The phrase “the lost generation”, was used by Ernest Hemmingway to describe the soldiers who went to 1st World War and never returned. It has also been used by Christian commentators to describe the present generation of young people who are growing up lost to the Church

The truth is perhaps they are more lost to the Church but perhaps closer to God than some think. I for one feel they are better described as the generation in search of meaning. I also think there is something positive about knowing your lost. It at least concentrates the mind to find a direction. On Sunday I going to be preaching on this subject. Exploring the parable of the Lost Son and how it is echoed in a number of Old Testament stories especially the story of Joseph. So if your reading this and have any pearls of wisom that can be reflected in the sermon on Sunday, please feel free to make a comment.

Here I am back again after my unfortunate accident. I’m still not right yet. The arm is in a sling but I think I can make this post. Well a lot has happened to me since we last talked. However I’ll tell you about my adventures in due course.

What I want to blog about today is the news that Glasgow Council are standing up for the Cross of Christ. Amazing isn’t it! Yes they hold the copyright for Salvador Dali’s famous painting “St John of the Cross”. Anyone who tries to reproduce it without permission may find themselves prosecuted. They’ve employed a company of solicitors to trail the internet to catch potential abusers

All this got me thinking, isn’t there something hypocritical about our PC world. Jesus and his cross only has value, as long as it is economic value. When a City Council claims the exclusivity of the Cross of Christ you bet its because of the financial implications .The sad thing is while they scramble to maximise their investment, little do they know that they are perhaps only re-enacting the scenes from the foot of the cross itself. It was hardened soldiers on the make, who gambled for his seamless robe. They too had to cash in on the cross.

Of course I know its the painting, they claim to have exclusive rights over, while we see the Saviour to be exclusively inclusive. Indeed he has rights over us and the Council. A great piece of reformed thinking talks about “The Crown Rights of the Redeemer” but we’ll save that for another time. So what ever is said, or done, surely its the subject matter that makes the painting – the death of Christ from the Father’s perspective.

Regardless of all this the truth is out the cross of Christ still has an amazing attraction for 21st century people. Over 2 million people visited the Art Galleries to see the painting. And to give the Glasgow Council their due admission is free.I guess the gospel always wins in the end.

Just found the amazing iPhone function that allow you to take xray pictures. How cool is that! Now in case you don’t believe me here is the proof.

I’d like to thank everyone for all their messages of good will. I’ve been quite touched by the kindness of my friends and family. I also appreciate how a number of elders have stepped in to help out with pastoral duties including conducting a funeral. We are so blessed at St Andrew’s with people who step up to the plate when required.

Its so frustrating not being able to use both hands. This morning for instance, what a scramble I had trying to butter a piece of toast. Trying to have a shower was easier with the plaster. You see there is no plaster on the arm now just a big bandage and a sling. Its also a lot more painful now that the wires are in place. Hopefully that will settle down before I venture up to Aiemore on Sunday.

Talking about broken bones, here’s a song from Soustarr recorded a few years ago reflecting on the plight of being wounded. Broken Bones

Well what can I say. Sorry about no posts over the last few days. This is because I have had an ice accident on Monday and I don’t even play ice hockey. There I was rushing to get into the office with my mac under my arm and the next thing I feel every bone in my old tired body being shaken up. I now know what Elvis meant when he sang “All Shook up” I tell you I was shaken and truly stirred. Now Adam our Gapper has been on a First Aid course but he didn’t take charge.He came out had a look at me as white as a corpse and suggested blankets. Neil who opened the door thought ah! he’s desperate for the loo, as I came in clutching my arm laptop and iphone.

However he kindly re-assured me and got a sling for the arm. By this time I thought I’m for it I’m passing out and I’m not on parade. Lilias thought he always drinks tea that will sort him. But nothing could mend the elbow. I was off to A and E and a big plaster. However tomorrow it’s back to Stirling to get a pin in it. So you see all this brings me to the title of this piece, it gives a whole new meaning to the phrase ” more power to your elbow!” or have you heard “Albert’s just got the elbow!”

A huge thank you to everyone for being part of Sanctuary First. We have truly an amazing team of talented and enthusiastic people who worked really hard today to bring the whole experience together.

This service was created around the reading in Revelation Chapter 3. It is the letter addressed to the church at Sardis. This church had reputation but no reality.

The aim of this service is to help us all realize that time is short and we have to be ready and prepared for the work that God is calling us all to participate in. Like the church at Sardis it is too easy to become complacent and believe that we are being successful because we are involved in lots of activity. The church is called first and foremost to be a worshipping community. Too often we are like dead men walking or like people half asleep to the needs of the world round us. We need to make sure that we are not a community of believers that live off a past reputation. We need to do all we can to ensure that our worship is authentic and true and that includes our lives.
Here is a great song by Keith Greene which we used tonight.
Asleep in the Light

In the service we still want to explore the areas of ACTS = ADORATION CONFESSION THANKSGIVING AND SERVICE. Tonights service I guess focused on the need for us confess before God our complacency.
I’d love to here you comments about the service.
BIBLE BASE
Revelation 3 (The Message)

Revelation 3
To Sardis
1 Write this to Sardis, to the Angel of the church. The One holding the Seven Spirits of God in one hand, a firm grip on the Seven Stars with the other, speaks: “I see right through your work. You have a reputation for vigor and zest, but you’re dead, stone-dead.

2-3″Up on your feet! Take a deep breath! Maybe there’s life in you yet. But I wouldn’t know it by looking at your busywork; nothing of God’s work has been completed. Your condition is desperate. Think of the gift you once had in your hands, the Message you heard with your ears—grasp it again and turn back to God.

“If you pull the covers back over your head and sleep on, oblivious to God, I’ll return when you least expect it, break into your life like a thief in the night.

4″You still have a few followers of Jesus in Sardis who haven’t ruined themselves wallowing in the muck of the world’s ways. They’ll walk with me on parade! They’ve proved their worth!

5″Conquerors will march in the victory parade, their names indelible in the Book of Life. I’ll lead them up and present them by name to my Father and his Angels.

6″Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches.”

I’ve been working on the sermon for church later today. There is going to be a bit of a tie up between the morning service and Sanctuary First. I’ve been reflecting upon that great little text in 1 Corinthians 16.9 where Paul says this ” a great door of opportunity has opened up for me, but i face many adversaries. I going to be encouraging every one of us to make the most of our life opportunities. We can’t live our lives in regret. never can we live our lives in fear. Too many people over the years have held back from the call of God on their lives because they could only see the obstacles rather than the opportunities. So tomorrow will be “Open Door Sunday”

I think the evening service has the potential to be really interesting. One of the themes we will be looking at is the living dead that inhabit the church. Here’s a sample of the material we’ll be reflecting upon.

A scene of first aid – blue lights flashing emergency noise soundtrack – someone being brought back to life. Paramedics flat on the ground – receiving the breath of life from a passer by. The point is that the church is facing an emergency. The scene depicts the struggle for the Christian who is slipping back into the world. The church is called to be like the rescue ambulance seeking to strengthen Christian life. However the church is dying no longer able to carry out rescue missions.The passion for renewal and revival is now outside the church in the most unexpected places. God is Emerging in the lives of people who would normally pass by.

GET REVIVED OR DIE? – ALBERT BOGLE
(The actor pacing up and down looking at the audience then at the paramedic flat on her back Desperation can be detected from the voice)

They’ve got to wake up!
You better wake up!
So much to do
It’s absolutely ludicrous
I can’t believe what I’m doing
I can’t believe what I’m saying
I can’t believe what I’m seeing
This is a crisis.

Religion is dead
Church is dead But I,-
We need something to believe in

Imagine
Para medics being resuscitated
By the patients
If you where told that
You’d laugh in disbelief
But we’re living in an upside down world
How did the church get into this state?
Something happened!
Something terrible is happening
The world has gone crazy
And the Church with it

Oh what ever happened to you?
Why have you stopped talking?
Why have you stopped explaining?
Why have you stopped believing.?
It was your job to bring us back to life
To bring us hope
Salvation
Meaning and purpose
But you lost
Your heart
Your passion
You got side tracked
into alternative programmes
You stopped believing people were sick
You became sick yourself
believing lies
You got caught up in a counterfeit world

You’ve got to wake up
Start coughing
Breathing
O Please just start
Living again
Loving again
Singing again
Caring again
Healing again
Believing again

I’m the outsider here
I’m not into rescue
I need to be rescued
I’ve got my own problems
My own plans
But people like me need help
Children need love

Don’t look at me like that
You look dead
I’m not like you
I’m the outsider here
I’m not a Church
I can’t do it your way
I’m into relationships
I like it minimalist
Not too complicated
O Please wake up
Strengthen the things that remain

Song – Bob Dylan – From the “Slow Train Comin” – When You Gonna Wake Up

Its the second day in the new year and war seems to be round the corner for the Palastinians and the Israelis. Have a look at this Rueters web page my heart goes out to such people caught up in the middle of years of mistrust and injustice on both sides.

I’m wondering where Tony Blair is in all this? I thought he was the special emissary in the middle east? I haven’t heard his name mentioned once in the news. I wonder of Israel and Hamas are escalating all this because they will find themselves brought round the bargaining table when Barack Obama is sworn in as President of the USA later on this month?

I’m sure if the Palestinian homeland question could be resolved and Israel’s right to exist agreed, we would see a huge shift in the whole relationships between East and West. I often think that we’ve not moved on a great deal over the years. We are still fighting over who own and controls land.

Meanwhile here’s a song from Bono PEACE ON EARTH

Its the first day of the new year! Let’s hope it is truly a good one for all of us. Soon we’ll be taking down the decorations and getting ready to engage with the work of the coming year. In fact we’ve made a start already. The  Christmon tree has been removed from the church, well not quite?  I cut all the branches off of it and its now standing in the chancel a rather despised and forlorn tree. It’s been turned into our Lenten cross. I’ll leave it up this Sunday to let the children see it and help them make the connection with Easter. (Although that point has been made very well in my last post by the church puppeteers.) If we’re removing the decorations I’ll also have to remove the Christmas picture of the manse from the blog.

Many of you have actually remarked on the picture and also on the manse. Yes we do like living in this old house. Its been a manse since 1857 and I believe it cost something like £350 to build. Not bad value for money. I just wonder how many of our kit framed house will be standing in another 150 years. Any living in such an old house also adds a bit of character to Christmas. So before the decorations and the picture changes I thought I’d share with you some of the Christmas images we have place around our home this year. Have a look in the Christmas Album that I’ve created

One more little addition I’m going to try this year to share a track from a favourite album with you and also hopefully stimulate you to perhaps go and but the track yourself. Well today i was listening to Tom Morton on the radio and he reminded me of a fantastic song that I had forgotten about, its called “Sweet Thing” by Van the Man. Tom mentioned how joyful the track is and it is. It just a great way to start off the new year. I’m going to post this now before the clock changes to midnight.