I had the most wonderful evening on Thursday. Helen and Billy McCrea had me in their home for a meal of fresh Haddock and veggies (corn, potatoes and peppers....yum!) That was finished off with home-grown strawberries, short bread and cream. Hello!! Ummmmm.
After that, Helen and her 13 yr. old daughter, Elizabeth, showed me her beautiful flower and veg. garden. Then we moved over to a pen which was temporarily housing a little baby lamb that had hurt its foot. It was so cute. It was ready for a feeding and I did the honors with that little rascal finishing off the milk in about 2 minutes. Fortunately, I did not have to burb the wee fella.
Billy asked me if I wanted to go for a walk. As I looked at the sheep farm, which is home to about 400 sheep, I asked him how much land he had. He said that there is about 1200 acres to their farm. He works the place with his father and two teenaged sons, Duncan and Callum. Helen, Billy, Elizabeth and I took off on about a two mile hike up to a small platue area above their farm. It was so amazing. From the point we were able to see the outlying Hebrides. We could see in every direction for miles and miles. He jokingly said, when you can see the Hebrides that means it is going to rain; when you can't see them, it means it is raining. We could see them...and, yep, no sooner than we had started down it started raining! :) But, it was wonderful. We had the best time and a ton of laughter. Billy and Helen work with the youth...of which there aren't many...in the parish. Pray for them...they have the sweetest spirit and a huge heart for the Lord...I left there thinking that we had been friends all of our lives. They invited me back any time for another walk.
It rained all day yesterday with the clouds shrouding the mountains most of the day. The wind picked up in the evening and by this morning was howling and the rain was blowing side ways. And then about 10am, the wind shifted and the most amazing blue sky erupted from the clouds. I thought I would go out and walk. But, before I could get a sweatshirt on and a jacket, the clouds and returned and it started raining again :(. But guess what? Within 30 minutes, it was blue clouds again...it has been doing that all day. Right now it is clear. I am not holding my breath. The weather keeps you on your toes.
Well, my thirty minutes at the library is just about up. Thanks for your prayers. God is at work!
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Just Pics
Today, I thought that I would just send pictures. I have so many beautiful selections it was hard to choose. However, I did pick just a few...I don't want to bore you...ha! Just click on the picture and you should get a full screen view.
The ever present Purple Heather.
A clear view of the Broadford mountains.
A view of the mountains in Broadford.
This place is called the "Old Man and the Stor.
This is the church at Kensaleyre. It is an historical Scotish structure.
.
Another view
This is just one of the beautiful views from my bedroom window at the manse in Kensaleyre.
This the sunset from the manse at 11:15 at night!!
Another view from the manse.
This is the bay at Portree when the tide is out. This is such a lazy little town...one of my favorites, so far.
These are the MacDonalds. Mairi and Murdo have been so supportive and sweet to me. Had me come to their home to eat and to use their phone to call Linda, when I did not have a phone.
This is the inside of the church at Arnisort
The ever present Purple Heather.
A clear view of the Broadford mountains.
A view of the mountains in Broadford.
This place is called the "Old Man and the Stor.
This is the church at Kensaleyre. It is an historical Scotish structure..
Another view
This is just one of the beautiful views from my bedroom window at the manse in Kensaleyre.
This the sunset from the manse at 11:15 at night!!
Another view from the manse.
This is the bay at Portree when the tide is out. This is such a lazy little town...one of my favorites, so far.
These are the MacDonalds. Mairi and Murdo have been so supportive and sweet to me. Had me come to their home to eat and to use their phone to call Linda, when I did not have a phone.
This is the inside of the church at ArnisortI will do this again along the way. Thanks for your interest and your prayers.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Eil Ean A'choe
Yesterday, I visited, what the travel magazines have called the “Most Picturesque” village on Skye for the last four years running. If I didn’t leave my camera at home!! I thought I had put it in my back pack, but I had not. I will take Linda there when she comes…22 days, yippee! The pictures of Plockton will be even more beautiful b/c my wife will be in them. Like so many other villages on Skye, Plockton is nestled in and around an ocean inlet with skads of shops and restaurants lining the main street which borders the water. It is a quaint, lazy little place. It is just across the bridge that joins the mainland to the Isle of Skye. I’ll show pictures in a later blog.
Big news, today!!! I am among the living…I have a phone in the manse. I will give out the number in the next blog...I will only have it for two more weeks and didn't memorize it. Talk about taking things for granted. Have you ever been without a phone for three weeks? I have had to go to church member’s homes to ask to use the phone and I have gone to the little red phone booths…you know the ones you have probably seen in British movies. I frequented one more than any other b/c it was just down the road from the manse about a quarter mile away. I started getting a little self-conscious about doing that b/c one day an elderly lady, whose house is just across the road from the booth, was looking out her window when I exited the booth. I could just read her mind: “Well, I never…another man setting up a rendezvous with a strange woman.” I don’t know if she ever saw me again, but if she did, I would not even want to imagine what she was thinking. J or should it be L?
I don’t have access to my blog right now, so I am sure whether or not I told you I am doing a short-story-run-through of Peter’s first letter to the dispersed believers. If I haven’t…I am. If I did, sorry. Tomorrow night we will be looking at 1 Peter 2. Pray that God will use it to encourage this generation “to long for the pure milk of the Word.” Someone recently told me that at one point in the history of Scotland, the people of Skye were know as the people of the Book. I pray that there will be a strong resurgence of that being true.
Yesterday, was a day that was more representative of the name of Skye than any other since I have been here. The name “Skye” is a derivative of a Gaelic term “Eil Ean A’choe” (Ale In A’kheów) that means “Isle of Mist.” That was yesterday. It was so misty and windy. The clouds were thick and heavy and just laid over the mountains like a thick cover. I have never seen anything like it in my life. I thought of Moses on Mt. Sinai as the glory of the Lord clouded the mountain. I did not take a picture, b/c it would not have captured the essence of what I saw. It was one of those “you would have just had to have seen it yourself” moments. And then around 9pm the wind picked up to near gale force and rained all night long. I was awakened several times in the night by the wind and rain. Today, continues to be quite cloudy, but there have been some breaks with momentary sun shine. Though the wind and rain proliferate, it is not what you would call cold. It is slightly cool, but not uncomfortably…at least for me, anyway.
All the wind here brings to my mind the encounter that Jesus had with Nicodemus as He tried to get Nick to see that it was not what He did to get God, but how God moves upon the hearts of people by His Spirit. And with that I close for now.
John 3:8 (NASB) "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
Below is the church at Arnisort.
Big news, today!!! I am among the living…I have a phone in the manse. I will give out the number in the next blog...I will only have it for two more weeks and didn't memorize it. Talk about taking things for granted. Have you ever been without a phone for three weeks? I have had to go to church member’s homes to ask to use the phone and I have gone to the little red phone booths…you know the ones you have probably seen in British movies. I frequented one more than any other b/c it was just down the road from the manse about a quarter mile away. I started getting a little self-conscious about doing that b/c one day an elderly lady, whose house is just across the road from the booth, was looking out her window when I exited the booth. I could just read her mind: “Well, I never…another man setting up a rendezvous with a strange woman.” I don’t know if she ever saw me again, but if she did, I would not even want to imagine what she was thinking. J or should it be L?
I don’t have access to my blog right now, so I am sure whether or not I told you I am doing a short-story-run-through of Peter’s first letter to the dispersed believers. If I haven’t…I am. If I did, sorry. Tomorrow night we will be looking at 1 Peter 2. Pray that God will use it to encourage this generation “to long for the pure milk of the Word.” Someone recently told me that at one point in the history of Scotland, the people of Skye were know as the people of the Book. I pray that there will be a strong resurgence of that being true.
Yesterday, was a day that was more representative of the name of Skye than any other since I have been here. The name “Skye” is a derivative of a Gaelic term “Eil Ean A’choe” (Ale In A’kheów) that means “Isle of Mist.” That was yesterday. It was so misty and windy. The clouds were thick and heavy and just laid over the mountains like a thick cover. I have never seen anything like it in my life. I thought of Moses on Mt. Sinai as the glory of the Lord clouded the mountain. I did not take a picture, b/c it would not have captured the essence of what I saw. It was one of those “you would have just had to have seen it yourself” moments. And then around 9pm the wind picked up to near gale force and rained all night long. I was awakened several times in the night by the wind and rain. Today, continues to be quite cloudy, but there have been some breaks with momentary sun shine. Though the wind and rain proliferate, it is not what you would call cold. It is slightly cool, but not uncomfortably…at least for me, anyway.
All the wind here brings to my mind the encounter that Jesus had with Nicodemus as He tried to get Nick to see that it was not what He did to get God, but how God moves upon the hearts of people by His Spirit. And with that I close for now.
John 3:8 (NASB) "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
Below is the church at Arnisort.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Blog for 7-14
Today, the Isle is experiencing the kind of weather that is typified in pictorials of Scotland…deep, deep heavy mist hanging over all the mountains…drizzly rain and a cool breeze…oh, how I love it!
I preached to about 90 people yesterday, most of whom, as far as I know, were believers. A couple of the elders have been good to mention to me people who have never made a public profession of faith in Christ who are in attendance. None have indicated a move toward Christ, as yet.
I visited with one of the couples that has been in the parish for over 25 years. They shed some light on why the parish is struggling so. The former pastor, who was here for over 5 years, pretty much tore the churches apart. As you know, there are three separate churches in the parish. Apparently, he played all three against each other with things like, “I don’t know why you guys can’t do things like the other two”; belittling the elders (his actions caused four to leave the churches); playing favorites with different members, etc. The couple told me that the parish is about one third the size it was when he came. They said he was slovenly, crude, never visited the members, was decent in the pulpit, but did not take care of the flock. They are desperate for someone to lead them. There is a young pastor who will do an interim here for the next six months after I leave. I have met him and he is very biblical and has a heart for this area. Please pray for the healing of hearts in this parish. There are some very delightful and committed Christians here.
I apologize for not up-dating you on the funeral. I really thought that I had done that, but looking at the blog, I realized that I had not done that. I know that there were those of you who were praying for that event. The church seats 100 people. There was not an empty seat in the church. Fortunately, Tuesday (the day of the funeral) the weather was absolutely stunning…Monday was windy, cool and rainy…and so the 100+ people who had to stand outside for the funeral were not encumbered by the weather. The man who pass was truly loved and respected. There people from all over the Isle of Skye and several people had come from two of the outlying Hebrides. I spoke about the certainty and finality of death…that no one knows the determinate time when God calls for one’s life…that today is the acceptable day of salvation…that George’s life represented a life a life that had been touched by God’s saving grace. Quite a number of people spoke to me about how meaningful the service was and were thankful that the Gospel had been presented. Only time and the Spirit’s work through the Word will give evidence of the fruit. I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to speak of God love, through Jesus Christ to some who may have never heard of God’s mercy and grace before. Thank you to all who were lifting that opportunity before the Lord.
It looks like I will finally have a phone installed in the manse tomorrow, Tuesday, the 15th. PTL! This has reminded me about just how spoiled I have become to the basics of life. I don’t think I will ever take punching in some numbers on a little black instrument again. Technology is great, but you can sure become dependent upon it. Too much so, I’m afraid.
Only 26 more days until my loving wife joins me. Yeah, yeah, yeah. This has been the longest that we have ever been apart. When I was working on my doctorate, I went to Philadelphia for three summers at 2+ weeks at a time to do my modules. So to be away from her for six weeks has been quite difficult. We have had the benefit of email, but a computer monitor doesn’t do a whole lot on my lips. I am afraid that people in the public library would look suspiciously at my trying to embrace the computer box. All-in-all, the Lord has given us both peace and this separation has allowed us to focus more of our attention upon Him. And that is never a bad thing.
My goal this week is to visit some of the home-bound church people in the area. I am meeting with one of the elders on Thursday for lunch to talk about visiting some of the people who were alienated by the former pastor to see if the Lord would use me to bring some healing in their lives…you know that “good ol’ biblical counseling…speaking about “heart matters”.
Thank you for you continuing prayers. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5 (NASB)
Amazed by His grace
Today, the Isle is experiencing the kind of weather that is typified in pictorials of Scotland…deep, deep heavy mist hanging over all the mountains…drizzly rain and a cool breeze…oh, how I love it!
I preached to about 90 people yesterday, most of whom, as far as I know, were believers. A couple of the elders have been good to mention to me people who have never made a public profession of faith in Christ who are in attendance. None have indicated a move toward Christ, as yet.
I visited with one of the couples that has been in the parish for over 25 years. They shed some light on why the parish is struggling so. The former pastor, who was here for over 5 years, pretty much tore the churches apart. As you know, there are three separate churches in the parish. Apparently, he played all three against each other with things like, “I don’t know why you guys can’t do things like the other two”; belittling the elders (his actions caused four to leave the churches); playing favorites with different members, etc. The couple told me that the parish is about one third the size it was when he came. They said he was slovenly, crude, never visited the members, was decent in the pulpit, but did not take care of the flock. They are desperate for someone to lead them. There is a young pastor who will do an interim here for the next six months after I leave. I have met him and he is very biblical and has a heart for this area. Please pray for the healing of hearts in this parish. There are some very delightful and committed Christians here.
I apologize for not up-dating you on the funeral. I really thought that I had done that, but looking at the blog, I realized that I had not done that. I know that there were those of you who were praying for that event. The church seats 100 people. There was not an empty seat in the church. Fortunately, Tuesday (the day of the funeral) the weather was absolutely stunning…Monday was windy, cool and rainy…and so the 100+ people who had to stand outside for the funeral were not encumbered by the weather. The man who pass was truly loved and respected. There people from all over the Isle of Skye and several people had come from two of the outlying Hebrides. I spoke about the certainty and finality of death…that no one knows the determinate time when God calls for one’s life…that today is the acceptable day of salvation…that George’s life represented a life a life that had been touched by God’s saving grace. Quite a number of people spoke to me about how meaningful the service was and were thankful that the Gospel had been presented. Only time and the Spirit’s work through the Word will give evidence of the fruit. I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to speak of God love, through Jesus Christ to some who may have never heard of God’s mercy and grace before. Thank you to all who were lifting that opportunity before the Lord.
It looks like I will finally have a phone installed in the manse tomorrow, Tuesday, the 15th. PTL! This has reminded me about just how spoiled I have become to the basics of life. I don’t think I will ever take punching in some numbers on a little black instrument again. Technology is great, but you can sure become dependent upon it. Too much so, I’m afraid.
Only 26 more days until my loving wife joins me. Yeah, yeah, yeah. This has been the longest that we have ever been apart. When I was working on my doctorate, I went to Philadelphia for three summers at 2+ weeks at a time to do my modules. So to be away from her for six weeks has been quite difficult. We have had the benefit of email, but a computer monitor doesn’t do a whole lot on my lips. I am afraid that people in the public library would look suspiciously at my trying to embrace the computer box. All-in-all, the Lord has given us both peace and this separation has allowed us to focus more of our attention upon Him. And that is never a bad thing.
My goal this week is to visit some of the home-bound church people in the area. I am meeting with one of the elders on Thursday for lunch to talk about visiting some of the people who were alienated by the former pastor to see if the Lord would use me to bring some healing in their lives…you know that “good ol’ biblical counseling…speaking about “heart matters”.
Thank you for you continuing prayers. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5 (NASB)
Amazed by His grace
Just knowing Jesus....the greatest blessing of all!
My trip to Dunvegan was a beautiful drive. It is about 25 minutes from where I am living now, in Kensaleyre. Dunvegan is a very small fishing and tourist community. A very old, perhaps one of the oldest castles on the Isle of Skye is at Dunvegan. I did not get close enough for any pictures of the castle. It is nested behind a heavy tree line which means you have to pay to even get pictures. I plan to take Linda when she arrives in Aug. I went by to look at the manse where I will live, but the fellow that is staying there now was not home so I didn’t get a look at the house. The view from the manse is nowhere near as spectacular as what I have here, though I am sure that it will be very comfortable. It is more remote than Kensaleyre. It is about 35 minutes outside of Portree, where I have my internet access, but it is very possible that the manse in Dunvegan has at least dial-up capabilities.
Went to see a gentleman in the parish who fell on Wednesday afternoon and cracked his head open. His wife told me about it on Wed. night at the service. He was doing much better. Still have some slight pain, but all in all he said he was doing well. Murdo and his wife, Mairi, were such lovely hosts and spent a little over an hour talking about the Lord, their children and mine, and about what the needs seem to be in the parish. They were very embarrassed that the manse is still without a phone and insisted that I use their phone to call Linda…which I did. Their graciousness and generosity was very touching to me. They also apologized for the groups kinda “hanging me out to dry” (their words) Wednesday night. I told them that I appreciated it, but that the Lord had me covered all the way.
I have been supplied with a brand new washer/dryer combination. The one machine washes and dries…it is quite remarkable. It is slow however…I washed two dress shirts, two pairs of Levis and an undershirt. That only took three hours…yawn. You have to be impressed…you would have thought this thing would say, “Made in China”, but no, it is made in Scotland. In fact, if you want an incredible read, look for the book entitled, How the Scots Invented the Modern World. The author escapes me, but you could Google it. Quite interesting.
The bright sky woke me at around 5:30 this morning. I showered, ate and began typing in my handwritten notes for my messages tomorrow. I have to make a run to the store in Portree and thought I would drop this blog online. I hope you have a blessed Lord’s Day. Pray for me as I do for you.
Awash in grace
Went to see a gentleman in the parish who fell on Wednesday afternoon and cracked his head open. His wife told me about it on Wed. night at the service. He was doing much better. Still have some slight pain, but all in all he said he was doing well. Murdo and his wife, Mairi, were such lovely hosts and spent a little over an hour talking about the Lord, their children and mine, and about what the needs seem to be in the parish. They were very embarrassed that the manse is still without a phone and insisted that I use their phone to call Linda…which I did. Their graciousness and generosity was very touching to me. They also apologized for the groups kinda “hanging me out to dry” (their words) Wednesday night. I told them that I appreciated it, but that the Lord had me covered all the way.
I have been supplied with a brand new washer/dryer combination. The one machine washes and dries…it is quite remarkable. It is slow however…I washed two dress shirts, two pairs of Levis and an undershirt. That only took three hours…yawn. You have to be impressed…you would have thought this thing would say, “Made in China”, but no, it is made in Scotland. In fact, if you want an incredible read, look for the book entitled, How the Scots Invented the Modern World. The author escapes me, but you could Google it. Quite interesting.
The bright sky woke me at around 5:30 this morning. I showered, ate and began typing in my handwritten notes for my messages tomorrow. I have to make a run to the store in Portree and thought I would drop this blog online. I hope you have a blessed Lord’s Day. Pray for me as I do for you.
Awash in grace
This is the church sanctuary at Anisort
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