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.

I’m really enjoying these beautiful Autumn come Winter scenes here in Bo’ness. Just look and see how vibriant the colours were today. I was walking back from the church in the late morning. I think Grange Terrace has such a prestigious look about it. The tall trees that line the road must have some wonderful stories to tell. When the leaves begin to fall off the trees the view across the Forth is revealed. Its really quite mystical. Anyway here are some views along the Terrace.

As I continued to walk I came across this old tree standing tall stretching up into the blue sky. There was nothing temporary about this tree. It has its roots firmly planted in the soil. It might look a bit ugly but its solid. Its dependable, and its enduring. It carries and displays the scars of time on its bark, but it wears its bark proudly. Got me thinking, I know a few wonderful people who are a bit like this tree. They inspire me not because they look great but because they are great. Great because they have handled all that life can throw at them and their still standing.

On other thought came into my mind this tree looks like as strong and as permenant at the church tower.

Oh God
Help me to stand tall
Thank you for the strong people
Who have helped me in my life
The people who have made me look tall
The people who have held me up by their prayers
The people I lean upon
Lord I do believe in the Moses effect
Arms lifted in prayer
The giants whose shoulders I have stood upon
Thank you for the view they have given me
Even if I never journey any further
The view is all I need

I’ve been thinking about rivers recently,  well the truth is I think about the river everyday. My house looks out on the River Forth. The thing is the river never stays the same it changes everyday in life. I believe its such a great privilege to live so close to a river.  There are so many exciting analogies about tour spiritual life , to be learned from a river. Here’s a picture of the River  Tweed in full flow this afternoon, Monday 7th September.

A couple of Sundays ago i was preaching on the text from Psalm 46. ” There is a river that makes glad the city of God. What a wonderful thought. I wonder what the city of God “being glad” sounds like ? Its a wonderful image.

There is a River

I think this river is

Laughing with me

It too has a place in the city

God has given rivers a future

Now i know why it’s  singing in tune with the stones and the fish

Its presence lifts your spirit

It really knows how to move

It never stays still

A river is always going somewhere

Flowing

Faster

Slower

Deeper

Broader

I want to move with the river

I want to to race the river

I want to swim in the water

I want to catch a fish in the river

I want to flow like the river

Lord let the river of life flow through me

Today

Yesterday

And forever

We have a few foxes roaming about Bo’ness. Last month I discovered a couple of the church staff out on Grahamsdyke Avenue trying to feed one of them. I just think there is something sinister about these foxes skulking around Bo’ness. I even have two or three of them checking out my garden. So you can imagine the surprise the BBs got tonight when the silver fox arrived to be part of the team.

This particular fox has been known to a few generations of St Andrew’s BBs. It looks like another generation are going to get the opportunity of getting to know this legendary figure. So tell me what is the fox grinning about? Any ideas? Some have said they’ve seen him more silvery than he is now, others say that his time in quarantine forced him to try camouflage to hide his silver streaks.

I couldn’t stay for the whole evening, I just popped in to see how things were going now that David Andrew and Marie are no longer officers. I was encouraged to see a fair number of the boys turn up and also to take note that Roy,Neil and David seemed on top of things. maybe that’s the reason why the silver fox was smiling?

So if you think you can be of service to the BB Company this session please get in touch.

Its amazing what you see on the road when your out and about around Bo’ness. I’m staggered at the weight of things that get transported on our roads.  Here’s a steam engine being pulled by a lorry. The lorry is having a rest in a lay-by outside Bo’ness.

Got me thinking about the shear weight of troubles and worries that we all transport around in our lives. We literally carry rubbish in our heads and feelings in our hearts  that should have been dumped years ago.  

I’m just thinking I  had a boot load of rubbish rattling around in  the car for a day before I took it to the skip. It was most annoying rattling about in the boot , especially when I was turning corners.

Its the same with our emotional and psychological  rubbish, it always reminds us of its existence, especially when we’re trying to change the direction of our lives. The answer is simply take it to the skip and have a clear out. Yes dump the lot. You’ll feel a lot better. Why pull a steam train on a road when it was meant to go on rails. We do carry strange things around with us.  I like what Jesus said about troubles and worries. I’ve paraphrased it below.

BOGLE’S PARAPHRASE

Drop into my lay-by if your carrying a huge heavy weight, even if its the size of a steam train, I’ll deal with it. I’ll give you rest from that burden. I’ll send you on your way feeling different about everything. I’ll put you on the right track . Before long  the burden will be carrying you. Is that not what steam trains are made to do?  Matt 11. 28-30

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.

Writing the journal was easier than I thought it would be. I was reflecting on some of the people I met today. All members of the Church of Scotland but with completely different ideas regarding the shape of the church. How easy it is for us to want Jesus to make us feel comfortable.

Oh yes you’ll be going for a walk with Jesus at some point today. I mean those of you who have signed up for the C 40 challenge ( text Bible 40 to 80806  you’ll get your instructions) Anyway lookout for the Jesus connection today. John Eldridge, in  Walking With God”, lays out an inspiring book in which he gives so many practical tips in how to keep your journal up.

Believe me Jesus will just turn up today in the converstion and invite you to go for a walk with him.  it might mean you take your leave of someone, because he’ll be standing waiting for you on the outside of the circle. Just think how cool that is going to be. Your going to be able to spend quality time with Jesus.  The one thing to remember is to be sure to listen to him. Let him do the talking. there is a brilliant story in Luke 24.15 where it says the disciples were disappointed they were on the way home they thought jesus had ignored them. Something happened Jesus turned up and spent the rest of the day with them.  that meeting changed their lives and their faith. So make sure you take your time out today to go for the walk. Our verse today says “Jesus drew near to them” You know something he is closer to you right now than you can ever imagine.

Well I’ve been out of range of WiFi for the past couple of days. This post will serve as my last one from this trip to Peru. I’m sitting in the KLM Business Lounge writing this post. Like all travellers I can’t wait to get home.

Yesterday, was just one of those magical days in your life. We left Paul’s house just after 6.30am to miss the traffic. We were heading for the airport in Lima to take a flight to Cusco. From Cusco we would travel to the Sacred Valley to a town called Urabamba.

We arrived in Urabamba just after lunchtime. The little lodging house we checked into was amazing. Well specked, I’m told it is owned by a priest in Europe, it’s his nest egg for retirement. It was a good place to wash and get freshened up before heading out on a one hour trip to the latest Girasoles Home in the sacred valley. What a magnificent setting.

We picked up a crowd of the boys returning from school. They all climbed into the new minibus. This bus was donated by Greenbank Church Youth Group in Edinburgh. This has proved to be a tremendously useful gift . The fact is that this home is so isolated, without the minibus it is difficult to see how the boys would get about.

We arrive at the home around 3.00pm. What a welcome we received. I’m sure all forty boys run towards the bus shouting their words of welcome. Hector their house father jumps out of the van and introduces Willie and myself and our friend David who has joined us for this trip.

The home sits in what can only be described as a little piece of paradise. The huge mountains in the background and the shining silvery river running behind the home all adds up an amazing idealic setting.

The boys are anxious to show us  round their home to see their rooms. The first thing that strikes you is how tidy their rooms are. Willie comes over to me, “go on, take a picture of this wee boy’s bed, it could make you cry.” Well in this setting the sensitive side of McPherson is revealed as we look at a bunk bed with a wee boys teddy all ready and prepared for sleep. Its actually a little lamb. How wonderful to think that a child that once was on the street can regain something of the innocence and fun connected with childhood. More than this I recall to myself the words of the song.”Wherever I hand my hat that’s my home”

A few minutes later the boys are called for their evening meal. One of the children stands and gives thanks for the food. Then each table is served. Soup was the first course followed by chicken and rice, then jelly and angel delight. The boys didn’t leave a scap. It was great to see forty hungry boys getting tucked in.

After supper the boys had some time to play. David had brought a gift for the boys. A game of Table Tennis. This amuses a large number of the lads. Others had their pockets filled with marbles while others played football. In another area a group were doing homework, while a couple of boys had been detailed for washing up.

I move around the site taking pictures. Then something quite amazing happens. A rainbow appears on the sky just above the home. For me this was a sign a wonderful sign that God was smiling down our efforts.

On this journey we have visited the many varied projects run by Union Biblical and funded by the Vine Trust. It has been great joy to represent all of us in Scotland and beyond who have so faithfully supported the work. Of course I heard about challenges and difficulties but I also met people in Peru who are willing to face these challenges knowing that God is with us. For more pictures check out my picture gallery.

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

I was speaking to someone at the end of last week. We ended up talking about the fact that God often uses the things in our lives that we are ashamed of to make us into better people. The cracks and the scars still remain but they make us more valuable.

I told the person this story. When I was a young minister i used to take my daughter out on some of my parish visits. One day an elderly lady gave SJ a present. It was a dolls cup and saucer, one that she had when she was a little girl. It must have been at least 80 years old.

Well we took it home and duly put it on a safe shelf in the house. SJ was warned it was something she should keep – it was really too fragile for play. Well one day she stood up on a chair grabbed the cup, and of course the whole thing came tumbling down fell on the floor and the saucer broke into pieces. You can imagine it was tears all round. We gathered up all the pieces and put them in a bag and forgot about them. A few months later i was relating to someone the story of the broken saucer. the lady told me that her father loved fixing things and she was sure he could piece together the saucer, which he duly did.

The story doesn’t finish there. I was telling the story as an illustration of God’s patience and kindness in one of my sermons. A member of the congregation, Ann Mahoney was taken on with the story and she wrote some words inspired by the sermon. When we were recording an album of songs another member of the congregation, Ian Walker wrote a tune to fit the words and Ian sang the song on the album. Well it doesn’t finish there. A year or two later I visited a member of the congregation who was in hospital nearing the end of his life. I noticed he had been listening to some music through his earphones. “So what were you listening to,” I asked. “The church praise album,” was the reply. He then continued, ” I’ve been playing the song, ‘Broken Lives Worth Mending ‘ over and over again all day. You’ve no idea the comfort I’m getting from it.” He continued, “Its such a comfort to think that God thought I was worth fixing”

And all that happened because i took SJ on a parish visit. Makes you think how all our lives are inextricably linked to each other and to God.