Jesus – Page 2 – Matthew McKinnon's Blog

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

“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

A Tribute to Daddy!

Well, not many children today use the term ‘daddy’, but back in the nineteen thirties and forties me and my siblings, and all my pals called their Mother – ‘mammy’, and their Father, ‘daddy’. Today is the anniversary of his death in 1978, so I was looking at some old photos, and recalling many happy childhood and life memories.

Dad was born at Wolesley Street in Glasgow in 1895; these were the days of horse drawn trams, and stage coaches, and when ‘horse and carts’ were the main means of transporting goods as the photo below illustrates. The family moved to the Ibrox area of Glasgow when he was still a child, and there he attended the ‘Band of Hope’, a child’s club at the local church. One night they taught the children a new song, ‘Jesus wants me for a sunbeam’. On arriving back home he found the house empty as his mammy was at a neighbour’s house and daddy was out. So he tells how he knelt at the black fire grate and prayed “Jesus if you want me for a sunbeam, I’ll be a sunbeam for you‘. You might think that a bit crazy, childish and simplistic, but Jesus loves the children as the Gospels tell us, and the truth is my daddy spent the rest of his 83 years as an ardent follower of Jesus, and always put that down to his early childhood prayer!

With countless others he lived through two world wars and the great depresssion. He had trained and worked as an engineer, but during ‘the great depression’ he managed to get some work as a welding company van driver. These were the days of community ‘soup kitchens’ and great hardship, but somehow by the grace of God, there was always food on the table. He was an inspector at Rolls Royce during much of my lifetime and worked long hours Monday to Saturday in aid ot the war effort during WWII. He had met Mary Smiith at the Bethel Mission in Kinning Park and they married in 1927. They had a family of six children. The youngest one in the pram, is not named ‘Boris’ but Matthew 🙂

Most of my earliest memories were after we moved from Ibrox to a new council flat in Shawlands. There we were enrolled in due time at the local schools and at Church Sunday school. The boys also joined the local Boys Brigade, and were regulars at our own church in Pollokshaws, who held a weekly Children’s hour packed to the door with kids. No TV in these days!! History in someways repeated itself, as just after one such children’s hour, where they were serialising the story of John Bunyon’s best selling book ‘The Pilgrim’s Progress’ accompanied by ‘Lantern Slides’, we arrived back home and our daddy was asked, how can you be sure you will go to heaven when you die? He explaianed to us in childlike terms, the amazing story of God’s love for us, and how Jesus died in our place, and rose from the dead, so we can be forgiven. Then me and my three brothers prayed the ‘Sorry’, ‘Thank you’, ‘Please’ prayer to Jesus. Sorry for my sin, thank you for dying in my place, please come into my life and be my Saviour and friend. So that’s when and how our life as Christians began.

We were a family with a love for the great outdoors, and before the days of cars, we walked for miles on Saturday afternoons after daddy came home from work. Our parents always managed to take us on holiday at the ‘Glasgow Fair’ each year, usually to a place on the Clyde Coast but occasionally further afield. Here are some photos.

My Father gave us all lots of good advice throughout life, and led by example in key areas of honesty, integrity, consistency and commitment to his word. He was a man of sincere faith and prayer, with many down to earth examples on practical living in the home and workplace, and also in love and faithfulness within marriage. One piece of advice he gave me that stands out above the rest, and has stood the test of time, was from the book of Proverbs chapter 3:5,6. It reads

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

I know of course that not everyone has good memories of their father, which is very sad. Of course no earthly father is perfect, and neither was mine, but we do have a Heavenly Father who is, and who loves us beyond measure, and we can come to Him in complete confidence and trust. He already knows all about us, our mistakes, our troubles, joys and sorrows, so we can speak openly and honestly to Him in the Name of Jesus. Perhaps a simple Sorry, Please, and Thankyou prayer to start with?

Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam – Children’s hymn lyrics

Jesus wants me for a sunbeam, To shine for him each day; In ev’ry way try to please him, At home, at school, at play.
Chorus: A sunbeam, a sunbeam, Jesus wants me for a sunbeam. A sunbeam, a sunbeam, I’ll be a sunbeam for him.
Jesus wants me to be loving, And kind to all I see, Showing how pleasant and happy His little one can be.

Blessings as you prepare to celebrate Christmas.

Matthew

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