June in Scotland: Snow, Sun, and Christian Events | 2024

Our picnic spot in the Trossachs – June 2024

June is the start of summer here in Scotland, so we should expect warm sunny weather, but in fact during the early days of June we had snow falling in the Cairngorm mountains and temperatures dropping to -10c! On the 20/21st of the month we enjoy the longest day of the year! Here in Glasgow the sun rose at 4.31am and set at 22.06pm – giving 17hrs 35 minutes of daylight. Nautical twilight continued until 3.29am when Civil twilight begins, so it never gets completely dark. I really enjoy these long summer days.

I’ll not talk about Scotland’s football team and their sad exit from the Euros, or the announcement of a General Election on 4th July as the TV and Internet have comprehensive coverage of these big and at times controversial events. You can also click on the internet at Scotlandwelcomesyou.com/June to get a flavour of things taking place around Scotland. Many charities organise events, everything from mountain climbing, cycling, walking plus fun events for all age groups. Other outdoor events are organised by our friends for food, fellowship and chat in spite of the unpredictable weather. Below are some photos of events attended by us and others.

The weekend commencing Saturday 31May/2 June was a big weekend in Ayrshire for the Christian Community as the ‘Keswick Ayrshire’ convention took place in Kilmarnock. This attracted large crowds of Christians from across the denominations, and many Christian charities who highlighted their activities in Scotland and around the world. The main speaker was the Rev Tommy Macneil from the Isle of Lewis, click on the link to hear him speak, it’s well worth the listen. https://youtu.be/hnMuB7_kUAY?si=4y2QkG1jVr724LiB

The other big Christian events in Glasgow, which I mentioned in my May blog were the visit of Franklin Graham of the Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation to the OVO Hydro, and Praise Gathering in Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall. It was a joy and blessing to be at both of these events. They gave new meaning to the old Glasgow motto ‘Let Glasgow flourish by the preaching of your Word and the praising of your Name’. Here are some pics.

It was a great evening with the presentation well suited to this generation, but the message was the same as his father preached in the Kelvin Hall for 6 weeks away back in 1955! I sang in the choir then, and in the picture below I see myself and family and friends from our own choir who were committed to sing with many many others.

The Leadership of ‘Praise Gathering’ which has been going on now for more than thirty years, kindly moved their event from the evening to the afternoon on Saturday 22nd so as not to clash with the BGEA ‘God Loves You Tour’ evening event. It’s always encouraging to hear the 400 strong choir, drawn from Churches across the denominations, singing God’s Praise in the heart of Glasgow, accompanied by a Youth Choir and an invited guest all the way from New York! Log on to http://www.praisegathering.org.uk to enjoy the choir.

Praise Gathering
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall

The month may have started cold, but it finished strongly and warmly with the good news of Jesus being preached at both these events by Franklin Graham and Rev. Kenny Borthwick. Franklin read from Luke’s Gospel chapter 18:35-43 The story of a blind beggar sitting by the roadside, probably something he did everyday – sigh! Read the story for yourself I’m sure you will be filled with pathos for this blind man. Then something extraordinary happens, first he hears the commotion and learns that Jesus of Nazareth is passing by, and he calls out to Him ‘Jesus thou Son of David have mercy on me’. The people around him tell him to be quiet, but he calls all the more ‘Jesus thou Son of David have mercy on me‘. Amidst all that commotion and noise Jesus heard that poor man’s cry, He stops, and says call him! He asks him the question ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The man answers ‘Lord that I might receive my sight’! And Jesus granted his request and restored his sight!

Don’t we too feel at times blind to the meaning and purpose of life? Have you ever asked yourself the question ‘Is there not more to life than this’? Going about in our daily routines, sometimes bored, sometimes tired, but even at times when we feel we have everything, have achieved our goals, does not that same question still pop up ‘Is there not more to life than this’? Well this same Jesus who loved you unto death on a cross, dying for your sins and mine, and who was raised to life, promises ‘Life in all its fulness’ to all who call on Him. Jesus is passing by, so whilst there is still time we can call out to him ‘Jesus thou Son of David have mercy on me‘! I did many years ago and can testify that fulness of life is to be found in Jesus Christ.

It’s election week here in the UK, so some big choices to be made, but none more important than the choice to call out to Jesus and receive the gift of eternal life, and life in all its fulness!

Matthew

PS: next time I hope to tell you a bit more about that trip to the Trossachs and also give you an update on the garden.

Discover the Tranquility of Tiree in Spring: A Scottish Island Getaway

This year in the month of May we had another holiday in Tiree staying with our friends there. It’s always something quite special, and very different from the holiday resorts of Europe, which at one time were our favourites. Someone asked me recently what was the attraction of Tiree? I thought the answer to that question was well put by someone on Facebook recently when they said ‘Time stands still in Tiree’! It’s just so different from the noise and razamataz of life in the city, here the ‘sound of silence’ can be felt, the big sky, the blue ocean and the lapping of the water on the beaches, all speak of the Glory and Majesty of our creator God, and perhaps even more so on stormy days.:)

Our booking on the Oban > Tiree ferry was very early in the morning, so we were out of bed by 4am, but as it so happened it was completely worth it, as we so enjoyed the beauty of the sunrise over the Sound of Mull.

As the four hour journey progressed, so many beautiful sites came into view before we safely arrived at our destination in the Isle of Tiree. The journey is such a major part of the holiday!

We had many sunny, but cool days (It was still Springtime) but I’ll start by showing you photos from the one really wet day we had.

the bird hide – a seat and flask of coffee

If you have heard of Tiree before you will certainly have heard of the amazing beaches, sunrises and sunsets. Here are a few photos.

All the places to visit on the island are too many to show here, but the following are a few of Scarnish, Milton and Balemartine. My Great Grandfather came from Balemartine, so we like to spend time there.

Then of course there are the beaches, harbours, sea and seashore with all their associated activities!

Surfing was out, but we had two swimming days – now called ‘wild swimming’, but as children we called it ‘going for a dook’! We left it until late afternoon as the tide was highest then. Freezing cold 🙂 but amazing!

I trust the above photo selection whets your appetite for a visit to the Scottish Hebrides and in particular the Isle of Tiree. And yes, we were at the Baptist Church on the Sunday, and also at an open day that they were holding. It was great to renew our acquaintance with some of the folks who meet there. The ‘Faith Mission’ guys commenced a visit to the island just before we left, and it was a pleasure to meet them again on a couple of evenings, and hear two of the young missionaires tell the story of their coming to faith in Jesus.

In the business of life I find it essential to take time daily to listen and to speak with God. As a child I gave my life to Jesus and invited Him to become my Saviour and Lord, I have mentioned this often before, but knowing His living presence and the forgiveness of sin, and the peace He brings in this troubled world, is truly God’s greatest gift to humankind. There were plenty of places in Tiree for peace and quiet to worship and to think of these great issues of life and death, and life hereafter, and the wonder of God’s love. Here is another song I enjoy by Joseph Prince.

I hope you enjoyed the photographs and I trust this finds you well wherever you are, and maybe you can enjoy some ‘wild swimming’ 🙂

(Above swimming photos by taken by our friend Susie)

I look forward to hearing from you.

Matthew

Good News from Far and Near

Kate and Kevin – Buenos Aires , Argentine – 06/04/2024

In the months of April we were invited to two weddings, one in South America and the other in Kenya, East Africa. We would loved to have been at both of them, but due to distance, dates and dollars it was not possible for us as senior citizens to seriously contemplate that. However thanks to the wonders of ‘You Tube’ we were able to be at Kate and Kevin’s wedding in Buenos Aires, and also to enjoy a description and photographs of Somo and Jennifer’s wedding in Kenya.

My nephew George Robertson was born in Argentina to our friends Dick and Irene Robertson who came from the Carnwadric and Pollok districts of Glasgow, Scotland. George and his wife Priscila had four children and Kevin was the last one of the four to ‘leave the nest’ with his marriage to Kate, all the way from Australia! How and where they met I have no idea, as the wedding of course was conducted in Spanish. George the son of Christian parents, and himself a preacher and evangelist conducted the service. The last time we saw Kevin was when we visited the family in Oran, to see and witness a thriving church and the work being done amongst children and teenagers. Kevin was just a wee boy, now a young Christian man and happily married. Whew, how time flies! We wish them both God’s blessing as they set out on this journey through life together. A few photos taken from the You Tube video link follow.

Somo and Jennifer’s wedding in Kenya was hugeley different, but similar in the main aspects. We loved hearing about it and especially seeing the pictures. Somo’s mum was a friend of ours when we worked in Kenya with Tearfund, and a synopsis of her story is told by her son Somo below.

The life of the Rendille people has dramatically changed since we were there with ‘Tearfund’ in the late 1980’s and early 90’s. At that time a Christian couple from South Africa had recently arrived, and were there to learn the Rendille language and then to teach the Rendille people how to read and write. An incentive was offered, to encourage people to join the literacy programme, and among those who joined was Somo’s mum Narejo. Here is what he said to her on Mother’s Day.

Quote “‘Your faithfulness continues all through generation…’Sweet sweet Mum Nareyo!.Her story/journey of Jesus Christ becoming her great friend is the story sweet to my heart and ears.Lived in a family where the name Jesus was not common but only the name’Waakh’-God, is believed to be the creator and supreme being in the existence of all living things.A journey of adult literacy with a hope/end goal to receive goats 🐐 came to her life.She enrolled in Adult literacy introduced by the missionaries Swanepoel(Nick and Lynne)-This opened her eyes to read and write.In the first class sessions,hearing was the vessel to hear who Jesus was.An end goal of receiving goats have opened the door to read the word of God by herself through the Literacy. “Through The First gospel book ‘Mark’translated in Rendille ,I could hear Jesus speaking !I could hear the voice of Jesus “She says.This story has become an en ouragement as siblings to know who Jesus is.A story that have given me hope .Happy mother’s day” Unquote

< Narejo and Grand-daughter Bella, all ready for the wedding!

Narejo’s enrolling for the adult literacy course rewarded her away and above what she had hoped for. Not just goats, but the ability to read and write, opening up a whole new world of which she had never dreamed! Reading Marks Gospel then introduced her to Jesus who subsequently became her Saviour and friend and life began anew. What a lovely story! Her son and daughter in law are now both University graduates, who speak and write in Rendille, Swahili and English! Wow.

As I mentioned, since the message of Jesus has come to the Rendille life has changed dramatically, the Church has expanded, there are adult and children’s choirs, Bible studies, women’s groups, primary and secondary schools are excelling, veterinary training for camels, goats and cattle has been given, wells have been dug, and even Kenya TV News has recently been reporting on the progress and improvements that have come to this people group in a remote area of Northern Kenya.. Jesus said ‘I have come that you might have life in all its fullness’ is certainly being seen amongst the Rendille. Here are some pics of the wedding guests that tell their own story in colour, charm and character expressed in the faces.

Meantime at home we have just returned from our holiday on the Isle of Tiree, where we relaxed with friends and basked in the quietness and beauty of the place. The weather was mostly bright and sunny, the ‘machair’ was alive with wild flowers and the sound of birds, lambs and calves were around and the big sky and perfect beaches and sunsets were a joy to behold. Someone has said ‘Life stands still on Tiree’ and that was true for us.

It was also good to be at some Church services conducted by The Faith Mission, so we were refreshed in body soul and spirit.

Now we are back to face the challenges and joys of day to day life. We listen to the politicians making their pitches for our votes as we face a coming general election. We also hear the news of wars and fighting, refugees and deprivation, natural disasters and man’s inhumanity to man. However as we approach the month of June we are looking forward to some special Christian events, which are planned, so if you are around we are sure you would be blessed by being there.

The Keswick Convention in Ayr with the Rev. Tommy Macneil from The Isle of Lewis, and the Visit of Franklin Graham to the OVO Hydro in Glasgow with his GOD LOVES YOU tour, and Praise Gathering in the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow. All these events have been a great blessing to us in our lives over the years, I recommend them to you. I’m sure you can listen on-line. Here are the details.

More on our travels will need to wait until the next blog and my daring return to ‘wild swimming’! 🙂 So until then I pray you will be blessed wherever you are – Matthew

Can anything in the Universe eclipse an Eclipse?

**To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.** ***Deut 10:14***

For many millions of people around the world, but especially in Mexico, The United States of America and Canada, this was a month to remember, as they watched the amazing phenomena of a total eclipse! This happens when the moon moves between the earth and the sun, extinguishing its light in a total solar eclipse. Thanks to the wonders of technology, countless others watched on their phones, TV’s and computers. Many of us seniors recalled seeing an eclipse in the past, either complete or partial.

I was thankful to notice the great interest of so many people, and to listen to their roars as the sun’s light was completely blocked out, and then to read some of their reactions afterwards. Here’s a few of their comments – “The temperature dropped suddenly, and animals fell silent. As it started to get lighter the crickets were back, and the birds started singing. It was really crazy, I’m sad it’s over.” I was a bit sad too, because I loved watching the videos, and have always loved photographing the sky at night, and also in the splendour of summer and winter as seen below.

I guess like many others, it got me thinking again about the wonders of the Cosmos, and I was recounting to myself, that in my parents’ lifetime, there was this gigantic leap forward in cosmology when in 1927 Father Georges Lemaitre suggested that the universe was not eternal as had been supposed, but had in fact a beginning, starting with a ‘big bang’. Not an idea welcomed by some scientists then or now, as it sounded /sounds too much like the Bible’s creation narrative. However the ‘big bang’ theory is now widely accepted by scientists across the board, thanks to Hubell and many others. Since then research and studies showing the fine tuning of the universe have produced some staggering statistics which are absolutely mind blowing. In Lee Strobel’s book ‘The Case for a Creator, which is written for laymen to understand, is a facinating read. He writes of an interview he had with Robin Collins PhD in physics, degrees in mathematics, philosophy etc, and a researcher and writer of renown. When he asked him this question, how precise is the fine tuning of the Universe? The answer made my jaw drop, and also made me smile, he said this about one aspect only of the fine tuning, the cosmological constant.

Quote “When I asked Collins about this, he told me that the unexpected, counterintuitive, and stunningly precise setting of the cosmological constant “is widely regarded as the single greatest problem facing physics and cosmology today.” “How precise is it?” I asked. Collins rolled his eyes. “Well, there’s no way we can really comprehend it,” he said. “The fine-tuning has conservatively been estimated to be at least one part in a hundred million billion billion billion billion billion. That would be a ten followed by fifty-three zeroes. That’s inconceivably precise.”Unquote

— The Case for a Creator: A Journalist Investigates Scientific Evidence That Points Toward God by Lee Strobel

Such amazing scientifuc discoveries led to one of the worlds chief atheists Antony Flew to change his mind as you can see from the attached. His last book ‘There is a God ….. ‘ is certainly worth a read.

And so much more has been written about the fine tuning of the Universe since then.

I find all such information absolutely fascinating, and stand in awe at the precision that makes things like an eclipse even possible. But I’m not a scientist, physicist, cosmologist or philosopher, I’m just me, and so many other amazing things in this world make me ask the questions, what things might eclipse an eclipse in wonder and amazement?

Here are a few things that sound everyday, but I think may be contenders. As you know I love gardening and I plant these tiny seeds, that look most unspectacular, but when they are placed in the ‘dirt’ as my wife would say 🙂 and you add some water look what happens – WOW! Look at the following photos, what do you think?

Of course we could look also at the animal and insect world, and there we can surely find some contenders? How about the beautiful Zebra, and these stripes! or the striped horns of a Water Buffalo? or the spotted coat of the Cheetah? Then there are those with tusks and horns, and of course the big mouthed hippopotamus! :0

Then there are birds and fish without measure, a blog could be written about any one of them. What do you think of the ones pictured below? Just considering some of their navigational skills alone is astounding.

Perhaps you may think the wonder of mountains and forests, rivers and glaciers, oceans and deserts may be contenders?

BUT WHAT ABOUT YOU? Do you think YOU might be a contender?

Augustine (354-430AD) said, ‘Men go abroad to wonder at the heights of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of rivers, at the vast compass of the oceans, at the circular motion of the stars, and they pass by themselves without wondering.’ So is that you?

Here is a book I have on my Kindle, highly recommended by many scientists and scholars. One of them Michael Behe, reflected thus in his recommendation.

“Man is the product of causes which had no prevision of the end they were achieving.” Thus wrote the philosopher Bertrand Russell in perhaps the most spectacularly wrong-headed pronouncement of the twentieth century. Au contraire, in The Miracle of Man, Michael Denton gathers the voluminous evidence of modern science that shows the exact opposite: the universe precisely embodies the end for which it was built.—

Michael Behe, PhD, Professor of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University; author of Darwin’s Black Box, The Edge of Evolution, and Darwin Devolves”

— The Miracle of Man: The Fine Tuning of Nature for Human Existence by Michael Denton
https://amzn.eu/9cojY7k

And one last comment for now, by David J Galloway a Scottish Surgeon, in his book ‘Design Dissected’. This book speaks about the wonder and complexity of the human body, he writes this about our brain.

Quote “The human brain is the most complicated organ that we have ever encountered. Within a single brain there are more connections and junctions than all the devices connected to the World Wide Web. It has been estimated that there are around 85 billion neurons in each brain, although the truth may be nearer a figure in excess of 105 billion. Neurons can have thousands and thousands of connections to other neurons so it should not be surprising that estimates of the number of connections or synapses runs to trillions, maybe even in the quadrillion range. The complexity of the brain is virtually unfathomable.” Unquote.

— Design Dissected by David Galloway
https://amzn.eu/eZf1Sxd

His book is full of so many facts and figures, which I found so fascinating and enlightening, I would thoroughly recommend it. I enjoy reading books like those mentioned above, but am first to admit some of the details and technicalities are at times a bit ‘over my head’, to put it mildly.

But in answer to my own question ‘Can anything in the Universe eclipse an eclipse?’ I am of the opinion that the answer is YOU and me!

In the first book of the Bible, the book of Genesis we have the story of God’s creation, and in Chapter one we have the record of the six days of creation, and on day six we find that last in the long list of God’s creation is mankind. It reads like this.

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. ……. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning —the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.

So much more could be said, and has been said, about mankind’s fall into sin, and God’s amazing love in redemption through His Son Jesus Christ, but for now I’ll finish with the late George Beverley Shea singing ‘How Great Thou Art’. Have a listen by clicking the link below.

George Beverley Shea

How Great Thou Art

Hope you enjoy the blog, but until next time I trust you are well wherever you are, and am always glad to hear from you.

Matthew

“Rain! Rain! Rain!”

As kids we used to say a childish rhyme ‘Rain Rain go to Spain and don’t come back to me again‘. There are many derivations to the words in that nursery rhyme, which evidently has its origin back in the 17th century! I don’t know about ‘going to Spain‘, but February was one of the wettest months here in the UK, and there were many times when we just wished the rain would stop. It also continued into the month of March, but I guess that is all part of what it means to live with a maritime climate!

All of that besides, we did manage to get out and about as best we could, mostly to local parks, but two places we reached a bit further afield were Stirling Castle in Stirlingshire and Culzean Castle in Ayrshire. In the winter and early Spring all these places can be enjoyed more easily in what is normally a much quieter season, so here are some photographs.

First our visit to Stirling and the Bannockburn Battlefield and Memorial, where on this site in 1314 a battle raged between the Scottish and English armies. The site is beautifully maintained by the National Trust for Scotland, and surrounded by some stunning countryside.

Inside the National Memorial building the battle is dramatically displayed by means of some very clever modern technology and sound effects. Arrows fired at you whizz over your head and when you turn-around soldiers are falling on the screen behind you! There is also a battle room where you are talked through the twists and turns of the battle. It’s all very well presented and is well worth a visit. Here are a few photographs.

Then on the 2nd March we made a trip to Culzean Castle on the Ayrshire coastline, one of our favourite places. It was nice to see the snowdrops and daffodils flourishing, and even some of the rhododendrons were in flower! Photographs below:

Certainly all that rain makes everything very green and as we approach Easter it is lovely to see the grass growing and flowers again appearing in our garden, and also in the local parks. Seedlings are growing well in the greenhouse within a couple of propagators. This week the clocks Spring forward so we will soon be enjoying an extra hour of light in the evenings, Hurrah! Here’s a few more photos:

I often wonder when I plant these dead looking bulbs in the Autumn, or see what looks like dead bushes and trees bursting into life, why anyone could possibly conclude that all this came about from nothing, and just by chance, baffles me. In my garden and greenhouse I often feel compelled to pause and thank God for His amazing work of creation.

There is a Bible verse that seems to well encapsulate these thoughts, it reads:
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. Romans 1:20

God’s eternal power and divine nature are however more clearly seen in his Son Jesus Christ, the God Man, who Himself said ‘He that has seen me has seen the Father’. So if you want to know what God is like, marvel not just at nature but look to JESUS and His story recorded in the Scriptures!

At Easter we see demonstrated in the clearest possible terms various aspects of GOD’s divine nature, His Love and Grace, His Holiness and His Justice. His Love shown when Jesus on the eve of the feast of Passover, (Exdous 12:1-13.) shows Himself to be the sacrificial Lamb slain for us, by dying in our place and stead and for our sin, and here the Christian Communion service is inaugurated.

And again His Grace, which we don’t deserve is seen as he offers us forgiveness, on the basis that He took the punishment for our sin, Someone has said Grace and Justice kiss each other at the cross. How amazing is that, surely the greatest story ever told.

Isaiah the prophet (740-680 B.C.) so vividly describes the death of Jesus in Chapter 53 of His book. (its a must read if you have never read it) all these years before it took place including the phrase “he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.”. John the Baptist at the beginning of the Jesus ministry just after Jesus’ baptism declares “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world”! Far too many other references to mention here.

I don’t know about you, but for me it is the most profound thought that has ever occupied my mind, expressed with such pathos and truth by the Apostle Paul “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” How profound is that?

At Easter especially, but throughout the year we sing this hymn which I find encouraging and challenging, why not find a quiet place, to sit and contemplate and enjoy!

I hope the weather is kind to you wherever you are this Easter, and that you have a great time, but never forget how much God loves you, and the price He was willing to pay that you might become His child.

I’ve been a Christian for many years, if you would like to talk please get in touch.

Matthew

So what will 2024 bring?

After all the preparations, all the travelling, after all the children’s parties, family get-togethers and Christmas and New Year celebrations, after too many extravagent dinners with sweets and drinks, it is all back to ‘auld claes and purridge‘ as my mother would have said!

January 1st – Late afternoon in Newlands Park, Glasgow

Still, it would be a shame to forget all the joys and blessings of the festive season before moving on, so here are some of my memories in pictures.

Christmas at Church
Choir Concert and Carol Service

Of course we also got out and about in spite of some very changeable weather, and spent a few relaxing days on the Clyde Coast with my son and his wife at their home.

With our grand-daughter and great grandchildren at the local park

And finally some pics of our changeable weather.

So now we look forward to another season in the garden and greenhouse, and today I was buying the seeds I need for the greenhouse at ‘Dobbies’ half price sale. Holidays were also discussed this week and some tentative plans were made for early summer. Amongst my friends I hear of similar plans, and for some it’s a year for marriage, for others a new school, a university degree, or a new job, not to mention the upgrade of houses, cars, computers, phones and gardens etc.

However I detect some nervousness and hesitancy, not just amongst my acquintances but in our national psyche as folks survey the international, national and local scene. We are continually bombarded with updates on wars and rumours of wars, (too many to detail) In the middle of last year it was reported that 110 million people were displaced including 36.4 million refugees, as nations struggle and fight to solve the ‘refugee crisis’. Nationally and individually, borrowing is going through the roof, with some folks and economies struggling to survive. In the UK local government is complaining of underfunding, and speaking of the need to cut services. Nationwide workers are on strike, from ‘civil servants’ to doctors and nurses, train drivers and teachers, … all asking for more money. Of course the weather ‘crisis’ or ‘global warming’ continues to dominate much of the news, along with the explosion in ‘Artificial Intelligence’ and its human implications, so people are genuinely fearful of all the gloomy predictions continually being proffered. No wonder the BBC’s viewers are rapidly declining, with a reported two million having stopped paying their TV licence. Have our news bulletins become too much of a burden one might ask? Twenty twenty four however, has been dubbed ‘The Super Election Year’ as general elections are planned in nations all around the globe, including here in the UK and in the USA. So can we expect great things? Mmm.. let’s wait and see!

It was wonderful being at the Messiah on the 2nd of January, not just to hear the stupendous music and singers, but to listen to a different narrative! The good news contained in the Jesus story, which the ‘Messiah’ so powerfully tells. King George II in 1743 during the Messiah Premier in London, stood during the singing of the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’, which has become a tradition observed until this day.

“Hallelujah: for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. The Kingdom of this world is become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever. King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Hallelujah“

The coming of the King of Kings is the great hope of the Christian Church. People are asking these days, ‘what are you hoping for in 2024’? There are a miriad of answers to that question, but I heard one woman, within the last few days, immediateely respond to the question with ‘I’m looking forward to the coming again of Jesus.’ How do you respond to such a thought? Does it sound like a message of gloom? a message of hope and rejoicing? or do your scoff at the idea as just some religious nonsense?

Just as the Apostle Peter said, we do hear people today scoff at such a possibility and say ‘Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation. …….But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. Are you ready if Christ came today?

I enjoyed listening to Max Lucado give a short talk on the subject recently, he describes it just as we were taught as young folks. If you think it too fantastical, perhaps you need to to rethink your concept of God. It’s well worth a listen, you can hear him here:

The psalmist David in Psalm 20 prayed this prayer for his people who trusted in God. May it be your experience in 2024. If ‘knowing God’ is an idea alien to you, may you come to know Him in 2024 through His Son Jesus, the Saviour of the world.

May the LORD answer you when you are in distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
May he send you help from the sanctuary
and grant you support from Zion.
May he remember all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.
May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.
May we shout for joy over your victory
and lift up our banners in the name of our God.
May the LORD grant all your requests.

Thank you for visiting my blog – Matthew

A Photo Review – 2023

Here is a review of my photographs at the end of the year, that highlight some of the lovely places and experiences that have been enjoyed. The one shown above is of the local park, where we so often walk. However those shown below are not always because of their great photographic quality, but sometimes just for the memories that they invoke. This year let’s start with Winter and finish with Winter, and in-between show something of the beauty of God’s creation here in Scotland, not only in Winter, but also in Spring, Summer and Autumn.

January and February – the winter months at the beginning of 2023.

A day out to Culzean Castle and gardens in January

A round trip from Glasgow to Dunoon via Loch Lomond, Hell’s Glen and Ardentinny

A good place to visit on a cold day – Glasgow’s Botanical Gardens

Now it’s Spring time and everything is bursting into life!

More Spring flowers:-

Late May, our holiday in and around Tiree

Now on into summer ….

**A visit to Dawyck Botanical Gardens >**

Our garden in summer ….

Day trips to the Firth of Forth Bridges, the Isle of Bute and The Trossachs

Now Autumn is coming on …. with a trip to Inverness and the Moray Coast ….

And lastly at the end of the year we are into Winter once again …

Thank you to all who subscribe to my blog and also to friends far and wide who log-on from time to time. Hopfully you have enjoyed the photographs of our travels in 2023. I often think that we are not getting around as much as we once did, until I start to select photos from the year, and then reaslise I have far too many photos to show!

The ‘card’ above brings our greetings for Christmas and the New Year, and we hope to continue our blogging in 2024 all being well, but until next year I wish you God’s blessing at this festive season! The words of my favourite carol this year, are attached.

Matthew

150th Anniversary – Greenview Church, Pollokshaws, Glasgow.

The Church Weekend at Gartmore House, Gartmore -some years ago

GREENVIEW CHURCH – 1439 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow G41 3RQ.

Website – Greenviewchurch.co.uk An Excellent Booklet which gives a short history of the Church and its activities from 1873 – 2023 has been been produced by our Pastor Colin Adams

I have blogged about many things over recent years, but could not let this special anniversary year of our Church pass without reflecting on God’s grace and goodness and His blessings to us His people over many years and right up until the present. Many thousands of other lives have also been touched by the preaching and teaching of the Bible, here at home and abroad, and in recent years through the use of the internet.

As a child my family moved from the centre of Glasgow to the suburbs, and on our first Sunday, on recommendation, we walked to Greenview Church (or ‘Greenview Hall’ as it was called then) and as children were imediately welcomed into their very large Sunday School! The year was 1941. ‘Greenview’ has been our home Church ever since. It didn’t take us long to feel welcomed, even although there were eight of us, including mum and dad. The folks from Pollokshaws were so friendly and ordinary people, who had a love and passion to worship and serve an extraordinary God. Here at Greenview I was converted, baptised, and later was married and throughout the years became involved in many aspects of Church life. And here too, we brought up our children, along with my brothers and sisters and their children! It’s been quite a journey!

The Church we now call Greenview Church, had met in a number of different buildings within the Pollokshaws area of Glasgow prior to our arrival, but was now settled in the building purchased at the corner of Pollokshaws Road and Leckie Street. Here are some pics of these early locations, plus extensions and alterations made to the current building. –

Templars Hall – 1873-1876
Main Street opposite Bengal Street

On the right > is Norman Macrae one of the eight founding members with his wife, prior to going to India as missionaries. The eight men who in 1873 decided to rent the Templars Hall in Main Street, were motivated by the love of Jesus Christ, and had a burden to preach and share the Good News about Jesus with others. Their message could be encapsulated in the words of John 3v16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

The Church is its members, not the building, so here are some pictures of Church from across the years.

I wasn’t around when these photos were taken, but I grew up to know many of them who were, or became, leaders in the Church! Old friends from the ‘Shaws might recognise some of the faces. Dress style has changed a bit since then 🙂 Here are more taken some years later, in the 50’s and 70’s There are too many faces to show, let these few suffice as being representative of those who were amongst our mentors, and others with whom we served.

Jim and Annie Wands – Elder and leader in so many different capacities

The Bible is central to all our Church activities, and has been faithfully preached and taught down through the years, to young and old, week by week, indoors and out of doors, at sheduled services, in house groups and at special campaigns and events. Like so many others I’ve found it to be a lamp to my feet a light on my path. It’s an amazing book, and an endless source of treasure.

As the city demographics changed over the years it was a privilege to welcome Christians from other churches in the South Side of Glasgow. Wolesley Gospel Hall in Oatlands, Elim Evangelical Church in Crosshill and Maple Evangelical Church in Newton Mearns. Many of these Christians have made, and are making a real and valuable contribution to Greenview Church’s life and work.

Evangelist Peter Brandon preaching at Shawlands Arcade during a Gospel Campaign

Stan Ford (mentioned above) died in 1991 but you can still hear his remarkable story on line, it’s well worth the listen. He was the man who said ‘if there is a God I hate him! https://gospelhallaudio.org/sermons/if-theres-a-god-i-hate-him-54-min/

Children’s and Youth work has always been an integral part of Church life from the earliest of days until present. The Church over a period of time purchased a number of buses which were used to bring young people from Thornliebank, Carnwadric, Mansewood and Eastwood districts of Glasgow to the various activities. My wife and I spent almost 25 years of our lives working with the young people. Today the Contageous Youth Camp still attracts young people from around the country including young people from Greenview. Here is a selection of photographs.

Many missionaries from Greenview have travelled far and wide to share the Gospel story cross-culturally in Asia, Africa, India and the America’s. In the first row below are missionaries who went out in the 30’s, and who were an inspiration to the Church. In the 2nd row are some of my contemporaries from the 60’s. Since then others have gone out to Kenya, Tanzania and other destinations, with various skills – Bible translators, medical experts, Bible teachers, builders, engineers and administrators. Even today many members are serving overseas. Others have gone on short term projects throughout the UK and Europe and in various countries abroad.. Far too many to display! Here are some of the missionaries that I grew up listening to:

Jim Caldwell was a well loved gospel singer whose work was recorded. Click on the link and hear him singing ‘How great Thou art’. https://youtu.be/-3cdTlqPgys?si=bpOLEsg45YutdiDn

Dedicated work amongst men and women has been a major feature of Church Ministry. The Women’s Meeting on Wednesday’s at 2.15pm and the Men’s Meeting on Tuesday’s at 2pm from the 50’s to the 90’s was led by a dedicated team of men and women. The Women’s ministry played a major role in the conversion of my mother-in-law Muriel snr., which was a cause of great rejoicing! The nature and emphasis of the work has changed over the years, but still continues to this day. Here are some photos from more recent years of Men’s activities folllowed by some Women’s activities

Unfortunately I don’t have many photos of the women’s events, which is a bit sad considering all the work they have done, and still do in the Church. But the sewing class has donated countless quilts and other items for Children’s homes abroad and we always enjoy their ‘Coffee and Craft’ events which raise money for missionaries and charities. Many also serve in our Cafe on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Well I think I’d better bring this to a close, so I’ll finish with a general selection of some photos I like:

Church picnic to Helensburgh by tramcar and service bus!

Check out our website for details of our current programme. Morning services are live on You Tube, or if you live locally why not drop in and see us, you would be most welcome. And to past members and friends, you would receive a special welcome on this our 150th Anniversary year, please think about coming to visit us.

If you are not a Christian and all the above seems very strange to you, you may like to take a ‘Christianity Explored’ or ‘Alpha Course’. Courses near you can be checked on line, or get in touch if I can be of help.

I hope you have enjoyed these personal memories of my life at Greenview Church, but wherever you are and whoever you are, I wish you God’s blessing as we start our run up to the Christmas Festival and Celebrations.

Matthew

NB: Thanks to those who donated photographs, and to others whose old photographs of Pollokshaws are in the publc domain.

The Garden – Summers End 2023

The Garden – Summers end 2023

It was good to watch ‘Gardeners’ World’ on the TV earlier this week as they gave their final round-up for this year’s summer season. I was encouraged to hear the experts say words to this effect, ‘it’s been an enjoyable season with lots of success, but also with some failures and disappointments’. Perhaps the most important thing they said was ‘but we really enjoyed it‘! Did I ever tell you I enjoy my garden!!!

Let’s start with a look at the flowers, most of which were bought as ‘plug plants’ from Garden Centres and Supermarkets and grown on, but towards the end of the season some full grown plants for the new flower bed were also purchased. So many photos but first a quick look at the flowers!

Trees and bushes, roses and grasses were lovely too, here are some we enjoyed

Then there was the greenhouse, and this year, just for a change I grew house plants along with the usual vegetables. Some of the house plants were bought from the Garden Centre, then grown on and split. Others I grew from seed, and was particularly happy that two small cacti that survived from seed. Hurrah! a first for me 🙂 I also tried rooting a couple of succulents from the leaves, and they seem to have rooted successfully, but what to do with them in the winter, is a bit oif a dilemna!

There were a few failures! my ‘corn on the cob’ was given much love and care but the results were very disappointing, I’ll need to get some help from my African friends, methinks! Carrots this year in a bucket were poor, and the Aubergines produced beautiful plants with lots of flowers but only one small fruit. After having it with dinner last night, I think it may be off the menu for future 🙂

I’ve probably missed something, but hopefully the above is enough to let you understand the joy of a garden. The bulbs for Spring have now been planted, and the Greenhouse was emptied and cleaned this week. Hopefully some of the plants more susceptible to the cold will be preserved there until Spring. Of course a garden takes time and effort, but that could also be said of anything worthwhile we do or achieve in life. Well perhaps a garden is somewhat different, for the simple reason that actually I don’t grow anything, all I do is plant, feed and water, but I can’t actually make anything grow, only God can do that! So I just stand back and marvel at the amazing God of creation! Here is a quotation from the book of Corinthians, which is so true, and I am often reminded of in the garden!

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow!

1 For the beauty of the earth, 
for the glory of the skies, 
for the love which from our birth 
over and around us lies. 

Refrain: 
Christ, our Lord, to you we raise 
this, our hymn of grateful praise. 

2 For the wonder of each hour 
of the day and of the night, 
hill and vale and tree and flower, 
sun and moon and stars of light, [Refrain ]

3 For the joy of human love, 
brother, sister, parent, child, 
friends on earth, and friends above, 
for all gentle thoughts and mild, [Refrain] 

4 For yourself, best gift divine, 
to the world so freely given, 
agent of God's grand design: 
peace on earth and joy in heaven.

Christ, our Lord, to you we raise 
this, our hymn of grateful praise.

To all my friends and fellow gardeners, I hope you have had an enjoyable Summer, perhaps in your garden or in someone else’s garden. But wherever you are I wish you every blessing as we move forward into a new season. The words of the above old hymn I pray will cause you to lift your eyes and thoughts to the God who loves you!

Matthew

Visit Scotland in September? say YES!

**Bauchaille Etive Mor at the entrance to Glen Coe**

September is a good month to visit Scotland as the weather is often dry with many sunny days, tho’ perhaps a bit chilly in the mornings! It’s pleasant weather for touring around and since it is the first month of Autumn you see the beauty in the trees as the leaves begin to change colour, but still with lots of flowers in the gardens and hedgerows. This year, the weather has been particularly warm and sunny at the beginning of the month, so we took the opportunity to travel.

Our first trip took us East from Glasgow to the Firth of Forth where the river makes it’s exit into the North Sea, and on whose southern bank sits the city of Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city. We took a one and one half hour boat trip around the three bridges and Inchcolm Island, and found the historic commentary on board very interesting. Here are some photographs.

Later that week we travelled 200 miles north to visit family and friends along the Moray Coast and were thankful the warm weather seemed to travel with us, as you can see from the photographs.

On the Sunday we met other friends at the morning service in Elgin Baptist Church and later enjoyed a beautiful afternoon sitting at the harbour in Gardenstown.

The five days passed all too quickly and soon we were on our way home. We chose the scenic route via Inverness / Loch Ness, Fort William, Glen Coe and Loch Lomond. We had plenty of stops along the way and made the most of the day. Here are some final photos from our trip.

Well it’s sad in some respects to see the summer coming to an end for yet another year, but every season has its attractions, despite the changing weather patterns! The Autumn colours, the planting of Spring bulbs, winter nights with a good book, or friends and family around the fireside all have their attractions!

Our lives have their seasons too, our childood and teenage years, our early adult life, then middle age and old age! Now that I find myself in the latter category, it is interesting to think back and review all of life’s ups and downs, joys and sorrows, successes and disappointments. Photographs are a great way of doing that. The arrival of children, grandchildren and even great grandchildren are often a sure way to bring a smile to your face.

At the Church we visited in Elgin the pastor asked the question, ‘so what are you looking forward to’? You could expect a hundred and one answers to that question if you were to stop people on the street. but I think ‘seniors’ generally would answer differently from the rest of society. The pastor’s sermon that day was entitled A LIVING HOPE! You can see why from the Bible passage he read quoted below.

Quote – “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:3-5 (main points of sermon highlighted)

Compare this with the following quotation from the late atheistic philosopher Bertrand Russell. Quote – “all the labours of the ages, all the devotion, all the inspiration, all the noonday brightness of human genius, are destined to extinction in the vast death of the solar system, and that the whole temple of Man’s achievement must inevitably be buried beneath the débris of a universe in ruins” …….. Only within the scaffolding of these truths, only on the firm foundation of unyielding despair, can the soul’s habitation henceforth be safely built.”

Actually the sermon at Church that Sunday finished with the thought of increasing hope as you get older, which is surely counter cultural, and the antithesis to Mr Bertrand R’s message of doom and despair! The Christian message is based on the historical facts of the life, death and resurrection from the dead of Jesus Christ the Son of God, who came to save us from the consequences of our sin, if only we will repent and put our trust in Him as our Saviour. Watch below the late Willie Gilvear from the Gallowgate in Glasgow telling what hope he found in Jesus.

So as you get older what are you hoping for? There is new birth, new hope, an inheritance in heaven and security in life and death available through faith in Jesus Christ. Someone has said, life without Christ leads to a hopeless end, but life in Christ leads to an endless hope!

Not yet a Jesus follower? Why not seize the opportunity and come to Christ now and start a life filled wiith HOPE? Here’s Willie Gilvear ….

Always glad to hear from my readers! Be blessed wherever you are!

Matthew

Plans, Projects and Purpose

Well perhaps you are not the planning type, and tend just to ‘go with the flow’ as some like to put it, and that’s fine. During my working career I was invariably working to time deadlines, so planning was an essential part of life, and I know that will be true for many who read this blog. That can make life a bit too stressful at times, but it can also be very rewarding to see a project well done and on time!

Since retiring I guess I have continued in the ‘planning mode’, although as I get older plans are somewhat less ambitious, and time scales more flexible! 🙂

This month in the garden the plan was to clear out the heather bed which had gone a bit wild and replant it with something different, but what kind of plants? That question has been answered in the short term, but all being well, we will have a review in the Spring. I also planned to refurbish the pergola which was getting a bit tired looking. Here are some photographs!

Heather bed with many bare patches and lots of weeds

Instant gardening thanks to the Garden Centre and local hardware supermarket. All perrenial plants, supposedly frost resistant to -10 to – 20 degrees. Time will tell, but meantime we are enjoying the plants and the three rose bushes are now about to flower. I was happy to let my grandson Lewis remove the deep heather roots. which was a great help.

We still managed a few day trips in the last month, one was to the Isle of Bute and another to The Trossachs. And as always we try and choose a fair weather day!

First some photographs of our trip to Bute.

The Isle of Bute is beautiful, and a one day visit is far too short! The ferry fare for two adults and a car is reasonable at less than forty pounds return, so I’d recommend you treat yourself if you live here in the UK.

Our visit to ‘The Trossachs’ included the three loch’s drive and Loch Katrine, and that is always spectacular, but it was good to see the first signs of the forest recovering after the devastation caused by Storm Arwen in November 2021. Here are some photos.

Great to see the ‘Sir Walter Scott’ steamship still bringing pleasure to the many tourists who visit Loch Katrine. My late friend and Ship’s Architect Andrew Cumming was involved some years ago in a refurbishment programe on this ship. The ship was first launched in the year 1900 so has been in service now for well over a century! Amazing!

Reflections:

I started this blog by talking about plans, and how they change as the years go by, and perhaps become less ambitious. It reminded me of this front cover in Newsweek, which I photographed back in 2009 and which I came across recently

I am sure Gordon Brown’s plan had his best intentions at heart, and may have produced some beneficial results, but saving the world? This of course was the media’s take on the plan, and I am sure that the author himself never claimed that for it. But as you watch and listen to the news I am sure we are all agreed that the world needs a saviour. There is great talk and planning going on at present about saving the planet, but what about the people? you and me and those caught up in war and oppression, or suffering through homelessness, thirst, flood, fire and famine, disease, sickness, crime, and lack of education …….?

The Bible speaks of a man who came to save the people of the world, and is in fact still saving them today! I refer of course to Jesus the Son of God. Remember Christmas? – ‘Unto you is born this day a Saviour who is Christ the Lord’.

We all have plans, things that we intend to do or people and places we hope to visit. If you are amongst the world’s poorest you are perhaps dreaming of ‘a life in ‘the West’ and are willing to risk all to get there. In the West for many the plans are for bigger houses, electric cars, and exotic holidays. But are you planning for life after death? for eternity? Jesus said ‘What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?’

Benjamin Franklin the American statesman penned this phrase in a letter in 1789 ‘in this life nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes! Hopefully you have your taxes covered, but how about your soul? All of the Bible speaks about God’s plan to send a Saviour to save us from God’s wrath and judgement against our sin. Here are some Bible verses that outline God’s plan to save us, both in English and Chinese the world’s most spoken languages. Take time to consider them

PURPOSE: It’s good to remember that we are here for a purpose. To the question ‘What is mans chief end?’ The Westminster Shorter Chatechism states ‘Mans chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever’. You might ask why? Psalm 145 may help answer that question.

Let’s plan wisely for our eternal future, while we still have time.

Matthew

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The Garden – Summers end 2023

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