Missionary Gas

Careful leaving the Ark:  formal language at Strathclyde Uni People from Latin America,  tend to write emails as if speaking them,   which can take some interpreting.  José from Costa Rica wished "May God make you as balanced as the eagles and as buffaloes' hello's".    And Rubén, from Peru,  exhorted me to "fulfil your mission,  remember the fallen but not closed down,  between testings and fights continue walking,   looking at the perfect bullseye which is Jesus Christ". From Lima,  Manuel addressed me as,  "Señor Reverend Father" and went on to explain he was a Catholic,   ran a small business and had heard that a bit of theology would help.  What did I recommend ? May God make Berkhof understandable for him .

Olwen is away in Ireland just now,  so I decided to join the Strathkelvin Ramblers on their B+ walk around Ben Glas at Inverarnan,  the north end of Loch Lomond.  It was a brilliant day apart from the rain,  and the wind,  and the cold. Arriving home I dried out and found more Recursos Teológicos emails waiting for me.   Including a poor preacher who wanted a downloadable Bible dictionary and a Mexican missionary couple looking for financial help to go to Honduras to set up a restaurant in order to evangelize.  Near the top of Ben Glas in the rain and wind If variety is the spice of life,  life is pretty spicy just now.   .  

At last I've updated the Spanish theological resources page, Recursos Teológicos .  Each update brings a stream of emails from pastors and laity expressing thanks,  quite often in flowery language.   "Many thanks for the exquiste material" (mmm ... on Analogy and  Hermeneutics,  the construction of Christian citizenship,  and why did God use Samson?) Sometimes they want more material,   even though the site has 100s of articles and books.  Particulary for help to refute the Prosperity Gospel - which is a megaproblem in South American churches. And you occasionally hear from ex-students,  who make you sound as if you were the most wonderful teacher than ever chalked a blackboard.    I know it´s all blarney - but it´s exquiste all the same.  Even a Scottish bus getting OTT  

Charlie,   you're not scared of a missionary are you? (Bonnie Prince Charlie's bedroom,  Menzies Castle) This afternoon Olwen and I engaged in a debriefing of our missionary work.   It was suggested by a book on Re-entry for returning missionaries.    The idea is to evaluate how God has been at work,  lessons you've learnt and how to apply it all to living back in the UK. The most common things to come through were: An appreciation of others:  family,  church,  friends Simply trusting God and his word Having our minds opened through working in a different culture and language Making things,  whatever they may be,   beautiful

Today was memorable:  we cycled to Castle Menzies and Cluny Gardens.   It's surprising what odd bits of information you pick up. Do you know the answers to: How were minister's salaries paid in kind?     Using a large stone to  weigh the produce What is a quaich?     Double handled drinking cup What's a trillium?    3 petalled,  3 leafed, 3 sepalled wood lilly What kind of squirrels live near Aberfeldy?     Red What happens if a group of serious racing cyclists see coming towards them, on the wrong side of the road,   a wobbly lady cyclist with a basket full of plants?   Olwen can tell you the answer   Who should avoid this flower? 

The birks of Aberfeldy Today we slowly walked the 2 miles through Aberfeldy's birch glen,  made famous in Burns' love song.   There's a spot marked where he was inspired to compose it,  a bronze look alike of him on a bench with a notebook looking wistfully into the distance.    Plus there are odd bits of verse carved out at view points to ensure we get his message. Forget looking for inspiration from Burns.   The glen,  its trees,  burns and waterfalls are impressive.  They proclaim a much better song:   that of the power, wisdom and goodness of their Maker.

Welcome to Aberfeldy's ex-Free Church: Drama and tat available We went just past Dewars' distillery,  turned a sharp left and cycled along the narrow path by the Tay.   Drawn by the river on one side and nettles on the other, we wobbled our way to Grandtully.  Sadly,  Olwen didn't quite understand  the need for momentum to get through muddy stretches.   Overlooking the rapids at Grandtully, we consumed several cups of tea served from a large white teapot.  From there I knew you could reach Pitlochry, however the threat of divorce subdued my intentions. We cycled back on the opposite side of the Tay and saw Aberfeldy with its church spires nestling in the valley.   I still struggle to accept the wisdom of closing the Free Church with its prime location.  But then I'm out of touch and,  rather riskily,  have that Latin American church growth mentality.    

Yew tree at Fortingall near Loch Tay Today we saw the oldest living plant in Europe and posssibly the world.   It's in church grounds just north of Loch Tay and is a yew tree.    Although considerably gnarled it remains tall and green,  and has lasted 5000 years. Not far from it in Kenmore is Scotland's oldest inn,  established in1572.  And not far from that is Killin where the the parish minister was the first person to translate the New Testament into Scots Gaelic. Why are we so obsessed with history?   To get money from American tourists?   It's more than that:   things that are worthwhile doing are remembered - certainly by God and sometimes by humans.   It's not a waste of time going the second mile.  

View from the Coffee Shop We arrived for a week's holiday in Aberfeldy.    The last time I was here was 25 years ago to take Communion Services.  The Free Church has since been shut and sold to a Drama Club.    In the afternoon we did the shops:  all 12 of them.   We bought the last loaf at the bakers from an eastern European,  ordered coffee in the award-winning WaterMill shop from a Slovakian,  got information in the Tourist office from an undefinable foreigner,   and were short-changed ₤10 by an Englishman.   Och aye,  it's great to be in the hielands.   I can't wait for independence and be run by ... er mmm.  

After teaching Church History I came to the conclusion that the most relevant part for today is the Crusades.    This is where you understand the present Muslim conflict with the West.    In was in the 12th century that such expressions  as "Holy war", "assassins" and "infidels" came into use.      Popular Muslim thinking still  reflects the idea they're fighting the Crusaders.    Killing Bin Laden,  invading Iraq and fighting Gaddafi encourage it even more.    I've no idea what the solution is to problems in the Middle East,  but it isn't by Brits and Americans getting involved - unless,  of course,  they're missionaries. Not a good idea either:   Aftermath of the Royal Wedding