Walking back home
Sore feet
Sore head
Sore heart
So tired
So sorry
So what

Walking back home
Still seeking
Still weeping
Still reaping
Say something
Say nothing
Say everything

Walking back home
No promises
No comprimises
November
To slow
To know
To say
Nothing

Instead
I’m Forgiven
Words fail me

Don’t give up – there is always a way to fix things. If your in a bad place at the moment watch this little video clip it brought a tear to my eye.

All of us at sometime in life get stuck in reverse. Instead of going forward everthing seems to be going backwards. We have all made decisions and said things that we wish we could change. Getting unstuck is what living is all about. I’ve come to the conclusion that by nature we are all sticky people.

The meaning of life for me is the unsticking of self so that we can be free. Yet I’ve also discovered that understanding requires us to live with paradoxs. To enjoy freedom I need to love. To love I need to live in communion with another or be in community with others. To make community or communion work I need to be free to give up my freedom for the sake of love and in doing so I am proving my freedom. The greatest encounter wth freedom is to wear bonds of love.

Jesus of Nazareth used stories to illustrate ways to move our lives forward. The story of the Lost Son never ceases to touch me in quite a profound way. I think it is the visual imagery that reaches beyond words.

Before I get shopped from somewhere else let me explain the pictures that I posted yesterday of Grangemouth Refinery were googled. I went looking for the pics I took in early September couldn’t find them they must have been deleted from my phone. Anyway things are getting ready over here for the St Andrew’s Day Celebrations this Sunday. We’ve got the Salire flag flying. I hought some of you’d like to see the view from the church tower. Its really quite impressive. And yes I took this one earlier with my iphone.

Here’s a warning. Watch out ! You may be taking a perfectly innocent photograph but you don’t know whose taking a photograph of you in return. You might get “photo shopped”

A few months ago I stopped to take a picture of the magical fairyland that Grangemouth becomes when it gets dark. I thought nothing of it. Then last night I had two police officers at my door inquiring as why I took a picture of the Grangemouth Plant way back at the end of the Summer. They were actually very nice. When i told them i took it for my blog but had never used it. However it did draw my attenrtion to the fact that there is no such thing as an innocent picture when it comes to taking a photograph of an oil refinery.

Its a dreary damp day in Central Scotland and I’m listening to “We See Lights” new album. And I no longer feel dreary because the music lifts my soul. There’s a beautiful song called ” Ghosts and Monsters” it has a wonderful hope filled lyric and I just love to discover music that speaks to the heart. Anyway I’m getting ready to put the material together for the sermon tomorrow and it reminds me that the gospel invades the soul and turns dreary days into days filled with hope and meaning.

Tomorrow we’ll be saying farewelll to Andrea Woolllard. For the past two years Andrea has worked with us in our Bounce Higher Programme to offer individual support for young people and families. The programme engages with issues like parenting, relationships and communication. we are missing Andrea already but we wish her God’s blessing as she returns to Norway for family reasons. The next few weeks will be busy as we seek to find Andrea’s replacement.

Did you know this week is Prisoner’s Week? Its an opportunity to think about those who find themselves in prison and who are trying to think about the changes they will make when they get released. Over the years I’ve met some really intetesting people in prison. The fact is that many of us would be in prison if some of the things we’ve down in the past had been found out.

The truth is when I go to visit in prison I am painfully aware that many of the people who are locked up shoudn’t be in prison at all.We need to fuind alternative constructive programmes that will help reform and change characters rather that a one size fits all culture that ends up traing the next generation of criminals.

The top right photo is a bunch of criminals I had to eject from the church on Sunday afternoon. Imagine getting lockjed in Church with this motely crew

I’m getting ready to attend a conference in Aviemore. It’s run by the Church of  Scotland to help elders and ministers understand how to deal with conflict in our churches when it arises. I’m looking forward to it .

Of course this is nothing new, where you find people in community you will also find the potential for conflict. Its interesting because,  I’m preparing a sermon from James chapter 4 this morning. In this chapter James asks the question, where does conflicts and wars all stem from ? Then he begins to answer the question, he suggests from the human heart, when  human beings become self centred and think on what is best for them and not what is best for the community. James talks about the dangers of seeking self satisfaction rather than reaching out to God. He describes the whole area of conflict as a struggle between what he calls worldliness and holiness.

My challenge this morning is not to make the sermon sound as if I’m ha-ranging the congregation. You know its so easy to point out the weaknessess of the community,  and the weaknesses of the congregation but is more difficult to do so in such a way that people feel inspired motivated encouraged to draw close to God.  You can say all the right things but you can say all the right things the wrong way. I just wish more of our church leaders would understand the difference. I guess I’m setting myself up here, for you can listen to my attempt, if you download this week’s sermon from www.standonline.org.uk

This Season of Remembrance draws from all of us a sense admiration and gratitude but also a great sense of sadness and disappointment. Its overwhelming as we consider that so many innocent people are the causalities of war. Its not just the soldiers and the immediate civillians caught in the crossfire. Its not just the people who have lost limbs Its literally thousands upon thousands of people whose potential has been ruined or snuffed out and who live their lives a shadow of what they could or might have been.

STICKS AND STONES

Sticks and stones

And broken bones

And terrorists and mobile phones

And babies cry alone

Children play

And mothers pray

Their children will be suicide bombers

Its a strange world

We live in desperate times

The lines of right and wrong

Have all been redrawn

And suicide means – taking sides

For some its just another day

To hide To pretend

To say, “Its gonna be alright”

Knowing nothings right

And never will be

Till the guns stop

And soldiers go home

And poppies fall

In Albert Hall

And all around is silent

No one speaks a word.

I think it is a good thing that more and more people are observing the two minutes silence on the 11 November. I believe that a thousands of people in various locations stopped to reflect upon those ho have lost their lives. I think it must be an encouragement to those who returned home. It must give them a focus when they see ordinary people expressing their gratitute. I came across this video on Youtube I don’t know what you think of it but I like the sentiment even it its a bit cheesy. What do you think.

I was at the Alpha group tonight in the Inchyra. the numbers have trailed off a bit but the quality of the evening has stayed very much the same. This is a joint Apha between Polmont old and ourselves. One more to go. next week we’regoing to talk about the work of the Holy Spirit. So if you know anyone who wouldbe interested in attending let them know – 7.00pm at the Inchyra on the 18 November.

Things continue to develop here in Bo’ness. I don’t think I’ve ever had a dull moment over all the years I’ve been here. Its great to see the work that is happening with the Avenue youth project beginning to flourish. I’m delighted to see young adults around the church looking to see where they can begin to take on roles of leadership.

I can hardly believe that Christmas is nly eight weeks away. Very shortly we’ll be planning the Christmas Movie. Indeeed I have a script. Wejust need to find te cast. Anyway I’d like to thank all the people who took the time to buy a cross and share it with us all on Sunday morning,

We’ve had Mrs Jones and Mrs Robinson now we have Mrs Janes. I fear that Mr Brown knows there is nothing he can say to Mrs Janes that will ease her pain. His dilemna is what not to say. Those of us who have spent our lives around grieving families know how fagile bereaved parents can feel. The wrong word the wrong look the wrong name all compounds the wounds of loss and anxiety.

The world is full of smart people. I have noticed how smart people are especially in hindsight. The recent whoha! with Gordon Brown and Mrs Janes will continued to be milked by all sorts of political annimals. I think Mrs Janes must be very used to people making that mistake. I also think she has been badly advised in the way she has handled the situation.

I don’t know about you but I think the media need to give our PM Gordon Brown a break. It doesn’t matter what the man says or does it seems to me there is some smart journalist waiting to mark him out of ten. Look I’m not niave. He’s a politician, but he’s also a human being. Sending the letter to the bereaved boy’s parents was a gesture of concern and empathy. It is perfectly understandable that Mrs Janes is angry and disappointed at the circumstances surrounding her son’s death, but the Sun newspaper is simply using this woman’s grief to score their own political points against a political party they once supported.

This is such an emotionally dangerous and heartbreaking situation. It really does call for those around Mrs Janes to help her grieve for her son without being in the glare of TV Cameras. I think the day may come when she will regret having been used this way.