Hearts

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Follower of Jesus, non-conformist, preacher, poet, blogger, graduate of Highland Theological College, Husband, Father, Son, Brother, Friend, Learning Assistant (ASN) Outdoors. Late diagnosed Autistic.

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Top Posts of the Last 7 Days

Essential

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Written in the depth of the Pandemic: "I am essential!"    The preacher roars in his hundred dollar suit.  His hundreds strong holy huddle of pew warmers burst into an applause of rapture as they prepare for the second offering.  The TV channel switches to pre-recorded "Tele-Evangelist mode".  The cheers echoe through the giant money making machine.  Like an idol his image flashes across giant screens in the auditorium.    As he speaks he suddenly remembers his brother across town.    In an old tin tabernacle the gentle shepherd speaks to his flock.  "I am not essential... Except the Lord builds the house the builders build in vain."  He says this while ministering in a soup kitchen as he serves the needy.  Later that day he plans to do food drops and work in a care home.  At evening prayers his prayer would be as he helped refugees at the docks and prisoners in the cells.  Then at night he would minister on the ...
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The Church is Not Closed

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Written during lockdown: Choose the fast Loose the bonds Free the oppressed Break the yoke Divide the bread Feed the hungry House the homeless Clothe the naked Darkness to light Gloom to midday Close your doors Open your hearts Church closed Church deployed Church deployed Essential Gospel Public services Gospel voluntary services Gospel homeless services Gospel food banks Graveside gospel Bands of marriage gospel message Live streams Living streams Gospel food pantry Gospel soup kitchen Gospel meals on wheels Gospel grocery drop offs Gospel food boxes Gospel nappie provisions Gospel clothes release Gospel keyworker childcare Gospel books Gospel bibles Keyworker vacancies Witnesses sign up His church will not disappear into the night She will rise on the wings of the morning Kingdom come Kingdom coming The church is not closed, The church is deployed
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Notes on Suffering

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I don't have all the answers. In fact, the truly faithful answer to some questions is "I just don't know," and that is the faithful answer.  I, like others, am on a journey when it comes to the theology and philosophy of suffering. In this little message are some ideas that may be of use to those exploring this topic, particularly those who follow Jesus.  It seems to me in our attempt to worship God, we sometimes think of Him as Sovereign in a twisted way, almost like a dictator with absolute power, micro managing everything and every detail of the world. But that would be a world without free will, a world we humans didn't choose (I suspect humans, angels, demons, and creatures have varied degrees of free will and arguably nature itself). This means troubles will come for not all use free will for good or in a way that doesn't have lasting negative consequences. There is a world of variables. There are good things and bad things. There is a war between light ...
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Peter Has Changed

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Reading: Acts 3:1-10 Peter heals a beggar who can’t walk Peter has changed. "One day Peter and John..." John (the beloved) has brought the restored Peter who had so strongly denied Jesus along. There is a sense of being relational and intentional.  Peter has changed. "It was three o’clock in the afternoon. It was the time for prayer." They intentionally went to pray. They didn't give up praying but intentionally prayed at a given time. They went to a public place, not the privacy of the upper room but the temple. Peter has changed. "Then Peter took him by the right hand and helped him up." Peter is not drawing swords or being wildly outspoken. But, humbly and gently ministering to those in need. He is not a man of the sword but a man of prayer.  Peter has changed. (Quotes from NIRV).
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A Kind of Spark

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  I don't normally watch children's programs unless one of my children happen to be watching it. This particular program is slightly above their age range, but it peaked my interest as a story about an Autistic girl with a cast of Autistic actresses. I just finished season one and loved it. The story follows a girl who campaigns for people accused of witch craft to be remembered. Please note as a follower of Jesus I don't believe in witch craft, but also as a follower of Jesus I don't believe witch hunts are a true reflection of Jesus' heart and message. Also of note in this story and in most those accused of witch craft were just different. It turns out that one of the characters Addie (the leading girl) wants to memorialise is just Autistic like the leading girl, like me.
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Poet

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Do I write free verse? Bad verse? Good verse? Or chaos? Are these easy essays? Perhaps they are scribbles searching for the light
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A Blether about Autism

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In some ways, I feel it may have helped to know I was autistic sooner.  In the same breath, the 1990s and 2000s were a time of bullying for a lot of people. I was a loner, so my torment was probably less because no one knows what to do with outsiders or how they will react. Also, we can fly under the radar. None the less I did get bullied at times. I was always different, and bullies hate that even if they can't put a finger on what made me different or why. As a lonely sort, I often adopted my sisters friends or they adopted me. I'm even married to one. My favourite one! So I at least had a few friends. Being raised on a Scottish Island and going to a wee primary school (good as they were with me), I don't think support would have been available on any level it is to kids now. I am genuinely happy that progress is being made for the young. I do wish there was more support for adults. But, delighted for the young ones. It is a brave new neurodivergent world. Kno...
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Who watches the watchmen?

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Governments, armies, Terrorists and arms dealers all claim to be serving the greater good in eliminating threats. They claim to protect us from enemies (while clearly swimming in a sea of money like Scrooge McDuck). But, the question is, who will protect us from them? It is the age-old "Who Will Watch the Watchmen?"
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Time

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Time goes marching on. Many an empire has come and gone. Yet we remain. Watching the ticking clock and the sifting sands of time. Time goes marching on. Many a friend has been and gone. Yet we remain. Watching the ticking clock and the sifting sands of time. Time goes marching on. Many a soul has been lost and won. Yet we remain. Watching the ticking clock and the sifting sands of time. Time goes marching on. When our time comes, if we are remembered or not, will the love sown remain as time goes marching on?
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Pioneers of Liberty

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"Who were the Anabaptists? Radical reformers - Church planters - Peace activists - Pioneers of liberty" - From an advert for an online course in the Anabaptist Mennonite Network Newsletter, Summer 2024 Are you pro this side, or another side is normally a subtle way of asking who you are against rather than who you are for. People are good at knowing who they are against. Sadly, less able to see what they are for.  I have long held that all true pacifists should protest all sides of all wars. All combatants have blood on their hands no matter how justified they think that is. Pacifists can not take sides with anyone other than the civilians, victims, and aid workers. God is no respecter of persons, and neither should we be. Perhaps we should be more like the early anabaptists, who actively loved both Catholic and Protestant warring factions. Many of both sides hunted them without mercy. As a result, many anabaptists were drowned or burnt at the stake across Europe ...
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