Today has been a busy day catching up with all sorts of bits and pieces. I’m also delighted to be practicing my blogging using the iPhone software that I’ve just downloaded. This will be of special interest because as we plan to go to India next month I hope we’ll be able to blog more easily.

The Mystery God in Creation

Creator God
Here am I
A created being
Thinking
Feeling

Praying to you

The Almighty

Its just something within me – I can’t control
I’m pushing on an ever opening door
The door itself is the revelation
It tells me your presence
Is all around
In blues, greens, reds and yellows
I need to speak your name
I need to reach out and touch
The mystery of the one who made me
Oh God how majestic You are.
You take my breath away
Such beauty
And you made me
So I could appreciate all this wonder filled creativity
How absolutely amazing
And I know there is more
I can’t see
If I could see your entire creation
I’d die of wonder shock
So here I am a created being
Speaking to you the creator
Through an open door
In the shape of a Word
Its just another one of your mysteries
O Lord
Deal with this soul patiently
For I may well forget my place
As I gently tread
in and out of your Creation

I said I write a bit more about the Fair. Have a look at my tweet pictures I’ve been out and about yesterday and today taking some pictures. The Queen’s Arch is very impressive.

( This article has been reworked in the light of a comment on the blog.)

Michael Jackson and the Bo’ness Fair – what do they have in common?. Perhaps more than you might think. The fact that he died yesterday on the Bo’ness Fair E’en, will live on in the memory of his many Bo’ness fans who were once children who danced and performed to his music as part of the Fair.

Of course the sad thing is that Jackson rightly or wrongly will always have a suspicion hanging over him when it comes to children. His friends say he was the victim of his own success. Moving from a child star to a teenage pop idol, to a global superstar in the 80s.  All this hero worship  and I believe a very  strict and at time abuse father, had an impact on his life. What ever the truth is, there is a great sadness in the story  of his life , because as I read it, it seems to me, he was a man in search of his lost childhood.  Ask yourself what ever happened to the wee boy in the picture

Jackson’s search for childhood is no different from many of our own longings. Physiologist tell us that we all at different stages in our lives try to be children again. Frank Lake a clinical theologian talks about the child parent role that we all alternate between instead of engaging with the adult we can all become. Too often we play the child to get our own way, or we play the parent often to put another down and win a point.

If only we could turn back the clock.  But we can’t and its dangerous to try.  When we do it often not only affects us but can have ruinous effects on other people. None of us can live in the past, we can learn from it but we have to live in” the now”.

Take for instance scores and scores of mums and dads have been building arches for the Bo’ness Fair. When my children were young  I did it myself. I think it’s quite magical to see a father working on an arch for one of his children, but everything has to be kept in perspective. We  all need to accept  especially in a world where there are increasingly limited resources that the simple can be the most effective.  I always remember the phrase, when it comes to art and music less can mean more .

Jackson’s love for children and his extravagant development of “Neverland” might be likened to the shear extravagance that many feel the Bo’ness Fair shows to children. I find myself alternating between two opinions. Delighted, entertained, and overwhelmed by the shear creativity of this community, and on the other hand left wondering is this the best use of resources?

It is the same challenge I find myself facing as we consider the refurbishment of the church. Should we spend thousands on a building or give it away to make a difference in the lives of the poor, or can we do both?

While saying all this it would be churlish of me not to commend the outstanding contribution that many hard working mums and dads are making to the the Bo’ness Children’s Fair. For them their work is a labour of love to help them engage with their children and the community.

The sad thing is for some  parents the fussing and preparation for the Fair is more about them reliving their own childhood rather than listening to their children. The truth is,  given the option of a huge expensive Fair experience, or the pleasure of Mum or Dad’s company on a daily basis, I know what most children would prefer.  Sometimes we can underplay the significance children attach to the most simple of gifts or actions.

All of us need to examine the motives that lie  behind the activities with which we get involved, be it in church or the community, or at work , especially when it come to our children.

Sadly too often for many of us, and I include myself in this,  the big gestures  in life can be made out of our  guilt complexes rather than our genuine engagement with an issue.  I have come to the conclusion honest involvement always creates the most effective community spirit.

No other town I know of  can match the enthusiasm of this community for a Festival centred around children.  Last year the Fair celebrated its 100th Anniversary. have a look at this clip from Youtube.

For me the challenge is to take the Fair to another level all together. To move from being a little less  inward looking to becoming outward looking. To become an International Children’s Fair.

Highlighting the predicament of so many children around the world who are caught in the trap of slavery and abuse, could be the greatest contribution that the Bo’ness Children’s Fair could make to the lives of children world wide as the fair moves into its second century  of “Fairness” .

I’m certainly encouraged by the response that many of our young people are making to the challenge of injustice and inequity already.  Indeed as a town let’s remember  it was people from our community  who set up the   Vine Trust nearly  25 years ago . Today  it is famous for  taking aid to street children in Peru.

Over the last six years this Trust has built over 5 orphanages,  in various parts of Peru, set up  a Medical Centre, from which two medical ships, now operate out of in the Amazon and the surrounding area. The Trust is also sending over 300 volunteers a year to make this work happen.  Yes there is much good will and good work in our town. It now needs more good people to catch the vision.

There is a sadness I feel as I finish this post.  The Jackson story will never be properly understood, but who ever does try to make sense of it   – one thing is for sure , children and his childhood must feature largely in it. There is little doubt that our childhood has a profound effect on the rest of our lives so lets help the children we know and even don’t know live happy and fulfilled lives as children.

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Bo’ness the town where I live must be the smartest and tidiest town in the whole of Scotland this week. I seriously doubt if there is a town anywhere in Scotland that will be better turned out this Friday. Yes you’ve guessed, this is Bo’ness Fair week.

I’ve not had my troubles to seek these last few weeks as the list of things to do has increased especially around the garden. Making hanging baskets and working around the garden is quite therapeutic but it takes up a lot of time. It took me the best part of 30 minutes this evening to water all the plants. However it is really quite amazing to see how things take shape in the garden.  Watering and feeding the plants is an essential  aspect of growing flowers.

So is it not the same with our relationships with each other and with God.  We’ve got to spend time watering and nurturing our friendships. So often we just take each other for granted.

I’ve got a feeling that this has been one of the hottest days yet this Summer. It was a great feeling heading down to the studio where we broadcast Valley FM this morning The Sun was shining  and what better to start the show off than with “Mr Blue Sky” from the ELO.  In fact it was great to play a number of Summertime songs including the Kinks, ” Lazing on a Sunny Afternoon”. It certainly was the day for lazing around in the sun.

When it comes to chilling out there is no doubt about it our garden is really a peaceful place. Its brilliant to lookout of my study window and see the evening shadows falling and the golden soft sunlight touch the trees and the grass. To add to all this is the feeling that in the words of CS Lewis ` the term is over and all the holidays have begun” I really love that phrase. 

It is beautifully express in Mike Scott’s song  ” Church Not Made With Hands” have a listen below. There is definitely something quite wonderful for us all to look forward to. One day we will all be out of the shadows living and breathing a new kind of air. Clean and fresh. Too often we’re living  and toiling in the dark places in our minds. i love this song because it is full of energy and hope.

 

We need to be reminded of the blue skies that we can all encounter in our mind’s eye.  We can  all create a new perspective on life if we look through the right lens. Its how you see things and value things. let me tell you about the parable of the bench.

Among the many things I did today  was the refurbishment of an old bench that has been sitting outside my study window for years.  Its become weather beaten and the worse of the elements. Mrs italker told me to junk it and buy a new one.

I decided it was worth saving so I went in search of the right kind of paint. It took me a while because I wanted the texture of the oak wood to be seen in the bench when it was painted. I finally got this shade called “Holly” I think it looks the part.

 Here is the result halfway through the process. The thing is I could have left it that way as a kind of  talking point.  it could have been an entry into the Tate Gallery  of Contemporary Art. I could argue that tis picture has a profound meaning.

It reminds me that often I want God to start things in my life but I actually don’t want him to complete the work he has started. Its as though there are aspects of my old life that I want to hold on to for just a bit longer. The unfinished bench also reminds me that God actually is working on my life at the moment. He has a plan which he is going to complete.

The other thing is that no one is going to sit on this bench until it has been completely finished. No one wants  to sit on wet paint.  However if the truth be told  when this photo was taken the paint had been dry for at least an hour. So I guess the motto is  ”you can’t tell a bench by looking at its colour” Anyway I’m sure you want to see the finished article.

Here it is renovated and waiting to be used once again in the garden as a valued piece of the garden furniture. You see it was worth saving.

Today is Father’s Day and we’ll be having a service focusing on the children. Its what we call the King’s Club Prize Giving. its an opportunity to thank all the parents and children who come to church and to allow to children an opportunity  to lead us in our worship. Its always a well attended service because the children always bring the best out in all of us. Here s a video i hope to play at the service. Its not one of our own. In fact we did produce one, which is better than this one but rather than check through our library I thought this one will do the trick.

This year we’re going to be looking at the story of Jacob. Its all about someone who messed everything up. Ended up running away from home and finally finding a way back. Have a look at some of the pictures the children produced to help illustrate the story. They have produce three wonderful pictures.  The great thing is that God didn’t give up on Jacob when he made mistakes. He continued to work with him to make into a wonderful work of art.

Valley FM continues to broadcast out across the airwaves. This is an amazing piece of youth work. It is a credit to the 40 odd teenagers and young adults that are involved in the ten day spectacular, broadcasting from 7.00 in the morning to 12 midnight. I feel honoured to be included and be given an opportunity to be a radio presenter for a few days.

This morning I had Andrea our our family worker as my guest. She was a natural on radio. I also think she gave some amazing advice to our listeners and insight into her work here in Bo’ness. The programme she is part of is called “Bounce Higher” from this programme centred around the importance of resilience, she has developed a number of interesting child centre projects. I like Andrea’s approach to the way she works with people. She is always holding out hope often to mums and dads that are struggling with an issue and think they will never recover. The good news is that you can and you will but it takes time.

It was good to get the final stitches taken out of my elbow this afternoon six months after my elbow was smashed up. It has been a good reminder to me that it takes time for broken bones to heal. It also takes time for broken relationship to heal. Too often when it comes to our personal relationships with each other we either give up or we expect too much too soon. When it comes to broken bones I had the support of metal work in my elbow for nearly six months, then the whole thing was opened up again and the metal work taken out. Who ever told you healing was an instant thing, it more often than not takes time. So why not cut yourself and your
friends a bit of slack and think of healing as a process rather than an instant miracle.

I spend my life talking to people about God. The thing is that there is nothing new or original I can say. I find myself speaking about God in so many different places and situation.

I’m learning that I need to make space in the conversation for God to speak. I’m learning that its not my role or calling to defend God. He’s big enough to do that himself. I have come to the conclusion that people know God more than they let on. I think Paul hints at this in the first chapter of Romans. Its suits some of us just to say, “we didn’t hear you God”.

I came across this little video if you can listen through the American accents I think you’ll find a few things worth reflecting on. It’s called

Just because I have a couple of degrees in theology doesn’t mean that I know God better than you as a reader. Anyway whether I like it or not God knows me and you and I think that is the point of this little bit of drama. Knowing that God knows me must make me live a different way.

Just finished picking the set of songs for my radio show later on today. I love this opportunity to get behind a microphone and share some music and tell stories and speak with my guests.

Today’s guest is Stuart Murdoch the Baptist minister in the town. I think we’ll have a bit of banter. It will be a great show. I hope that Lilias will also be able to join me as part of the production team. Lilias is really chatty and good at answering the emails that come in from time to time while your on the air.

I’ve got a kind of theme in my head for tomorrow. We’re all in search of this theme but too often we don’t quite find it. And when we do it seems to just disappear. Anyway I thought I’d play a track from Blue Nile.Here is
Paul Buchanan singing

I just think this is a great song. So if your around check out Valley FM on 87.7 or if you are not in reach of this frequency why noot go to Valley FM Web site and listen in.

I’m in the Glasgow Concert Hall to hear “The Praise Gathering” This is my second year in attendance because I enjoyed it so much last year. Here I am blogging live from the venue. Ian Watson the Mistro behind all this has to be congratulated it looks as though its going to be a great night. Anyway I’m going to sit back and enjoy the rest of the evening. Martha is giving me that look that says put away the iphone NOW . I’ll let you know how things go a the interval.

As like last year this is a first class event. The standard of the music is wonderful. this year the guest artists were Keith and Kristyn Getty. They played a wonderful set, I especially liked the song ” Oh to See the Dawn” a moving hymn inviting believers to reflect on the cross. At the end the star of the show for me was the young 17 year old girl who just wooed the audience with her version of the old gospel standard “Since jesus came into my heart”. The truth is Ian with natural local talent like that you don’t need any big names she was just brilliant. I don’t have her name because we left the programme in the recycling box. I believe the Praise gathering is on tomorrow night also well worth a visit. Glasgow Concert Hall 7.30pm