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.

I’ve spent the last few days in Orkney. Its quite a place, amazing sea views. There is nothing quite like a walk along the cliffs. Orkney has a wonderful shoreline. As you walk you become aware of the amazing power of the sea. It is this sea power that can change a coastline.

We visited a place called Skarabrae. It is on the southern shore of the Bay o’ Skaill, in the West Mainland parish of Sandwick. It is here that the Neolithic village of Skara Brae was discovered in the mid 19th century. Today, it is one of Orkney’s most-visited ancient sites. It was certainly busy when we viewed it yesterday. I believe it has achieved world heritage status. It is truly worth visiting

In the winter of 1850, a great storm battered Orkney. The notorious Orkney winds and extremely high tides stripped the grass from a large mound known then as Skerrabra.

What was revealed was in fact the outline of a number of stone buildings. The discovery intrigued the local laird, William Watt of Skaill, so he embarked on an excavation of the site. The Lairds house is close by and today you can visit the house and wander around the rooms. Its a facinating place that was built in the 17th century as a home for Bishop Graham.

Anyway back to the story. By 1868, after the remains of four ancient houses had been unearthed, work at Skerrabra was abandoned until 1925, when another storm damaged some of the previously-excavated structures. A sea-wall was built to preserve these remains, but during the construction work more ancient structures were discovered. Today it is well and truly secured and worth a visit. Makes you think though. Here is a civilization that dates before Abraham its over 5000 years old. As you ask questions you find they too were looking for answers seeking after God. Anway I hope you enjoy the pictures. They’re meant to get you to think - to begin to put life into a proper perspective. People have been before us and will be after us. We too have to make our contribution. Looking out from where we are

Tomorrow is the Bo’ness Fair Day but first I want to finish my posts about the Carberry Festival. I came across this clip on Youtube from the first Festival way back in 1987. It centres around an Ian Whyte Concert but I find looking at the audience most interesting its just full of memories. If you look carefully those of you who were at the festival you can have a walk down memory lane.

Tonight I continued to walk down memory lane. You see if you live in Bo’ness the Fair E’een is the time when most people get out and about to visit all the various arches and frontages. Bo’ness can be a pretty busy place. It was really good top meet up with some people that I haven’t seen for some time. If you have never seen the Fair it is worth visiting the town just to see the amount of work and effort that goes into the event by the whole community. Have a look at this year’s Queen’s Arch it is a huge birthday cake to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Children’s Fair. Today I had a visitor with me from India. He is the Chairman of the St Andrew’s Charitable Trust India, we have been looking at ways in which we can support a few humanitarian project in South India. As a congregation we are n the process of helping to support a number of projects in India, there is one callaed Sangita Trust. They aim to build an orhanage in the form of a village. It cost £6,000 to build one of the houses. Compare that with what is spent on the Fair and Bo’ness could be building an orphanage each year. Pray for the work in India it is challenging but we are encouraged by the progess that is taking place. In  a few weeks a small team from the Church will be on their way to join with Christ the Rock  Church in a children’s mission in the slums of Chennai. I think it would be great if we could find some way to link the Bo’ness Children’s Fair into an overseas development programme but it in India or Peru. Tell me what  you think.

One thing that I will always remember about the Carberry Festival is sharing a late night fish supper with John Bell, and the outstanding contribution that Adrian and Bridget Plass made to the Festivals over the years.One other thing I want to mention yet I’m not sure why, the picture of the crown of thorns which hangs in the Chapel hallway. I think John also added so much to those first few festivals. Maybe the crown of thorns speaks of themes and teaching that was not afraid to face suffering and pain head on.All of us who attended and shared ourselves discovered that the so called theological differences we all expressed, didn’t in the end divide us. Instead living together in community for a week or two made us aware of the important things that united us.Of course since those days the Carberry Festival has changed and different people have been in charge yet it would seem that the same spirit of community and companionship is still alive and well among those who regularly attend. I was privileged to perform at this the last festival as one who performed at the first. Iain Jamieson and myself had an enjoyable evening singing some of our old and new songs.I think one of the most moving experiences for me this weekend, was when we were all invited to bring closure to the Festival by burying the past in order to look forward to perhaps a different kind of event that might grow out of the experience of Carberry.If you’ve attended the Carberry Festival why not use this blog to record some of your memorable experiences.The picture above just reminds me of what it was like to stand at the back of the Chapel and look in or an event that could be musical, dramatic , or indeed worshipful. The picture below is the spot where we hope Jock Stein will be able to plant a tree to commemorate the influence of the Festival on the lives of so many people. If you have time visit my picture gallery highlighting the weekend. GALLERYLet me know what you think, should a new `Festival be born out of the old one? Here is a demo recording of a song Iain , Stephen and I performed on last Friday. I think it is very relevant to the thinking that Neil shared with us as he spoke of the power of a seed to be planted in the ground and in the end to bear much fruit. Maggie’s song reminds us of the power that comes through suffering and faith.

I want to write tonight about the importance of being a round peg in a round hole. Too many people beat themselves up for things they’re not doing. Too often they are being asked to do the impossible. I want to tell you a story that I told the children a few weeks ago in church. Its the story of a racing horse called Master Robert. When my dad was just a young boy he used to look after Master Robert, mainly because he was a horse that had gone lame and was no longer of any use to its owner. As my grandfather was in charge of the animals in the farm, he would let my father ride the lame horse to at least exercise the beast. One day they even tried to yoke the race horse to a Clydesdale horse to pull the plough. Well you can imagine how that went done with Master Robert. He just refused to move. He was bred to race. Finally one day a horse dealer arrived and bought Master Robert for a knock down price. He saw the potential in the animal. If you look at the film you’ll see Master Robert winning the Grand National in 1924. He was the real life Sea Biscuit.So the next time your going to write someone off as useless ask yourself if your playing them in the right position. Race horses don’t plough and plough horses don’t win races. Maybe we all need to bat to our strengths and stop worrying about the things we don’t do so well. 

It’s just turned 1.00pm and in the next 30 minutes Willie and I will be heading for the Airport. Thanks for the info James about the flights. We’ve been told that the Air France flight took off this morning a couple of hours late, however it won’t effect us because I believe the strike is now over. The city links seemingly have not been affected. So we should arrive home as planned.

I was so good to receive your comments over the past week and I felt that many of you were uplifting us in your prayers and for this I’m truly thankful. I’m also glad that Lorna and Erica’s parents got so much out of the live link between Bo’ness and Chennai. I’m just amazed at the two girls they have great determination and their faith has been growing fast during their world without walls travels.

Let me tell you something really quite interesting. Those of you who read the blog regularly will notice a few posts ago I mentioned Arthur Blessitt. Well just for shear fun I googled his e-mail and sent off a greeting to him. Lo and behold a reply came back. Guess what he too is coming to India. The only difference is as I fly out he is flying in. So we won’t meet. However, I’ve asked Raj to make contact. You never know what devine appointments God sets iTalker up to arrange. I’ll keep you posted. If Raj is reading the blog he might keep us all posted.

Tomorrow if I have time I write a bit about a fantastic project we visited this afternoon. It is a project seeking to rescue young girls from the sex trafficing trade. It is a poast well worth reading. There is alkso anoter posting which will be coming up about a visit we made to the tribal areas, and I’ll be introducing you to a tribe that still seem to live in the prehistoric age. So keep your eyes peeled for the next few posting.