 2001 we thought about submitting a report to the General consisting of the following four words, Jesus said, follow me!

Follow Me!
You said.
It was more than words,
I thought.
If your leaving on a jet
I could be tempted!
How I wish You did call me to follow.
Just to be going somewhere.
To be leaving.
To be getting ready.
To be packing a suit case.
To be packing a bag.
The only packing I do is at Tesco.
O God I hate shopping!

But I need to move on.
Change my life.
Change my job.
Change the way I think!
Moving means leaving.
Leaving means making choices.
What do I take with me?
What do I leave behind?
I’ve so much “stuff”
Not just stuff,
but the kind of stuff that clings on to you
weighs you down
Makes you
who you are?
Its stuff you can’t leave behind.
What would I do with ‘me’
If I left it all behind?

It’s not just things
It’s people
Ideas
Beliefs
Attitudes
Relationships. Just say I was to go
Get up
leave everything. Beliefs
Theology
all that I struggle with
in life
in religion -in politics
What would I need to take with me?
What is it that I can’t really leave behind?
The Word of Life
a map for living The Bread of life
food for the soul The wine of life
renewing my spirit The water of life
refreshing the mind

 In just under three weeks the National Gathering will take place at Ingilston.  I’m hoping that we’re going to see thousands of people turn up to engage with the thinking behind Church Without Walls. The real success will be when they go back to their communities and begin to put some of the ideas they’ve heard about into practice. I’m encouraged that more and more of the story telling  tents are being sold.  To date we have sold around 170 this means we will have at least 170 congregations sharing with others their stories of hope and renewal.  I think the tented village is going to be something quite spectacular. I’m sure we’ll have at least 200 tents by the time we reach 3 May. There is even going to be a congregation with a “tardis” beside their tent.Perhaps they’re putting a whole new spin on CWW.The thing I’m concentrating on most just now is trying to get more media coverage for the Gathering. The Press Office at 121 are doing their best to get our stories published and I’m hoping that we will get coverage on radio and even television. So if you have contacts you can put my way please get in touch.

Life as iTalker has been almost dead, I’ve not been writing a lot. I guess I’ve been a bit preoccupied with the CWW Planning.  Getting ready for 10,000 at Ingliston, is a monstrous task, so last week it was time for a rest. Time to chill out and do something different. So Mrs iTalker and myself went off in to the Highlands in search of the Loch Ness monster. The weather was bit cold when we started out but the last few days were pretty good and today was glorious as we headed home. We had a lovely cottage overlooking the river Ness, ideal for guys like ourselves looking for that one definitive picture. We made a really interesting visit to Urquhart Castle well worth a visit. Wemade a visit to Fort George. On Sunday I was the guest of Duncan MacPherson the minister at Hilton Church we had a great time there and encouraged that people are planning to be with us for the big event at Ingliston. In the evening I had the privilege to preach at the Old Kirk in Inverness and once again the message was responded to with enthusiasm. This week I plan to travel down to Largs to meet up with some of the ministers in that area to encourage them to participate in the  CWW Gathering. 

Some of you will know that I’ve been given time off from my parish duties to focus on the CWW National Gathering at Ingliston on 3 and 4 May this year. I’ve been doing a bit of travelling around the country encouraging church leaders to get involved in this motivational weekend.

We’re planning the biggest Christian event in Scotland for a number of years. the theme of the weekend it all about transition. the strap line is ” All that you can’t leave behind”. Transition is such an important theme, because it connects with every one. At home, at work, and in the church we are all in transition. Change is so difficult to handle. So finding out what is essential to our survival is important. These are the things we can’t leave behind.

I think it is so important to encourage church leaders today. In fact just to encourage people. We live in a world of instant fixes and that philosophy often spills over into the church and our personal lives.. Its so easy to feel discouraged if you are in a situation where growth is minimal or non existent and you read about people and parishes that are seeing great success. I hear someone saying why would I want to come to the National Gathering and become more disillusioned hearing stories of success and knowing that its not going to happen back in my patch.

You know what, I want people to put that kind of negative thinking behind them and come, simple to hear once again about the God who always engages with the people who feel on the edge of things. He picked up a Moses who was working in an isolated desert place and spoke to him out of a burning bush. He spoke to a man called Zacheaus who was feeling out on a limb hiding up a tree. He spoke to a man called Jacob who was trying to sleep on a rock for a pillow, knowing that he was as guilty as sin because he had cheated his father and his brother. I just want people to come and find out that God understands their struggles. ministry and leading is not always about doing its more often that not about being. being there at the right time. So I say to you be there on the 3/4 May that will be enough.