Interesting to see how the new film Amazing Grace has caught the headlines. There are a number of interesting clips on the above web site worth looking at. The whole issue of slavery is something we should all be concerned about. Its not so much that we apologise for the deeds of past generations, its more important that we all do something about the situation today. All over the world people are being bought and sold into slavery. The Church Times has an interesting article. I know from the stories I’ve heard in peru the trade is literally worldwide. Its always the children who come off worst.

Anyway I thought some of you might be interested to know that our studio team have just completed our latest commission from Learning Teaching Scotland. The film is to be used as part of the teaching materials to be used to show Scotland’s roll in the whole slavery issue. It’s the story of ‘Indian Peter’ a fascinating tale that gives a new insight into the whole issue of slavery here in Scotland. It wasn’t just Africans that were sold into slavery. Did you know that thanks to the persistence of one called Peter Williamson, a group of traders were convicted and jailed.

Williamson who was sold as a slave himself in 1728, and eventually found his way back to Scotland after a life of dangerous adventure and mishap in the colonies. It was Williamson who eventually uncovered in 1743 that over 600 children had been sold into slavery from the Port of Aberdeen including himself. Its a great story.Williamson ended up suing the the men who had kidnapped him, and became wealthy as a result.

We hope to have a premier of our 12 minute movie within the next few weeks. I must say that we are indebited to Alec Shuttleworth who wrote the script and plays Peter and to young Jack his son for his part as young Peter. I also must say that Iain and Colin Jamieson have once again made a great soundtrack. Rae Manger our film editor has made a great wee movie. I’m not sure if I’m allowed to put a trailer up. If I am, I’ll do it one night next week.

U2 is hard to beat as a band when it comes to raw emotion and energy. I just love the song entitled “Grace” from the “ALL THAT YOU CAN’T LEAVE BEHIND” Album. I like the clever way that Bono has personified the idea of grace. It is a very biblical idea to take a Godly characteristic and express it through a human being. I think that is what it means when Paul writes, God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself. Anyway I’m including this piece in the section Church without Walls, because at the core of our report to the General Assembly was the idea of a church living in grace. Peter Neilson describes the power of choosing to live in Grace as opposed to choosing to live by works. In this short clip he describes the radical alternative that grace brings into our lives. Listen to Peter describe the Cycle of Grace.  Another challenging book to read is “What’s so Amazing about Grace”, by Philip Yancy. I believe that Bono has been punting this book to a number of his friends. It really is worth a read. Now since you’ve stuck with me this far, I’ve got one final treat for you. Sit back relax and watch the screen. Here is the Cycle of Grace video, using Bono’s song and the fantastic editing skills of Rae Manger who works in the church video studio. THE CYCLE OF GRACE. Oh one more thing if you have never read Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s classic book The Cost of Discipleship read it, it will have a profound effect on you. Above all enjoy GRACE.

Newbigin in his book, The Gospel in a Pluralist Society helps us begin to understand some of the issues we wrestle with as Christians every day in our lives. It’s a book worth reading. He reminds us how easy it is to recast the Christian story in terms that we think will make the message more plausible. Many of the 20th century theologians have tried to explain the miracles in the gospels in purely psychological terms. These theologians talk of the miracles as visions created in the minds of the disciples because of their faith in Jesus. They see the resurrection story as a result of the pre-existing faith the disciples had in Jesus. I’ve no doubt that they want unbelievers to become believers. In doing so they write another gospel to accommodate their reason. What they do is change the message all around. Indeed it is the exact opposite. The disciples according to the gospel accounts had no faith whatsoever. They were all full of doubt. They had no expectation of resurrection. Where was Mary’s pre-existing faith, or Peter’s or any one of the disciples? They were all afraid and in hiding. Newbigin accuses such people as this to be people who are seeking to domesticate the gospel. In other words change the message so that it fits the reigning plausibility structure. It is obvious that the resurrection miracle is difficult for a secular world view to accept. So the way forward is to change the message. Another interesting writer on this whole topic of morality and culture affecting theology is the book by Parker T Williamson, “Standing Firm”, in this book he introduces us to the context and faith struggles which Athanasius had to face in 325 AD at a place called Nicea. “It is here that the church erupted into a battle ground between between Christian faith and cultural accommodation” it is with all this in mind that the song Mr Graham was written. I’ve used it to introduce my latest   podcast.