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Mark 13:31

Bible Verse of the Day - 18 hours 57 min ago

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Vietnam: Evangelist’s home wrecked by mob ’spurred on by officials’

Scottish Christian - July 29, 2010 - 18:42

A Vietnamese evangelist has received death threats after a gang of youths, allegedly spurred on by officials, attacked his home [more...] Related posts:

1. Minister has to flee Peterhead home
2. Scottish Christians to distribute thousands of Bibles in Vietnam
3. Forgotten evangelist recalled

Kinneff church is put on the market

Scottish Christian - July 28, 2010 - 18:50

Empty pews in a Mearns coast church has resulted in a decision to close it and put it up for [more...] Related posts:

1. Kenya church project delight
2. Church of Scotland announces candidates for next Moderator
3. Church needs a helping hand

Romans 12:2

Bible Verse of the Day - July 28, 2010 - 06:01

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Royal Mail to celebrate King James Bible’s anniversary

Scottish Christian - July 27, 2010 - 18:47

The Royal Mail is planning to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the King James Version of the Bible with a [more...] Related posts:

1. Senior broadcaster to make King James Bible documentary
2. It might be the ‘finest work in English’ … but the King James Bible was a sales flop
3. By his Maiesties speciall commandement

No pilgrims will miss Pope’s Mass due to cost, says church

Scottish Christian - July 27, 2010 - 18:45

The Catholic Church has insisted that no-one will be financially excluded from the Pope’s visit to Glasgow this autumn, saying [more...] Related posts:

1. Pope’s visit to Britain in disarray as costs spiral to £14m
2. Two-tier system for Mass on Pope’s visit, but Scots won’t have to pay
3. Royalty and flock of 200,000 to welcome Pope to Scotland

Pakistan: Christian nurse narrowly survives being thrown from fourth floor

Scottish Christian - July 27, 2010 - 18:38

A Christian student nurse is still in a critical condition after she was allegedly gang-raped and then thrown from a [more...] Related posts:

1. Pakistan: Christian pastors shot dead outside court during blasphemy trial
2. Family's concern for nurse found in car's boot
3. Livingston nurse recovers after being found in car boot

£9m boost from Pope’s visit to city

Scottish Christian - July 26, 2010 - 18:43

The Pope’s visit to Glasgow could be worth nearly £9million to the city’s economy. City officials believe the brief visit to [more...] Related posts:

1. Church says Papal visit unchanged despite claims over costs
2. Ibrox car parks to be used by worshippers for Pope Benedict's visit to Scotland
3. Killers get 18 years for attack in city flat

Scotland’s saints begged to perform miracles for tourism

Scottish Christian - July 26, 2010 - 11:15

Scotland’s saints, whose miracles include raising the dead, curing the mad and even saving a queen from execution, could now [more...] Related posts:

1. Church tourism conference to focus on increasing visitor numbers
2. Following in the footsteps of Scotland’s earliest saints
3. Orange Order bids to turn walk into week-long festival

Philippians 1:6

Bible Verse of the Day - July 26, 2010 - 06:01

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

John Knox to be included in pageant during Pope’s visit to Scotland

Scottish Christian - July 25, 2010 - 11:10

A John Knox look-alike is to welcome the Pope to Scotland. The actor has been hired by the Catholic Church [more...] Related posts:

1. Theologian claims we should celebrate Knox, not the Pope
2. Pope told to apologise to Catholic abuse victims before Scotland visit
3. Pope to meet Queen on visit to Scotland

Proverbs 12:1

Bible Verse of the Day - July 24, 2010 - 06:01

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

Glasgow to get 25,000 Pope tickets

Scottish Christian - July 23, 2010 - 22:30

Worshippers in Greater Glasgow are expected to be offered the largest share of tickets to see Pope Benedict XVI in [more...] Related posts:

1. Two-tier system for Mass on Pope’s visit, but Scots won’t have to pay
2. Ibrox car parks to be used by worshippers for Pope Benedict's visit to Scotland
3. Bellahouston Park in Glasgow chosen for Papal Mass

Bishop on same-sex marriage: not now, not ever…

Scottish Christian - July 23, 2010 - 22:27

The Catholic Church will never celebrate same-sex unions – “not now, not in the future, not ever” – even if [more...] Related posts:

1. Veteran human rights campaigner {sic} calls for same-sex marriage in Scotland
2. Gay lobby push for same- sex marriage in Scotland
3. Bishop praises Tories to heavens

Lords: Drop in religious radio a ‘disappointment’

Scottish Christian - July 22, 2010 - 22:26

The decline in religious broadcasting on the BBC World Service has been branded a “disappointment” by members of the House [more...] Related posts:

1. Bishops challenge BBC Radio on lack of religious content
2. Former head of BBC calls for atheists on Radio 4 God Slot
3. Humanist joins BBC committee on religious broadcasting

Fresh call for gay marriages to be legalised

Scottish Christian - July 22, 2010 - 22:22

It might be marriage in all but name – but now campaigners want to end that final inequality in gay [more...] Related posts:

1. Quakers move to treat same-sex partnerships like marriages
2. Gay lobby push for same- sex marriage in Scotland
3. Scottish Lib Dems call for gay marriage

Full house of God KO

Scottish Christian - July 22, 2010 - 22:19

A bride and groom have been banned from tying the knot in a bingo-sponsored wedding – after their minister claimed [more...] Related posts:

1. John puts on his Sunday best
2. Kirk fears gambling is 'new opium of the people'
3. Super-casino rethink is best bet, says Kirk

Sculptor’s coathanger crucifixion is unveiled

Scottish Christian - July 22, 2010 - 22:16

One of Scotland’s most celebrated artists has unveiled his latest major work in the heart of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile — [more...] Related posts:

1. Glasgow taxpayers fund 'transsexual Jesus' play
2. Churches mark the Crucifixion
3. Only one in eight know the Christmas story well

Thursday... reality bites

Rumours of Angels? - July 22, 2010 - 19:44

Earlier this week as I was asked to go and visit a woman who is dying from cancer... and I was struck by the attitude of her daughter in law who is nursing this woman through her final days (and sleeping in a chair by her bed at night).
She is already grieving for her mother in law who is a pale shadow drifting in and out of a morphine haze, yet she is coping in the face of pain and suffering and impending loss. She is coping not just for herself, but for her husband, and her father in law.

We sat by the bed and talked quietly about past times, and other losses. We talked about death and suffering and visions of heaven. And I prayed for the dying woman -so greatly loved - and who has carried so much pain and suffering in her life.

Sometimes when I hear people’s stories I am amazed at how much a human being can cope with in one life time.

A line from TS Eliot came back to me (from Burnt Norton) – “human kind cannot bear very much reality”. And I have to disagree - I am constantly amazed at just how much reality some people can and do bear.

In ministry I walk close to grief most days... but it is not my grief. Yet I cannot help but absorb some of the emotions which are laid bare before me.

And I count it a privilege that people I have never met trust me to come into their homes, into their darkest moments and to share their grief and loss.

In Celtic spirituality certain locations are considered ‘thin places’ – places where the division between heaven and earth is thought to be at its narrowest. Well the thinnest place I have ever experienced is the one at the bedside of someone who is dying.

John 6:47

Bible Verse of the Day - July 22, 2010 - 06:01

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.