I've been trying to keep my focus on the real importance of Christmas this year. It's so easy to miss the point. Its not about all the material things we give or even receive. I've been trying to understand what it means to encounter the joy and the peace of Christmas. I've been trying not be too stressed when things go wrong. For example the Christmas Eve service plans went hay wire this yesr. We ended up having no musicians to play. My sermon notes weren't...
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Believe this or not but this is my 400th post. I'm just back from the church where Owen and I have been working on the lastest Christmas movie. We hope to have it finished for the Christmas Eve Watchnight Service. Today's been a busy day. I ventured out in Martha's car this morning. It's a rear wheel drive and the back wheels spin brilliantly in the snow. Anyway I paid a visit to the post office only to find the postman locked out of the Post Office. I believe...
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The BBC mentioned our Woolies project in the news today. I believe it was even covered later on in the television news. The story had been picked up by the Herald on Sunday and I guess it was thought to be a good news story for Christmas. Nativity I was out with a film crew this afternoon trying hard to finish the filming for this years Christmas movie. It was a good feeling to get all the filming completed this afternoon. We had a great team of young people working...
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I had an interesting start to the day. I went in search of Alan Stewart farmer and road haulier. I've known Alan's family for many years. I wanted to meet up with a real life person connected with the business of sheep farming in order to make a podcast for Sanctuary First. When I finally tracked him down he was busy on the mobile sorting out the many deals he has to negotiate each day as he plans the movememnt of sheep from one part of the country to the other. He...
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The church building looks awesome. What do you think? Funny how the light changes things Dark gray stones turn red A green steeple looks purple A building towering over the houses below Almost hiding in the dark Can be seen from an other viewpoint A shining star radiates from the tower People in the houses below Feel the church is alive Inviting them to visit The lights are on The tower watches over the night Standing tall Reminding them God is still up...
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There is nothing quite like a cold winter day in Scotland. If you live in Bo'ness there is always the added mystery of the steam train. I thought this picture turned out quite mysterious and magical. No wonder the old spiritual songs often centre around a "Gospel Train" No one ever knows where a day will end up or indeed what jouneys we will take quite uneaxpectedly. While you look at the picture have a listen to Gospel Train by Bogle Band This morning I was up...
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Church was busy tonight. We had a quick curry cookery demonstration going on in the kitchen while in the church itself people were putting the finishing touches to the Christmas decorations. The tree went up last Sunday but we left it empty so that we could use it as a prayer tree. Tonight we put our Christmon decortion on it and I must confess it looks absolutely fantastic. While we're talking about trees. I got the big holly tree that stands outside our made door...
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