Missionary Gas

Unexpected nice thought

2011-12-17T15:41:00.000Z

Have just received an electronic Christmas card from the Carmelitas (Carmelite nuns) of Viedma (Argentina) with the assurance of their prayers.

I've never visited a Carmelite nunnery nor Argentina. Feel slightly guilty about not having sent them one.

Must write and thank them.

Are there apostles today?

2011-11-25T15:22:00.001Z

There is a heated debate in Latin American churches about the continued existence of apostles. This matter has been taken up in Ayuda Pastoral.

How shouldChristians view claims to contemporary apostleship?

A biblical perspectiveon the issue indicates the following:

The word "apostle"means someone sent. TheGreek noun "apostolos" comes from the verb to send. So as a "sent one" every believer isan apostle: " no servant is greater than hismaster, nor is a messenger ("apostolos") greater than the one whosent him. (Joh 13:16 cf. Heb. 13:1).

In a general sense anapostle is a gospel messenger. The mission of the "apostolos" inthe New Testament is to take the gospel message. "as for our brothers, they are representatives("apostolos") of the churches and an honour to Christ" (2Co8:23). To emphasize this, the apostle is sometimes connected with the prophet: "I will send them prophets andapostles" (Luk 11:49).

In a special sense an apostle was one of the 12. There was a particular group that Christ chose to start the primitivechurch which he called apostles. Afterpraying all night Jesus "called his disciples to him and chose twelve ofthem, whom he also designated apostles" (Luk 6:13). Paul was later also to receive this title(Rom. 1:1).

The apostolic message is the foundation of thechurch. The 12 had authority because they helped to establish the teaching andpractice of Jesus. By means of theirmessage many were converted and the church was: "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with ChristJesus himself as the chief cornerstone" (Eph. 2:20). In a connectedway, the New Testament was written bythose who were apostles or their companions.

Thus the biblical sense of contemporary apostles exists in:

· the missionary activity of every Christian

· the message of the New Testament

· the doctrine and practice of the church of Christ

Super-enhanced response!!!!

2011-11-17T09:31:00.001Z

Typically an out-of-office automated response to an email is:

Sorry, I am away just now but will reply as soon as I get back.
Anita

Latinos of course hype things up, and maybe that's not a bad thing. Recently I received the following automated response (which has been translated from the Spanish but with the original colours and exclamation marks):

Blessings on you!!!

A thousand thanks for writing to me and what you've shared!!

I hope, with God's help, you're well!

I look forward to enjoying more of your pleasant and encouraging friendship!!

Fraternal greetings to you!

I'll be in touch!

MARANATHA!!

May Christ bless you ... He is returning soon!!!

Anita

Essentials of sermon preparation

2011-11-10T15:16:00.001Z

Next question dealt with in Ayuda Pastoral:

What are a pastor’s indispensible steps in preparing a sermon?

Basic and essential stages in sermon preparation are:

1. Prayer. What was notable about the ministry of Jesus was his time spent in prayer. Typically we read: "while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed" (Mar 1:35 cp Luk. 5:16; 6:12; 9:28; 18:1; 22:44). The preacher needs to pray for understanding of the text, for the Spirit’s accompanying the Word and for his own humility.

2. Think of the congregation. A sermon has to connect with the real world of its hearers. What concerns do they have? What needs to they face? What is their level of understanding? Paul’s sermons showed a noticeable change when he preached to Jews or Gentiles of the Royal Court (Acts 13:13-41; 17:2-31; 26:2-29). In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus appreciated his listeners’ background and so spoke to their situation.

3. Study the text without using commentaries. Commentaries are excellent but best left to the final stages of preparation. The text on its own must first minister to the minister. On the Day of Pentecost, Peter preached with little preparation because Jesus’ message had taken hold of his mind. The songs of Mary and Zechariah indicate that they were people who reflected deeply on the Scriptures (Lk. 1:46-55; 67-79).

4. Ask questions of the text. In order for the preacher to be enthusiastic about what he is saying there has to be an interaction between himself and the text. To stimulate this he should ask questions of the text, for example: Why has Matthew chosen this particular event to include it in his gospel? How does the passage show John persuading his readers to trust in Jesus? What is important to Paul this in his passage?

Ballymena street signs

2011-11-05T08:53:00.000Z

Should I give to missionary societies?

2011-11-03T07:19:00.000Z

Next issue in Ayuda Pastoral (Spanish pastoral website where church leaders respond to a weekly question):

What do you think about donating to missionary societies or charitable institutions? Should we only give our offerings to the local church?

In the world of the New Testament Church there were no separate missionary societies or charitable organizations. So it is difficult to answer this question directly from the Bible. However there are some biblical principles to guide us:

Usually offerings should go to the local church. Naturally this was the early church practice: “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income” (1 Cor. 16:2 cf. Acts 2:45; 4:34-35)
Local church leaders are responsible for distributing funds. Elders and deacons used such funds for charitable works and missionary activities: “The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul” (Acts 11:29-30 cf. 2 Cor. 9:5; Acts 6:1-4).
It is legitimate to give to individuals and organizations. Jesus and the apostles received material help from women who supported their ministry. Luke describes such women as those who “were helping to support them out of their own means” (Luke 8:2-3). Matthew describes such women who followed Jesus to the cross as those who cared “for his needs” (Matt. 27:55). Paul also received help from Christians in Macedonia (2 Cor. 11:9).
By faith we decide who to give to. Whether it is to the local church, a missionary or a para-ecclesiastical organization, the giving is done believing that it is the right thing to do. Paul says, “everything that does not come from faith is sin” (Rom. 14:23), and “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give” (2 Cor. 9:7 cf. 1 Cor. 10:31).

Is church membership biblical?

2011-10-28T10:31:00.000+01:00

Next translated offering from Ayuda Pastoral (Help for Pastors):

Is it right tohave a system of local church membership? What principles are there for a balanced view of such a membership?

The New Testamentdoes not give us detailed information about local church practices. We don’t know the times and forms of servicesnor what were the customs about admitting someone to church membership or evenif such a list existed. These things needto be worked out in our own context. However there are some biblical principles involved:

There existed asystem of recognizing church members. Passages which deal with church discipline show that there was a way ofknowing who belonged to the church (Matt. 18:17; 3 Jn. 1:10). Of the 75 uses of the word“church” in the New Testament, mostrefer to a local one with people recognized as belonging to it.

Basic knowledgeabout Christ was required for membership. For example the Phillipian jailor was taught simple Christian truths byPaul before he was baptized (Acts16.32). This basic teaching was sufficient for him tobecome a Christian and so a member of the church. See also Matt. 16:16-18; 1 Jn. 4:2.

Faith in Christis essential. Paul says that it is necessary to confess withour mouths and believe in our hearts to be saved (Rom. 10:9). So it is insufficient simple to knowinformation about Jesus, the person musttrust in him as their saviour. Seealso Jn. 20:31; Heb. 11:6.

Christianbehaviour shows the validity of faith in Christ. A person might claim to be a Christian, but howis it to be know if they are genuine? Jesus said that by a person’s fruit, or conduct, sincere Christianityis shown (Matt. 7:19-21). People’s lives indicate that they are Christ’s and so privileged to bepart his body, the church (1 Cor. 1:2: Jn. 15:1-5).

Day out in Stratford-upon-Avon

2011-10-25T13:01:00.000+01:00

Christian view of Facebook

2011-10-18T10:05:00.000+01:00

Next entry on Ayuda Pastoral is:

Whatbiblical principles would you recommend to a pastor or church leader toinstruct their congregation about a Christian approach to the use of socialnetwork sites such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace?

Socialnetworking sites are a gift from the Lord.

God is our creator andthe maker of what we see around us. We benefitfrom nature, music, technology and thesocial networking sites on the internet. As Paul comments, "All things are yours" (1Cor. 3:21) and we can freelyenjoy them.

Beware, there are dangers

Paul also warns thatdangers exist even amongst legitimate things in the world, "'I have the right to do anything,' you say--but not everything isbeneficial" (1Cor. 6:12).

Being robbed of time. Time flies when we are in front of thecomputer, and unfortunately it can betime badly used. In contrast to that theBible says that we should make "the most of every opportunity becausethe days are evil" (Eph 5:16)
Being deceived. The nature of Satan is that of adeceiver: "that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, wholeads the whole world astray." (Rev 12:9 cf. Gen. 3:1-7). He's active on theInternet and it is possible for Christians to be deceived on social networkingsites. Care is needed, especially in dealing with members of theopposite sex.

There's an even better social network!

At times theapostles had to write to those whom they did not know personally (cf. Rom. 1:10). But they realized that the best form of relationship was not a longdistance one, but a personalencounter. So John says, "I have much to write to you, but I do not want to usepaper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, sothat our joy may be complete" (2Jo 1:12 cf. 3 Jn 1:13, 14; Rom. 15:23,24,28). The better way forsocial networking is through Starbucks rather than Facebook.

Lenzie, Perth and Aberdeen

2011-10-08T09:41:00.001+01:00

Early morning, Lenzie

Midday, Perth

Afternoon, Aberdeen coast

Evening, Para Handy, His Majesty´s Theatre, Aberdeen

What an interesting life, Lord, thank you

Addicted to pornography?

2011-10-03T17:22:00.001+01:00

Recently the Spanish website Ayuda Pastoral (Pastoral Help) started up a weekly problem solving column. They give you a maximum of 300 words to respond to an issue and you must be biblical.

This week's was: What steps would you recommend to a church leader or pastor to free someone addicted to pornography.

And my tuppence worth ...

1. Convince the person that pornography is sin

Matt. 5:28; Rom. 1:27; Col. 3:25

Within marriage sex is a gift of God and a blessing. Outside of it: a disaster. Even though someone is a Christian, if they do not remain faithful in their living, potentially their end will be catastrophic, as in the case of Judas.

2. Persuade the him or her to repent

Mark 1:15; Rev. 2:5

The tense of the verbs in Mark 1:15 implies a continual sense. We believe and keep on believing. We repent and keep on repenting. Faith and repentance are not just conversion experiences, they are for the rest of the Christian life.

3. Explain they must leave off pornography

Col. 3:5; 2 Tim 2.22, Eph 4.22, 25, 27

Paul uses phrases such as "run away from" or "put to death". To do this it is necessary to remove yourself from the opportunity of seeing pornography or even thinking of it. It implies not logging on to the computer if that is the source of temptation or blocking adult TV channels.

4. Help the person to replace it with what is good

Eph 4:24; Col 3:10,14; Phil. 4:8

The thinking of the apostle is that of an exchange: putting off the old nature and putting on the new. Leaving aside the pornography and replacing it with Christ. Instead of thinking about the immoral, thinking about the word. Practice what is good rather than licencious (Phil. 4:8). And if this becomes your practice, in time you´ll beat the addiction and gain a far, far better life..

Misty Ben Lomond

2011-09-25T10:31:00.005+01:00

Trip to the top of Ben Lomond with Kirkintilloch Ramblers

"I lift up my eyes to the mountains-- where does my help come from?" (Psa 121:1 NIV)

3 days in Crieff Hydro

2011-09-22T20:06:00.005+01:00

Front of Crieff Hydro

Rear of the Hydro

Dry stone wall opposite Reception

Well in the forest

Engraven stone at the well: Jesus said that whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst

Drummond Castle Gardens

Loo sign at Drummond Castle

Anti-compartmentalized sandwich box crusade

2011-07-05T11:37:00.002+01:00

Fitting in well: Colombia butterfly near our old flat

One of the effects of long-term missionary work is gaps in your history.

Recently I joined the Strathkelvin Ramblers. Before going to South America I had done a little hill walking, so I turned up confidently with my waterproofs, chocolate bar and bottle of water. But the missionary is soooo out of date.

The sight of my fellow ramblers made me fear we were going camping. Their rucksacks were packed with what, I wasn't sure of, although one man had three pairs of gloves, another had compass, binoculars, and sat-nav as well as a water-proof map. Walking poles were produced, two per person, although it wouldn't have surprised me if some had a couple more, just in case.

Maybe it's Bishopbriggs affluence, I said to myself. But no, other hill walkers were identical: poles, rucksacks and compartmentalized sandwich boxes. I felt naked in my Gortex jacket, Berghaus leggings and Tully hat.

When did all this happen? Why did it happen? What does a missionary do: go native and buy the gear or have an anti-compartmentalized sandwich box crusade?

God's providence is my inheritance

2011-07-01T16:03:00.001+01:00

"God's providence is my inheritance": the old wing of Ballygally Castle Hotel

Today is the first day of my new job. I'm now an Online Editor with the IMB, still involved in the Spanish speaking world, but based in Lenzie.

It was a pleasant morning: published a sermon in Spanish on building your house on the rock/sand (Mat 7:24-29), and started writing an evaluation of Textos fuente y contextuales de la narrativa evangélica. This is a Jewish background commentary on Mark from the Qumran texts and the like, written by a Catholic professor in Granada, and is a challenging read.

Hanging over me is a series for From the Frontiers. Offering to do them for Charlie a couple of months ago was easy enough. So also was signing up for a 10k race in aid of missions in Strathclyde Country Park.

I definitely need some kind of make-you-go-faster socks.

John Jairo in St Andrews

2011-06-07T13:09:00.001+01:00

June picnic, St Andrews beach

Today our Colombian student, John Jairo, experienced a picnic on the South Sands of St Andrews. The usual profuse latino complements were somehow missing, maybe because of the scarf around his mouth and the woolly hat pulled down. One is confident that he found the experience memorable.

The highlight of his day was, I suspect, scrambling along the dark, damp, eerie tunnel underneath the Castle. It's the nearest St Andrews gets to Alton Towers. I was surprised we didn't meet any other tourists there but they probably hadn't heard about it yet.

He was also impressed with the lobster cages on the harbour and was keen to know how the creatures got into them. Which is not an easy question to answer.

His knowledge of the Reformation is hazy, but better than most Scotsmen's of the conquistadores. Thankfully I was able to present a positive picture of Christians being burnt to death.

He showed zero interest in golf.

Dress a girl

2011-06-04T19:45:00.000+01:00

Yu's pleased with what's she's done

It's been an event packed period. The five days of the General Assembly seemed like a month. Then John Jairo from Colombia came to stay and our world became Latino. Jim, the fitted bedroom man from Lewis' arrived and produced computer-aided wardrobe pictures.

But what has dominated above all is dress-a-girl-around-the-world. Some American had the simple but brilliant idea of turning pillow cases into girl's dresses for those living in the Perus and Ugandas of the globe.

It involved collecting sewing machines, buttons, threads, ribbons, bias bindings, trimmings and long forgotten materials. Then, what seemed the impossible task, of coordinating 45 women over a 12 hour day. And I got a parking ticket.

Finally 39 dresses were produced and 100 self-assembly packs made, which are now heading off to Peru, Uganda, Pakistan and Burkina Faso. Bits of thread are still appearing in the car.

How do buffaloes say hello?

2011-05-23T09:51:00.002+01:00

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.

Inverarnan and Honduras

2011-05-21T22:21:00.000+01:00

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.

.

What happens when you update

2011-05-20T20:35:00.000+01:00

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

Sunday afternoon in Aberfeldy

2011-05-15T19:38:00.000+01:00

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

Castle Menzies, Cluny Gardens: 6 questions

2011-05-14T20:23:00.002+01:00

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 O' Aberfeldy

2011-05-13T19:19:00.001+01:00

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.

A sunny day in Aberfeldy

2011-05-11T17:09:00.003+01:00

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.

A rainy day in Aberfeldy

2011-05-10T19:15:00.000+01:00

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.

Two bikes and one wife in Aberfeldy

2011-05-09T19:23:00.000+01:00

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.

Bin Laden in church history

2011-05-02T20:08:00.001+01:00

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

Marxism, Christianity and the Royals

2011-04-29T17:15:00.003+01:00

The day before the Royal Wedding was spent in Edinburgh. In the morning Olwen met up with Daphnie and Ruth, and in the evening we went to Fiona Christie's farewell.

So I spent part of the time visiting an unknown Edinburgh. Beside the Palestinian Fair Trade shop I found a plaque to Alexander Whyte, the Bible expositor, and a bust of R S Candlish, the Disruption churchman. Under a railway viaduct I saw one of those historical plaques.

On a dirty viaduct wall

I'm not sure what to make of the Royal Wedding: Connolly would have attacked its opulence, Whyte and Candlish its hypocrisy. Meanwhile, I shivered my way through our street party grateful that the prayer has been answered, "long may she reign over us".

Good Friday conundrums

2011-04-22T19:32:00.003+01:00

Leaving St George's Tron after hearing
about "The Great Comfort of the Cross"

"Whet's happnin heir?" said the girl to Olwen as the crowds streamed out into Buchanan Street. 400 attended the no-frills-Bible-exposition Good Friday service in St George's Tron. Auntie Margaret kept us two seats.

In the opening hymn we sang,

Inscribed upon the cross we see
in shining letters, "God is love";

But, can you reduce "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews" to "God is love"? Shouldn't it be "God is just".

But the verse finishes off:

He bears our sins upon the tree,
he brings us mercy from above.

Okay, the hymn writer got it right.

Now I wonder at the cross if someone asked, "Whet's happnin heir?"

Maundy Thursday

2011-04-21T20:14:00.001+01:00

St Paul's: the long-standing rival
to Westminster Abbey

The Kirkintilloch gym has TV monitors fixed to their machines. Today I ran, rowed and cycled while watching the Queen at her Maundy Thursday service in Westminster Abbey.

What was remarkable was the amount of Scripture that was read. It seemed so non-PC to hear elderly Prince Philip read Jesus' words at the end of the Parable of the sheep and goats, "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." And at the close for the congregation to sing, "God save the Queen".

In fact, it was better entertainment than the golf or the cricket.

The wheel maker

2011-04-19T22:09:00.001+01:00

Today I met a bicycle wheel maker in Clachan of Campsie. I didn't mean to as I'd just gone to collect the bikes after a service.

Clachan is a collection of a few houses at the Campsie foothills with a small bicycle repair shop. The wheel maker works in a back room piled high with parts, papers, and even the remains of a rhubarb pie. Hanging from the ceiling were frames, some made of titanium and weighing grams.

All skills are important

The shop doesn't sell bikes, it makes them. There must be few places like it in all the UK.

Whatever skills God has given us, even the smallest of ones, they're worthwhile having.

Palm Sunday

2011-04-17T21:22:00.003+01:00

Went to Kirkie Baptist to hear son David preaching tonight. The two-part sermon was on Psalms 126 and 129: songs of joy and of lament.

These and other Psalms were sung by the Jewish pilgrims who went up to Jerusalem for the Passover. And Jesus was amongst them. Thankfully the lament of Easter Friday was turned into the joy of Easter Sunday.

And its wonderful that sorrow turning to joy is so typical of the Christian life.

Photo: Powerful stuff - Kirkie Baptist prayer corner, complete with fire extinguishers

Struggling to be legal

2011-04-16T12:34:00.010+01:00

After working in a 3rd World nation it's difficult for missionaries to readjust to 1st World Health & Safety and PC-ness.

Calling someone a Blackie is a term of endearment in Colombia. In Scotland I even got warned about carrying a penknife.

Yesterday we had to get rid of 3 wheelie bin loads of bushes and branches: the obvious thing was to burn them. The fire took hold easily, the flames lept high and I felt like an Indian sending smoke signals to Ireland. Olwen shouted for the hose pipe and then we heard the sound of a helicopter circling us.

Was it legal? It's not easy to loose the 3rd World mentality that common sense is weightier than legality.

Photo: Cuzco, Peru, without UK Health & Safety standards

On furlough

2011-04-14T12:28:00.009+01:00

Our furlough continues until the beginning of June, and then the Missions Board will decide what to do with us.

Meanwhile Olwen's got a scheme to make sun-dresses out of pillow cases and send them to Burkina Faso. Sadly my suggestion of raising funds for the Lenzie Dengue Sufferers Group was ignored.

She's also attacking the garden and I've been put in charge of the lawn. One of the first things I did was to order a book on lawns which I'll definitely read before Christmas.

Photo: Giant pineapple, Medellín, Colombia

What next?

2011-04-12T20:25:00.003+01:00

Am just working on a review of the latest Spanish Logos Bible Software. It's called the Edición Platino - the Platinum edition.

I wonder what they'll call the one after that - the Uranium edition doesn't sound quite right.

Having a reputation

2011-04-09T11:10:00.012+01:00

When we arrived in Lenzie news reached us of the death of Bill Wilkinson from New Stevenson. He was an elder in the Brethren Assembly although few will have heard of him. But he was well known in heaven because he took every opportunity to speak of the gospel and was a holy man. I recall him giving a word about Jesus at my wedding.

Also there was a book waiting for Olwen: sort of do-it-yourself cafetiere covers. It was a thoughtful Mother's Day gift from John and Jo.

I wonder what you and I are remembered for? Mmmm ... scary.

Photo: High Street, Aviemore

Talking to a gruffalo

2011-04-07T18:14:00.010+01:00

A few years ago Daphne Douglas said that talking to her Alaistair was like talking to a fairy tale. He would answer as the big bad wolf or a gruffalo and you never knew who would come next.

I understand Alastair. At the moment my world is connected to that of the medieval Bible interpreters and I meet up with Thomas Aquinas and Alfonso de Madrigal.

To keep in touch with reality we went for a walk around the Carnlough Bay. This part of Antrim is predominantly Catholic and voters choose between Sinn Fein or SDLP. Every SDLP poster has been damaged.

We all have our own dreams and it's a case of how healthy they are. As Paul says, "think about such things" concerning what is true and admirable.

Photo: Sorry, you won't be getting my vote

Ice cream the world over

2011-04-06T09:56:00.007+01:00

It's been a an active few days: visiting the Avoca shop/coffee lounge - Belfast's answer to London's Liberty.

And then up to Morelli's: Portstewart's answer to Largs' Nardini's.

And everyday we see Slemish: Ballymena and St Partrick's answer to Iona and St Columba.

"There is nothing new under the sun" says the Bible. Which can be sad or an encouragement to trust that God reigns.

Photo: Military graffitti, Ballee's answer to Colombia's FARC?

On being wanted

2011-04-03T13:24:00.007+01:00

Mother's Day is usually a bit dodgey. Olwen wouldn't want anyone to make a fuss over her. However an orchid, cookbook, lovely-mummy heart and 4 out of a possible 5 cards gave her the feel-wanted sensation. (Don't worry J _ _ n the others compensated for you).

After church this morning I wish I could say the same about deaconess' preaching. No doubt they contribute considerably to the church's ministry, but deacons aren't teaching elders.

Photo: Grannie with her waving-Queen present

Stuck in the docks

2011-04-02T10:09:00.004+01:00

I set TomTom for Belfast's City Airport to collect Matthew. A sinking feeling came over me as I entered through a restricted zone of Belfast's docks. This was justified as TomTom announced "You have reached your destination" and I drew alongside a Calor Gas depot. No doubt a sermon application there.

At least he got it right in the evening. We joined the thousands of Porche's, BMWs and 4-wheel drive owners watching Ulster v. Scarlets. This included seeing 8 physios on the pitch at the same time treating injured players.

Photo: Paddy's milestone on way to Larne

Cost of a free curry

2011-03-31T20:30:00.003+01:00

Today we took the P & O's Express Catamaran from Troon to Larne. Well the security man directing traffic at Troon Harbour was express enough, after that it was slooooow: the police halted boarding while they investigated an "incident", on board the first 6 hours were spent bouncing up and down in the harbour until the winds abated and then the crossing took the more tranquil and longer costal route.

So for 11 hours I've done nothing but Sudokus, stare at the sea and consume P & O's complementary curry.

It's surprising how the Lord slows you down when you need it. Thank you, Lord.

Blessing of normal life

2011-03-29T17:41:00.004+01:00

Saturday was Jenny & Craig's wedding in Edinburgh, Sunday we had 16 for lunch, Sunday night was the Cumbernauld missionary meeting, Monday a meal at the SeeWoo restaurant, Tuesday the Clubbs came round and the Stevens' left, Wednesday it's meetings in Inverness and Edinburgh and early Thursday off to Ballymena.

At one time I would have groaned at all this. Now I give thanks to God for the strength to do it.

I hope this indicates maturity and not madness.

Photo: Blessing of living a normal life

Light on fiscal policy

2011-03-27T17:34:00.006+01:00

Today's sermon was on Jesus being the light of the world (Jn 8). The preacher, Colin Dow, spoke ably on just about every verse in the passage v12-30.

But I still remained uncertain about the meaning of one verse: Jesus spoke these words in the temple area near "the place where the offerings were put" (v20).

Why did Jesus says this in that area? What is the significance of this great discourse being in the treasury?

Buenv Vista Social Club

2011-03-26T09:01:00.006Z

Cuba's Buena Vista Social Club performed in Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall last night. By the end of the evening most of the 2000 present were on their feet clapping and swaying to the Caribbean beat.

The star performers were the octeganarian looking grannie, the dottering trumpeter and wheel-chair propelled guitarist. So enthused were performers and audience that the event lasted 30 minutes beyond scheduled finishing time - resulting in a crush at the loos aferwards.

It would be great to catch that kind of enthusiasm praising God, and that kind of resilience in serving him.

Photo: Grannie leads the way

Hell-fire preacher?

2011-03-24T17:05:00.004Z

Olwen bought a new light duvet yesterday, and neither of us slept last night. These things should come with health warnings.

Today Olwen got me to dig out a "bush" from the garden, which turned out to be a wannabe tree, and Liz came through with the girls, it being her birthday.

In the late afternoon I was able to get on with a Spanish book that's to be reviewed: "Introduction to the Gospel according to Saint Matthew" by a medieval cleric called, Alfonso de Madrigal. Who was usually known as "El Tostado", the toastie.

This was after his father, but it has a possibilities for describing a preacher.

Photo: London plaque to two hell-fire preachers, the Wesleys.

Catching up

2011-03-23T18:05:00.007Z

8 am was pretty grim, Scotland's warm weather meant I didn't sleep under a thick winter duvet.

But the rest of the morning was bright: sun, an email from a Rector in Spain wanting to use Recursos Teológicos, and in the gym I saw a woman using an cross-country machine backwards.

In the afternoon, Dave and Helena Stevens arrived, reps of the Spanish Gospel Mission, so we caught up about Dave's gallstones, Helena's greying hair, and what the Lord is doing in Spain.

Photo: Another family catches up (Trafalgar Square, London)

Spring news

2011-03-15T11:06:00.005Z

To some extent we feel we’ve just landed from Colombia although that was over 3 months ago. The effects of Dengue Fever, the upheaval of a sudden departure, and adjusting to life in Scotland have left us feeling like misplaced people.

The last 3 months in Medellín involved lurching from medical crisis to medical crisis until we decided it best to return to live in Scotland. Thankfully the Missions Board was in agreement and has also given us 6 months’ furlough. Health is gradually returning but leaving friends in South America was sad for them and us.

In June we have a meeting with the International Missions Board. A job has been proposed that I'll continue to work with them as an Online Editor providing internet resources for the Spanish speaking church. It means we'll be based in Scotland but have a global reach – there are even Spanish communities in Japan.

Olwen’s busy life in the Zero Stress sewing room has still continued and she is organizing balls of wool, coloured materials and working on mini projects. With being in Scotland we’ve been able to visit Olwen’s mother more, who is now 92, still going strong and regularly tells us that they are going to have to shoot her.

It’s great to be available to help the family who have supported us sacrificially during our recent 7 years in South America. The immediate members have now extended to 17 with the birth of Julia, a second daughter to Andy & Liz; of Lois, a third daughter to Steve & Rebecca; and the marriage of John to Jo in December.

David successfully completed his MTh course and along with Anna and Molly are now working on what to do next. Matthew's made a big change with going to study English law at Birmingham University and has joined the Birmingham City Church and the local Conservative Association.

The past 12 months have not been how we imagined, but we know that God does all things well, and rejoice in that; and in your love, thanks.

2010-12-08T12:05:00.004Z

Our last week in the Seminary is a blurr. We cleared the flat, Olwen sold my favourite trousers for 30p, and I was sent out to buy an animal chair. Two years ago we'd bought a giraffe chair for a granddaughter, but this time all I could get was a Friesian cow with solid wooden legs.

Lovingly others had paid for us to fly Business Class and Olwen was delighted. Unfortunately news of the upgrade hadn't reached Colombia's military security. And just as she, for the first time in her life, stepped into the Priority Access lane in Medellin's airport, a voice called her away. Surrounded by unsmiling camouflaged military every item in two cases was examined.

I blame it on the local lilt she's developed working in Zero Stress: it was assumed she was a mula (mule or drug smuggler). The cow, suspected of being a Trojan Horse, was X-rayed twice, Leon Morris' commentary on John's gospel was smelt, and each book was carefully examined for traces of cocaine. She was terrified that someone had planted drugs and it was of limited consolation that the city’s women's prison was called El Buen Pastor (the Good Shepherd). Anxious airline officials told me to Board on my own.

And so we left Colombia: drugs, Dengue and Christian love. And remembering our neighbours, trusting many had tasted the gospel of Jesus.

Zero Stress is now being directed by Mark Wittig who runs an excellent Christian sports ministry in the city. And I have years of writing to get on with.

Thanks again for your interest and prayers. If more gospel travels start up I'll be in touch.

Photo: Big sale in our flat, everything went.

Memorable Sunday

2010-11-24T21:11:00.003Z

I don’t know if it was heresy, I don’t think so, but Olwen and I acted as God parents on Sunday morning. It was for Luisa, a teenage girl who lives in the alleyway next to the Seminary and who publicly made her confession of faith in Christ when being confirmed into the Lutheran Church.

The significant thing is that she has become a luterana and is no longer a catolica. In the Spanish language luterano has a nasty sound to it, equivalent to being called a Papist in English. It indicates a minority, extremist and persecuted faith. It will single her out in school as one who has rejected the country’s traditional religion and espoused the protestant heresy.

She is the daughter of one of the ladies who comes to the Sewing Room and is the first member of her extended family to make her Christian commitment known. It’s really what we are all about here: the Christ of the Bible graciously entering lives.

We leave Colombia next Wednesday. It’s been farewell meals, sales and tears all week. But Sunday was the most memorable part.

Photo: Luisa with her new Bible on the day of her confirmation as a luterana

Not what was planned

2010-11-17T14:10:00.003Z

On Thursday I almost fainted and on Saturday I fainted while attempting to eat a boiled egg. It turned out I had Dengue Fever. Olwen was relieved at the diagnosis: nothing sinister and thousands have had it in Colombia. I suspected there would be a catch somewhere. On Monday it turned out my blood clotting platelets were falling, I was hospitalised and fainted again. There is no cure for Dengue – that’s the catch.

Being hospitalised means two of you in hospital: the patient and the assistant (Olwen). You have your own room which includes a sofa bed for the assistant. She does all the simple nursing stuff day and night. As Dengue is a mosquito transmitted disease I was isolated under a white mosquito net. The paid nurses came and gave me drips every few hours, the doctor cheered me up and thankfully some of you prayed.

My platelets continued to fall for two days, but just when things became dangerously low, levels started to rise. At the end of the week we were sent home looking like Oxfam adverts. I am now on sick leave, my classes have prematurely finished, we’re selling our things and leave for Scotland on 1 December.

It’s a rush, an inconclusive departure and not what we had planned, but I guess the Israelites said the same when the Exodus came.

Photo: Clínica Las Américas: home for a week

Music-maker's last disc

2010-11-03T13:29:00.001Z

It was Sunday morning and the sun was shining. Olwen assiduously read her SU Bible Notes and I was sprawled out on the bed. Then we heard the shouting - angry, discordant and male. There had been loud music all night and now something had turned nasty. And then there was gunfire. I guessed the all-night music-maker was protecting himself from an angry mob.

Thankfully the rest of the day was quiet. It was Dia de la Biblia (Bible Sunday) and our church gave New Testaments to passers-by. However in the evening as we played Scrabble, the peace was broken by 3 shots. This time I guessed that judgment had come on the troubled music-maker. There’s been no music since.

I find the sound of gunfire chilling. It signifies death, as well as tears and pain. It takes away the Christian along with the wicked. We hear it frequently for Colombia’s 50,000 disarmed guerrillas have rearmed in urban gangs.

But it’s not for this reason we’re leaving the country in December, it’s because of our conviction that I’ve got to the maximum of my risk taking health-wise. To continue would be foolish. The Mission Executive see things similarly and we’ll meet with the Board in the coming year to think about the future.

Thanks so much for your prayers: they’re effective.

Photo: Urban Medellín where macho men and women murder 180 monthly

Looking after camels

2010-10-27T15:47:00.001+01:00

It´s been the strangest month of my life. Three advisore told me I had different medical crises including an instant death warning, there was a lump on my skin and then I was left on my own. It felt like I was a wannabe Job but without the camels

There are two things which kept me sane. One was observing nature carefully. For instance watching a full moon appear between darkened clouds or noting the 12 different colour tones in street-side flowers or picking out the variety of bird songs. All drew my mind to the One who is their Maker and my peace-maker.

And the other was reading the poetry of a man who went through a comparable emotional crisis, and survived. I memorized David's Psalms and repeated their wordsd in the night stillness.

Of course, it really worked out well for Job in the end. And my advisors too have all proved wrong, the skin's healded and Olwen's at my side. Just missing the six thousand camels.

Photo: Last weekend's Fruit and Flower Festival: and a pointer to the God of nature

Staircase surprise

2010-10-20T14:09:00.003+01:00

Missionary wives are a funny lot. Last weekend was a Bank Holiday one, and we decided to go and stay in a fairly luxurious hotel on the other side of town. My recent health scare made us want to spend some time thinking things over.

Maybe it’s my pagan background, but I don´t have a problem with luxury, however Olwen’s Northern Ireland pietism makes it touch her conscience. And especially before leaving the Seminary when the sewing ladies were asking where she was going for the weekend. She didn´t have the bottle to say the InterContinental Hotel nor could she lie. Speechless? Never, but fudging, not half.

However it all changed on Sunday night, when on the hotel’s shinny brass staircase we encountered colleagues from the Seminary: old, revered and eminently spiritual ones. The two wives fell over themselves to explain how they didn’t normally come and stay here. Jack and I just smiled, happy with life.

Today in the history class we read John Calvin’s famous opening statement: our wisdom consists in knowing God and knowing ourselves. The Bank Holiday weekend nudged us on a bit in both areas.

Photo: Not just luxurious inside the hotel: outside too

Good Samaritans

2010-10-13T15:58:00.004+01:00

My five nights of journeying from Scotland to the Seminary extracted their cost on my heart, and on Tuesday I knew I needed medical help. What comforted me was reading the Parable of the Good Samaritan: a half dead traveller cared for and cured by a Samaritan.

Dr Luis Horacio’s surgery next door to the Seminary is a kind of all-in-one basic health post that achieves wonders in the barrio but would give an NHS doctor enough cocktail party stories for a lifetime.

The crucifix was behind the doctor’s desk, a rosary hung on the wall, and he carefully examined me, stopped the palpitations and he sent me on my way to hospital for an ECG.

Unfortunately they had finished for the day, however a nurse coming off duty turned round, opened up the ECG room and ran the test: she was a nun.

And now a friend of Manuel’s has kindly arranged for me to queue jump in order to see a top cardio man.

It’s going to be amazing to meet the Good Samaritans in heaven. Thank you Lord for such people. I was jogging up the Volador today.

Photo: Dr Luis Horacio's surgery beside the Seminary

Pirates and Paul

2010-10-06T14:40:00.004+01:00

A crumb of comparison between ourselves and the apostle Paul, is the uncertainty of travel. I've just spent a couple of weeks in the UK, and journeying back to Colombia I missed the London-Miami connection, so had an unexpected overnight at Heathrow, and arrived a day late minus a case with clothes and students' essays.

Landing in Medellín airport in an evening means you risk encountering the urban equivalent of pirates: gangs of high speed motorcyclists specialising in international arrivees. So I stayed at its airport hotel in order to travel into the city in daylight.

To rectify my clothing shortage I bought a T shirt, which has a bull's head on and written underneath in red, yellow and blue: "Colombia" - not sure if Olwen will take to it, but she won't be back for 2 weeks. Over breakfast I read the day's El Colombiano and in it there was an article on our part of the city. Not about its 59 gangs but about the main road at the bottom of the street. It's called Via al Mar or "Route to the coast", which is a bit optimistic as that's 12 hours away. But this route is evidently a strategic corridor for the movement of illegal guns and drugs in and out of the city. And its lightly policed, who are usually corruptible anyway.

Medellín may not be too different from violent and corrupt ancient Rome. How Paul managed to achieve so much in such a world is incredible. El Colombiano also had an editorial on Jesus' teaching about faith like a grain of mustard seed: I'm still working at that, and maybe progressing, the case arrived the next day.

Unable to find help elsewhere: roadside prayer near Via al Mar

Contagious

2010-09-15T13:48:00.001+01:00

Saturday was the Zero Stress outing. The ladies went to a farm about an hour from the city and had a barbeque and games. And the biggest encouragement was: so much God-talk. For many of them God's love is like a distant planet which has to be entreated by personal sacrifice: lent, fasting, confession, multiple masses. And not a personal Father and saviour, nor someone you’d relate to and talk about.

At today’s opening of the Art Seminar an ex-student described the photographic exhibition she’d been allowed to show at the local University. It was on the Song of Songs and demonstrated the privacy of female beauty within the marriage bond. And also testified of an alternative ethic to the ordinary.

On Sunday, when walking to church, out of the corner of my eye I watched a tramp with his begging cup and dirty shawl. Fearing he might home in on us, I quickened my pace. But no, he shuffled towards the door of an evangelical church, waited and soon a well dressed lady came out and talked to him kindly.

And this is how the gospel spreads, I guess it’s not so different from New Testament times.

Photo: pass La Consolata (The Consolation) chapel every Sunday. Crowds attend but somehow the gracious fatherhood of God remains distant

Yellow Warning Signs

2010-09-08T14:34:00.001+01:00

Husbands will appreciate the crisis I found myself in: I was 15 minutes late meeting Olwen, and so was dashing along a busy shopping mall. In my hurry I caught a yellow “Piso Humido” (Wet floor) sign and knocked it over. Colombians are scrupulously clean and forever mopping down pavements and putting these things up.

I apologized profusely to the two elderly ladies nearby and replaced the sign. I dashed on and almost immediately knocked over another “Piso Humido” sign. They are quite solid things and cause such a clatter. Unfortunately, Colombians also have loads of rules and an armed security guard approached me. But now he apologised to me for the placing of the “Piso Humido” signs, putting them to one side.

80% of missionary work is learning to respond appropriately to life situations in a new world. Next week I’m to take a 4 day Seminar on using art in the service of the gospel. I thought it would be easy as students will be working on producing something themselves. But it means coordinating with a dozen Colombian staff and 80 students: and that’s the part that’ll be tricky.

Photo: Outdoor facilities: if in need, how do you respond appropriately to this situation?

Mafia protected

2010-09-01T14:57:00.002+01:00

You have to understand that the Seminary lies on one side of a road, and accommodation blocks lie on the other. The street in-between is a narrow one, but can be fairly busy.

Last Friday a lady was waiting for a bus opposite the Seminary gates when armed motorcyclists robbed her of her rings and bus fare. The teenage criminals roared off to the bottom of the street, where they were both shot: one of them was killed.

Each barrio of our city is controlled by a local mafia. They extract protection money (called a vaccination), organize drugs and prostitution. They also shoot police informers, suspicious incomers and visiting criminals. These street robbers were not from our area and a local had told me they’d be shot.

At the weekend we went to a tourist town an hour away. I sat under the palm trees by the pool, and gloried in the opportunity to get away from the violence. It was then that a heavy coconut-type fruit fell, just missing my head. Olwen reckoned it could have killed me.

I love the Lord’s sense of humour and reckon like Jeremiah I’m safer in the place of God’s calling.

Photo: Not the kind of thing you want to head

Can we do it?

2010-08-25T14:16:00.003+01:00

I was supposed to have cancelled my classes for the last couple of days, but didn’t bother because I didn’t think it would happen - but it did.

These days have been absorbed in working out how to train 35 pastors and 400 leaders of a church that started in Honduras and is now in Latin America’s main cities.

There are 12 of us on the committee including a Costa Rican, Brazilian, Argentinean, Honduran, Peruvian, North American and Colombians. The denomination is administered from Miami. Jenny Boyd from Falkirk also arrived last week, but she’s not on it.

There’s plenty of other things for her to do. Typically in South America, churches expand, even into thousands of members. And pastors, with no theological training, work using their wits, basic education, scripture memorization – and strong faith.

As I explain this, it makes you wonder how much we can help, but we’ll try our best.

Photo: Jenny starts to learn Spanish

Bum bag guns

2010-08-18T13:31:00.001+01:00

As I said it can only be downhill for the new President, Manuel Santos. On Monday his vice-President had emergency heart surgery, on Wednesday FARC detonated a car bomb in Bogotá and on Saturday morning ….

I forced myself to get out for some exercise. It was 6.30 and I’d just left the Seminary gates when two youngsters on a motorbike drew up. They pointed down at something: did I have odd socks on? No, I was being robbed of my wedding ring.

Funny how under pressure you do the wrong thing. I said, “Nope”. The assailant told his pillion passenger to get out something. As he started to unzip his fake-leather bum bag I suspected it was a revolver. Fortunately he hadn’t shared my miss-spent youth watching Lone Ranger films with its fast-shooting. By the time the bum bag was unzipped I’d got behind the Seminary gates.

City life has become notably more dangerous for everyone, we’ve even had to change our route to the supermarket.

I confess I don’t always do it, but that morning I’d prayed for protection before leaving. It was a good job: the State doesn’t protect you, but he will.

Photo: Not far from the Seminary: Bikes are cheap and popular with thieves

Waste of air miles

2010-08-10T14:58:00.003+01:00

It was strangely quiet on Saturday. The newspaper boy complained that after 4 hours he still had 35 tabloids and 3 Colombianos to go. I’d bought my Colombiano, but didn’t feel sufficiently charitable to buy his 35 tabloids.

It was the 191st anniversary of the Colombian army and also the annual classic car parade. But there was another event. Hospitals were on alert, gas deliveries were banned, so were motorbike pillion passengers and the carrying of guns. A new President was being installed.

Manuel Santos kept foreign Presidents waiting in the rain by arriving 30 minutes late for his inauguration. It was attending Mass just beforehand that caused the delay. Probably he’d to do extra penance because of his participation in a pagan blessing by tribal groups in the Northern Andes.

Outgoing President Uribe built up a 70% approval rating. Santos starts on that, so it can only be downhill from now on. He should have got the Pentecostals in, that pagan stuff was a waste of air miles. A tenth of the nation are evangelicals and the best citizens: Why were they excluded?

Och, we’ll pray for him all the same.

Photo: Should have been amongst the classic cars, but wasn´t

Cartoon life

2010-08-04T14:44:00.002+01:00

This is Medellín’s festival week: horse shows, flower parades, and even a black gospel choir from the States. I went to hear the choir perform in a large shopping mall in the north of the city: enthusiastic, talented and with hardly a word of Spanish. “Oh happy day, when Jesus washed my sins away” reverberated down the mall, and around my head for the rest of the night.

Travelling home on the Metro train the man beside wore a red, throw-away sombrero, on it was the slogan “Everything deserves a Pilsen”. Pilsen is a popular beer. Declining his advice, I walked the 20 minutes from the Metro station to our Exito supermarket. And there a live Caribbean band played us down the aisles and got our feet tapping in the check out queues. I felt I was living in a Simpson’s cartoon.

Arriving home I scanned the news headlines: Pakistan floods kill 800; Germany mourns dead; and Bogotá denies war plan. Reality is a sobering experience even without a Pilsen.

Olwen arrives on Tuesday – another reality check.

Photo: “Oh happy daaaaaaaay,when Jesus washed my sins awaaaaaaaaaay”

Sugar spoon

2010-07-28T14:43:00.003+01:00

This week a circular was sent out to the Seminary’s employees about the sugar bowl and related matters Colombian’s take their coffee seriously, strong and sweet. There is a communal coffee machine and it appears some rascal has been taking the sugar spoon off to his office, causing a crisis.

The Seminary is now in a time of forced austerity: don’t use too many disposable cups and no photocopying of syllabuses. In June it received a ₤40,000 loan from the OMS Missionary Society which would have lasted a couple of weeks. There is now talk of employing a Fund Raiser.

The first years are a super bunch; all sit near the front and have loads of questions. The 4th years, more knowledgeable, sit near the back but the questions still keep coming. Financial crisis or not, people want to be taught, and the Seminary cannot shut. Even if you had a blackboard in the middle of a field, people would turn up.

There is a sense in which an inter-denominational Seminary is an unnatural thing. It is not the kind of institution the national church starts, but is a product of missionary vision. However it serves the church well and fulfils the Great commission Jesus spoke about, and promised to support: so the future is sweet.

Photo: Denis, the Seminary office cleaner, with her tinto (Colombian style coffee)

Dinosaurs that stay

2010-07-21T13:24:00.004+01:00

As the plane touched down in Medellín, the lady next to me clapped loudly. Unfortunately this was premature for we then bounced down the tarmacadam causing her to genuflect more times than a nun meeting the Pope.

As is normal, one of my cases was missing. In the mayhem of airport arrivals, the Señorita wrote down my details in longhand and entered them in a big black ledger. Beside me, a missing-case, jittery, North American, shouted down his cell phone, “I’m in Medellin! And there’s no computers here!”.

But they do have people and the following day they took me quickly to a long line of bags, where at the very end was mine. I signed their big black register and left.

It was Independence Day yesterday (Tuesday): 200 years ago the Spaniards were ousted. A new book says the commemoration illustrates the shortest Latin American story : “When he awoke, the dinosaur was still there”. In other words, caudillos still dominate, the many are controlled by the few and democracy hasn’t really arrived.

Sunday’s sermon was an Independence Day one: Jesus saying the truth will make you free. Classes start today (Wednesday). I’m feeling jittery.

photo: it's great to have the support of friends - thanks for reading this (Botanical Gardens, Medellín)

Pentecostal economics

2010-06-09T14:47:00.002+01:00

Going bankrupt in a Latin American Bible College is different. After meetings and investigations an email went out today announcing a reduction in discounts for staff accommodation. Taking drastic action just doesn’t seem to fit into a world where it’s sunny all day, and from your office you hear the birds and someone singing to a guitar. I guess mañana something will be done.

What has been remarkable has been the time given to prayer. Mornings have been spent in it. The Board of Directors divided its time to include chunks of intercession. Students have met during the 10 minute slots between classes. Belief in miracles is strong, and so everyone makes plans for the coming semester.

As an unbeliever in Pentecostal economics I shake my head, struggle to sleep at nights, but maybe the day of my conversion is coming.

Have a look at the latest YouTube on Medellín and see what a different world we live in. One of our Colombian lecturers is singing in the background: his theme – the greatness of God.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnnxrwSvQ6E
(If the link doesn’t work, copy and paste it into your browser)

We leave next week for a short break in the UK.

Photo: A child-like trust in God is what Jesus talked about and many latinos practice

Executioner's steps

2010-06-02T15:29:00.001+01:00

Sunday’s Presidential elections were the most peaceful for 40 years. However, it’s still been a memorable week: we heard that the Seminary needs to be closed down or substantially downgraded. Today I saw a vulture strutting along the Seminary roof, its wings like black sackcloth.

We have bills of ₤40,000 to pay with only ₤2,000 in the Bank. The 30 staff are without salaries and reserves have evaporated. Last Christmas something similar happened, but to say it’s a financial crisis is misleading: the Seminary’s just not sustainable in its present form. Generous donations this month will simply waylay the executioner The Seminary board has emergency meetings.

Yet an email arrived from the Dean about exam arrangements in 12 months time, written as if all were normal. Olwen’s off this weekend to speak at a Pastors’ wives retreat. And God is, so things can change in unthought-of ways.

But it all leaves me shaken, nervous and in a fog. Jesus’ “of little faith” disciples perhaps felt the same.

Photo: Juan David - happy graduate and now a pastor

Riders in the skies

2010-05-26T15:22:00.005+01:00

Closure of the Seminary was hoped for last week, at least in the dreams of the lecturers. It was three weeks before the end of the Semester and you felt you couldn’t produce another class. Today its 10 days to go, the end is coming and life’s lighter.

Along with the 3rd years we’ve worked through the Greek of John, and now as a personal spiritual adventure, I’ve set out on the Apocalypse in Greek. Yale academic, Dale Martin, says its lousy Greek. He may be right, but as literature it’s unputdownable. Forget white-water rafting and bungee jumping, encounter brilliant white and red horses, mysterious scrolls, sky riders, secret seals, a terrifying lamb and “the one who sits on the throne”.

Olwen´s life is in another orbit: dyeing strips, making aprons and bag fashions. Yet Zero Stress and Apocalypse have their same origin: the spirit of the Artist of the universe.

A YouTube was produced for the WfM Annual Meeting: how such a collection of diverse individuals, over two continents, can be so productive is beyond human manipulation.

http://www.youtube.com/user/0stresscolombia

Photo: For the wife/girlfriend who's got everything - the latest in Noah's ark waistcoats

Myths alive!

2010-05-19T14:36:00.001+01:00

I was eating an orange on a balcony overlooking the Seminary grounds when I saw a Hobbit passing by. You could tell it was a Hobbit by its short body, unusual face and straggly hair. It had a large bag on its back and walked purposefully. Students nearby never even noticed.

For years I have puzzled over how to describe the Seminary. It has extensive grounds shielded by iron gates and encompasses a community of 100. On one side of the grounds there is a row of caves with small doors and dark interiors: although for administrative purposes they’re called houses. Now I know. So many of my colleagues have Hobbit like features, I wonder how I never saw it before.

Hobbits are kind, faithful and brave. Recently one was sent up a 60 ft high tree to cut it down branch by branch. Of course our myths tell us that it was a lowly Hobbit who saved the world.

Liberator Simón Bolívar said “America is ungovernable. Those who worked for her independence have ploughed the sea”. He didn’t know about the hope Hobbits’ can bring.

Photo: Hob… , strictly called a Seminary employee, on top of a 60ft tree

Freshly painted message

2010-05-12T15:30:00.001+01:00

Late yesterday afternoon Olwen and I strolled down the street for a coffee. We passed a young lady who’d just got off a long-distance bus with various bags. She called out to Olwen, “Señora”, and explained she was frightened she might be robbed, would Olwen mind staying until transport arrived? Now, I’m not convinced Olwen has the kind of face that frightens off armed men, but, whatever.

On the same day, Mark Wittig’s news from his sports ministry was the arrival of artificial grass and the murder of one of his enthusiastic youngsters. He had started to walk through an area he wasn’t known in.

Yet, cyclists go down the street singing away, people smile plenty and the children laugh. And I don’t go out without praying for protection. Many in the city have to pay for it: to the barrio gang.

On a wall near where we met the lady is a freshly painted message: “Revolution - Christ: Revolution in you!” And you could add, “And hope for Colombia”.

Photo: The only hope for Colombia

Fried Mars Bars competition

2010-05-05T15:31:00.006+01:00

Leaving class the other day, I was behind a former student, not sure if it was him or not, he seemed to have doubled in width. It was him.

According to the Bible God gave food to strengthen our hearts. Colombia is blessed with excellent meat and delicious fruits, some of which you’ve probably never tasted. But heart disease is the nation’s main cause of death. Having had one heart attack and two strokes I’m concerned.

Street corner sellers offer deep-fried cheese dough-balls and deep-fried pasties. Restaurants offer the Colombian speciality, patacones: large double-fried banana chips. But both types of establishments are outnumbered by the hot dog and burger people.

Half of Colombia lives in poverty. But maybe that’s the problem: a fast food fry-up is a cheap meal or an easy profit.

And, the best food for the heart: Jesus, the bread of life.

Photo: Colombian fruit and veg: more expensive than a quick fry-up

Elected! War!

2010-04-28T15:01:00.001+01:00

Each day my class starts with a devotional led by students, and manipulated by me (for sanity’s sake: most students are climbing-the-wall Pentecostals). My latest antidote is for them to form their prayers using Scripture. Today we read about the woman from Samaria, so the student interceded for relationships with neighbouring Venezuela.

Colombia’s elections are in 4 weeks time, and Venezuela’s President said yesterday that if a particular person were elected it would mean war. He was speaking about the most popular candidate, right-wing Juan Manuel Santos.

One conflictive issue is the influence of the USA. Colombia has 7 US military bases and Venezuela claims these are for espionage. Venezuela has an anti-capitalist policy, particularly anti-USA, which has led to the seizure of assets and an exodus. Colombia is pro-USA, gets 550 million dollars and lots of enemies.

Both policies are wonky; for the sufferers are the poor, the educated and the voices crying, “Enough!” One of Olwen’s sewing women confessed to having just got married: to an unknown 71 year old who usually lives in Miami. She paid him a fortune which she didn’t have. And now the difficult part is to dupe the US authorities into giving her American citizenship.

So the poor become poorer. And Olwen will get into a spot of bother if the CIA read this.

Photo: Should they put on an extra star for Colombia?

Joining Alice in Wonderland

2010-04-21T15:04:00.002+01:00

It’s 2 years since I’ve been going for an early morning run and can now get beyond the bottom of the road. Recently I’ve been running up a hill called the Volador (Flyer). It’s where Olwen takes her sewing ladies for an outing: they walk up the road and at the top have their picnic and look out over the city.

However there are dirt paths going up which are not well known. One of these, at the back of the hill, is through gates which look as if they belong to a castle. Behind them is a clean tiled street, where horses are stabled. Sometimes a pack of dogs greets you or a cat stares. And this is when you feel you’re joining Alice in Wonderland. At the bottom of the street there is a bridge leading into woods. These were once the haunt of guerrilla gangs but are now eerily quiet. This morning a mini leopard jumped out on me, well it was a big cat – but frightened me just the same. Eventually you reach an old sign, “The Castle” where there is a police watchtower, manned by dogs. Then there’s another summit, normally hidden from sight, and near the top is a notice telling you to go away, with odd blue/orange flags hanging from trees, and wooden huts: it’s an army outpost.

Reaching the top of the Volador is exhilarating as the sun creeps up over the Andes, blinds you and then warmly kisses you. I’ve my shirt off – Olwen can’t see me.

Perhaps John had a similar experience in his vision of Jesus: “His face was like the sun shinning in its brilliance”.

Even Alice’s world has something real about it. Hallelujah.

Photo: Down the stables' street, heading to the Volador

BIG challenge

2010-04-14T18:11:00.002+01:00

Classes started back today. I teach the Synoptic Gospels at 7 am and Johannine Literature at 10 am. Each one has about 20 students and lasts 90 minutes – without a break. And you have to keep them moving: if you don’t control them, they’ll control you. So in my preparation I divide each class into blocks of 20 minutes with inter-active participation. Materials are then put on the Seminary web site for the keen ones to download.

At times I feel like an electrical current – all flow, and with the threat of an odd explosion. Students’ Bible knowledge varies: a third very good, and a third terrible.

The biggest challenge is keeping everyone, including me, focused. Once your mind enters the Biblical world there’s so much to draw your attention.

Jesus had the same problem with the sons of thunder and the impetuous, questioning followers. And I also suspect that those Galilean fishermen laughed as much as students did today.

Photo: Students studying John´s Gospel in class today

What I saw on Sunday

2010-04-07T14:06:00.002+01:00

Easter in Medellín is when you need to fight your way into church. The priestly wail, like a mantra, sounds out full blast through the packed chapel and neighbourhood: “Pardon us, Lord … pardon us, Lord … pardon us ….” Crowded Resurrection Sunday parades carry a semi-naked Jesus leading a demurely clad Virgin and a host of lesser saints.

Two days later, I wander into a large, but now nearly empty chapel: a few kneel before a statue, an old man is reading his Bible, then a white-gowned priest arrives and genuflects beside me. I decide it’s time to leave; as thousands are doing.

Almost half the world’s Catholics live in Latin America but there is a notable shift to evangelical Protestantism. Our own Seminary limps along, crisis-driven, but pulsating with students wanting theological education. People email me asking where they can get correspondence course materials.

Christ is building his church and Mary, the saints and the sacraments won’t stop that.

Easter Sunday parade near the Seminary

South American games

2010-03-31T15:22:00.003+01:00

The South American Games which are held every 4 years, have always been won by Argentina or Brazil, but this year Colombia triumphed.

As events were held within walking distance of where we live, were free to see and well policed, I decided to go along. There were no tickets: you either queued for hours to get to see something popular or chose something boring. So I saw the ladies kick-boxing, in which Colombia excels, but with the female audience becoming more and more animated, I didn’t stay too long. Then there was what seemed like a never ending game of basketball between Argentina and Chile. And finally, on a warm evening, I witnessed the swimming finals held by floodlight in an open-air pool, with the Andes silhouetted in the distance.

Yesterday, for the first time in my life, I saw a baby red squirrel. And today I was chased down a hill by a horse.

Lord, I know heaven will be wonderful, but there’s so many interesting things going on here. Gracias.

Photo: Swimming finals: makes you feel like jumping in?

Ah …. Lord

2010-03-24T14:28:00.001Z

I’ve just arrived back from the costliest aspect of missionary work. It’s not the earthquakes, nor eating ants, but saying goodbye to the family. Rebecca, Steve and the girls have returned to Scotland. It’s been a doubly emotional time as recently Liz’s Julia was hospitalised. You can Skype them and email them but that’s little compared to seeing them.

I’m not sure why the separation is so painful: distance? sentimentality? frail humanity? Thankfully it’s something our national colleagues can empathize with: because, in their culture, what’s more important than family? Unfortunately sometimes sending churches struggle to appreciate what all this fuss is about. A colleague, in another mission, was prevented from attending his mother’s funeral: it wasn’t budgeted for.

The only reason why missionaries endure the pain is because of Christ’s calling. Missionary work itself is dead easy and so is eating ants (with your eyes shut): any Christian can do it. But leaving father or mother, daughter or grand-daughter for the sake of the gospel needs a lot of help – even after 15 years.

Rebecca, who lives far away, and Luisa, who lives nearby

The invading Christ

2010-03-17T14:39:00.003Z

Last Sunday saw the election of candidates to Colombia’s House of Representatives and Senate. 150,000 troops were on patrol: thankfully it was the least violent election in 25 years. The Presidential ones are on 31 May.

We’d gone to the neighbouring city of Santa Fe for the weekend where the nosiest thing was the school brass band. It’s been two years since we were there and on that occasion Olwen had given a cleaning lady a Bible leaflet. She happened to see the lady again who told her how she’d kept the leaflet, and wondered if there was any more.

A few days earlier a taxi driver had explained how his faith in Christ began through a leaflet given to him by a Seminary teacher.

Foolishly at times I think like a UK secularists and forget the power of Christ the Word, the one who conquers lives.

Rebecca and Steve travel back on Tuesday, the South American games start in Medellín on Friday and a Christmas card from Sutherland arrived yesterday.
Photo: Pavement cleaning on election morning, Santa Fe de Antioquia

Be published and be blessed

2010-03-10T14:17:00.004Z

Every couple of months I publish an article on Biblia.com. It’s a Spanish website that aims to explain the Bible and allows readers to comment.

Of those published, the one that has been stolen the most is: “The pastor and the prayers of Jesus”. It explains how our Lord prayed and what this means for the pastor. It’s now reappeared on 6 other web pages.

The article that has caused most comment is, “The strangest piece of information in the Gospels”. This is about 12 year old Jesus in the temple and 117 people have posted their responses.

But the one which has generated the most heated debate is, “When the pastor’s judgment fails”. It deals with the injustice Jesus suffered before the Jewish Sanhedrin and the danger too, of pastors’ not acting fairly. Hurt church members and the issue of ministerial training have dominated discussions.

Helping to prepare pastors would be an impossible job, if it weren’t for the intervention of the chief pastor of the church. And it’s just great that it’s not a thankless task, certainly not in Latin America.

Photo: Are grapes still a sign of God's blessing?

Andean terrors

2010-03-03T14:20:00.003Z

At 3 am last night our bed started to shake. I suspected the love-of-my-life was having a good scratch. But no, it went on too long, and when the shoogling stopped, I thanked God: it had been an earth tremor.

Andean nations from Colombia to Chile are connected by a common language, culture, and fear – the earthquake. Our block of flats has 3 warning notices: What to do in the case of a fire, an explosion, and an earthquake. However when an ‘quake strikes there’s no getting off that earth-shaking trampoline to read an advice sheet.

Following the Chilean disaster, English colleagues in the Seminary received enquiries about their safety. I’m glad to say that no Scot (nor, surprisingly, North American) made a similar request: a bit like asking Glaswegians if they’re okay after an earthquake in Turkey.

But, in fairness to the English, Colombia is affected. Two of our students work in Chile and their properties were damaged; trade, phone connections, the South American Games and businesses have all suffered. But then there are the dead. “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world?”

For the Andes Psalm 46 comes with fresh meaning, “God is our refuge … though the earth give way..."

Photo: When the Andes shake, stone statues are a hazard rather than a help

Grandkids evaluate Colombia

2010-02-24T14:02:00.004Z

Seeing Colombia through the eyes of first time visitors is interesting, but through grandchildren’s eyes it’s fascinating. They cut straight through to what pleases or frightens.

Breakfast this morning was interjected with cries of “more mango”. They run around in vest and pants in the ever warm climate. And sing-song words like gracias, buenos días, and chao soon enter their vocabulary.

Freed from Health and Safety Regulations they ride in cars without seat belts, clamber on brightly-coloured but not safety-protected swings and join in the melee of a world where people are more important than rules.

Of course there’s a downside. The see-saw doesn’t have a moulded seat bottom for it’s just a swinging log. Cockroaches and mosquitoes are realities; wandering peacocks ever so big. And adults loudly coo over youngsters with red hair.

But it’s a small price to pay to have your mind so expanded that it will never be the same.

I wonder what God feels like when he sees our world? Well, he only had one child and he sent him into it.

Photo: Chloe in her new surroundings

What's worthwhile?

2010-02-17T14:45:00.003Z

Although most of my work is teaching, an additional enjoyable job is that of supervising final year students' projects. This year I've 4 new groups.

One is looking at the effect of the reformation on Luther's music, another is doing a study of Lazarus' resurrection and comparing it with the portrayal by artists, a third group is examining the legality of Jesus' trials before the Jews and Pilate, and the last topic is that of the grace of God in John Calvin´s life and writings.

The most worthwhile thing students can do during their time in the Seminary is detailed work on the Bible and after that, learning from the Reformation.

This grounding should make them effective ministers, but more importantly, people who enjoy a supernatural peace.

Olwen, Rebecca and the girls plus friend Lynn are to arrive in the next few days: it’s uncertain when because wee Abigail has chickenpox.

Photo: Whether life crashes or not, you need a supernatural peace

God's odd bods

2010-02-10T17:05:00.003Z

As a foreigner you're vulnerable, and once you leave the Seminary gates you wonder what will happen to you. Comfortingly, the Bible says such odd bods are under God´s special protection.

On Saturday morning I went into the carpenter´s next door as I needed some wood. The workshop lies behind locked railings, guarded by a barking dog and does little business. The carpenter found the right wood, cut a couple of pieces for me, and refused to take any money.

In the afternoon I decided to visit an art exhibition in the city centre. When I got there it had already closed for the day. But the doorman said, "Just come on in" and turned on the lights, leaving me to wander around at my leisure.

It´s what theologians call the common grace of God, or simply put, natural human kindness. And it makes you say, thank you, Lord, and thank you, fellow humans.

Photo: God's interesting world in Medellín - peacock feathers

Guess who was waiting for me

2010-02-03T11:21:00.002Z

I'd to travel to Colombia on my own, as daughter Liz was soon to give birth to Julia and Olwen had remained behind.

Such a journey forces me to talk to different people. I met a young Bogotano with a red bandana round his head whose passion in life is street art. That's graffiti on walls, but his was an artistic and legal version. His mother sells motorbikes and he never told me what his daytime job was. We're hoping to meet again this weekend.

Then there was one of the lowest paid people in the Medellín airport hotel, who was digging up weeds. I soon found that his passion in life is Christ and he was listening to a sermon on a small pocket radio. He smiles a lot.

And finally there was the man who drove me to the Seminary: a fine Christian gentleman. He's a first generation believer so the old ways die hard: instead of "Gosh", "Really" or "Wow", he regularly comes out with "Ave Maria!".

The Psalmist writes about going to the ends of the earth and God being there. After a 22 hour plane ride I found him waiting for me.

Classes have started and there are 25 new students.

Photo: Recently painted Street Art, Medellín

The Apostle and chinese hijackers

2009-12-08T01:18:00.004Z

From where I’m writing you can see trees that look as if they’re out of a Tarzan film. Tomorrow (Tuesday) we’re due to fly to Scotland for Christmas, and part of the routine is to get a couple of days’ break at a hotel near the airport prior to the journey. Medellin’s Black River international airport is an hour from the city in a 7000ft Andean valley.

Today’s missionary faces hazards that would have taxed the Apostle’s brilliant mind. Not only those of air-born travel, but of internet-born messages. As many noticed our email address book and account were hijacked last week by online sellers in China. What was surprising was that some believed that I was recommending buying equipment from them, and perhaps someone can explain to me why it was North Americans who thought this.

The canny Scots of course sussed a bad deal immediately, the prize response must go to Bill Mitchell, with his reply:

Dere David and Olwen,
I am much thanking you for your sharing kindness. Half you a mootorcyle from ynchenchi bought?

Un abrazo,
Bill

And the Scots will also appreciate the following opportunity: Olwen has a sale in Lenzie this Saturday, 12th from 10:30 am, of bags, belts, hats and the like made in Zero Stress. And as the Chinese hijackers would say, “ Well come, your’e all most”.

Hotel kitchen staff during a fire drill

Mascara and the Ministry

2009-12-02T12:49:00.002Z

These days a frequent comment I get from students is, “You won’t be busy now that classes have finished” I tell them, “This is when the work starts.” There are special meetings to attend, articles to write, web sites to sort and a zillion things that were left undone to be done.

Among the special meetings were those with two academic officials from the Colombian Ministry of Education: a stern looking priest in a dazzling white shirt and one of those powerful Colombian females whose eyes are heavy with mascara. They’re the kind of people who turn up in my nightmares, but were actually very good at their job. The Seminary wants to launch a post-grad course on ethics with the complication of it being an online one. They came to suss out if we were up to it. The outcome is uncertain and we dream on.

Our poor undergraduates also had to face the Ministry of Education at 7am on Sunday, with a new external exam they must pass before they can graduate. This applies to all Colombian Universities and is a check on standards. Latin Americans take education seriously.

On Sunday night we went to the opening of a new church plant by a couple of Seminary students.

I’m just so thankful that with or without Ministry of Education approval, the Lord is building his church.

Photo: Speaker at recent graduation service

3 tips for missionaries

2009-11-25T15:46:00.002Z

To survive in missionary work you need to have your Bible at hand, take a daily siesta and see the funny side things. And the hardest of the three is seeing the funny side of things.

I have an inability to laugh at my own jokes, the nearest I get to it is the first play-back of a YouTube video made for the granddaughters.

But a visitor in this foreign country just has to walk down the street to be able to smile at what he sees: a girl plus her dog riding a motor-bike, his paws with her hands on the handlebars and she’s wearing stiletto heels; small boys on bicycles hanging on to the back of a lorry; and a scruffy car-windscreen cleaning lady whose got a policeman’s whistle and keeps blowing it to direct the traffic.

Of course a Colombian visiting the UK would find one or two things amusing. One of our students, Oscar, is about to start his practical year with Care Force at a church near Cambridge.

His reactions should be interesting, but of course, that’s England.

Photo: It's the end of Semester!

Mouse-glue and water-cannon

2009-11-18T12:31:00.002Z

The day never turns out quite how you imagine. For instance, Olwen went out to buy some lipstick and was chased down the main street by a water-cannon. She’d wandered into a mob of stone throwing students who were soon to be scuttled away by riot police. Protesting that she’s Don David’s wife wouldn’t have done her any good.

Then, for a different experience, I noticed that on sale in the supermarket was “Mouse glue”. Just spread it on some cardboard, add a bit of gorgonzola and wait for a mouse to get stuck in the goo. You then deposit the cardboard with live mouse into your kitchen bin.

And it’s the final week of term and a bit chaotic: student groups round for their last coffee, frantic marking of course work and the soon-to-graduate ones walking around with big smiles.

Every day’s different because every day’s in God’s hands: even if you’re a mouse.

Photo: You never know what’s coming next – could be nice

Jesus' puddin's

2009-11-11T12:33:00.001Z

From the UK it is difficult to appreciate the lack of resources in the Spanish speaking world. For example, there are over 100 books in English on “The Trial of Jesus”. So far in Spanish I’ve located three: one written in 1842, one translated from French and another for those between 0-4 years of age.

It’s the same in the sewing world. If you want how-to instructions on making whatever by hand, there are hundreds of free YouTube guides in English. There’s almost nothing in Spanish, hence our recent efforts (now there’s fabric flowers: http://www.youtube.com/user/0stresscolombia).

This inequality is connected with a variety of factors like wealth, education, Biblical heritage and a philanthropic approach to our neighbour.

It also means sending people from Scotland to Peru and Colombia is well worth the cost. Puddin’s we might be, but if you don’t usually have one, they’re a welcome treat.

Photo: No wedding photographer, so everyone’s the photographer

This week's question

2009-11-04T13:22:00.002Z

There’s been another local murder: a girl who refused to hand over her motorbike. Our barrio is jittery, some local women are frightened to leave home alone even in daytime. A Colombian colleague prays that the Lord would make Olwen invisible when she goes out.

In an attitude I find difficult to emulate, she refuses to be intimidated and was off at night-time into a dodgy part of the city meeting some Ecuadorians. They’re a group of Quechua speaking Christians who’re starting to get involved in the sewing project.

I keep my head down by concentrating on classes. Not that that’s completely peaceful. This week we had a re-enactment of the Sanhedrin at Jesus’ time, complete with Pharisees and Sadducees denouncing each other. As women couldn’t be part of the Sanhedrin, the female students were the accused. The charge: calling a wee boy an angel, it could be a capital offence, depending on your theology of angels.

It’s a risky life whether in Medellín or ancient Israel or anywhere else, until we’re in heaven. Last week I asked, “Why not come and visit us?”, this week it’s “Why not come and join us?”. Plenty of scope, plenty of needs and it’s always sunny.

Photo: Luis Fernando has just finished a project on Christ's sufferings and Colombia

2009-10-28T12:06:00.001Z

We’d love you all to visit us. So I hope what I write won’t scare anyone off.

On Saturday afternoon, we went to see a comedy about French cooking. Before the film started, instead of warnings about mobile phones, there was a chilling re-enactment of children being kidnapped by guerrillas from a Colombian village. It was screened to make us remember another reality.

The next day we heard of an entire football team, called the Peanut Men, being taken and murdered. They evidently sold peanuts on the border with Venezuela: not the most likely reasons for assassination.

And last night two of our best loved lecturers, Don and Elizabeth Sendek, were attacked when their taxi drew into the Seminary residency. They lost their laptop, however mercifully not their lives – the city’s murder rate is escalating, the robbers were armed, and Don fought back.

Before all this happened I had compiled a video of our students’ regional night with their different dances. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgcO3ZHHIt8

There’s still a time to dance. Do come and join in.

Life under a curse

2009-10-21T13:54:00.002+01:00

There was a neighbour who used to wolf-whistle at me when I went out running in the early morning. Last night he was murdered. The family reckoned he had been cursed as he suffered from a psychiatric disorder which when combined with marihuana or the full moon made him uncontrollable. He was well built, in his mid-20s and had been stealing from another barrio. Two teenagers from there came and killed him: a life is valued at the cost of a few trinkets.

The Seminary’s immediate neighbourhood is one big interconnected family and some of them come to the sewing room. They reckon the only person that’s sorry about his death is his granny. There’s no notion of his importance as a human being in the image of God.

Today in the class we examined the Spanish Conquistadors treatment of the Indians in the name of Christianity. They too were sold for trinkets and killed like soul-less rats.

How powerful are James’ words about genuine Christian faith resulting in doing good. It’s not much, but the sewing room tries to show this to local families, and to others through YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/user/0stresscolombia

Photo: Local people at a sewing room meal

Flies or mosques?

2009-10-14T13:30:00.002+01:00

The Spanish for mosque sounds like the word for fly. When speaking about Islam, students love to try and trick me into saying fly, and then roar with laughter. Every day you’re reminded that you’re a foreigner.

But it’s a busy time for some of the students. As the semester closes they have to get their theses in. This year I’ve three groups to supervise. One is on how Jesus suffered in his death and what lessons there are for suffering Christians in Colombia. A second group, of Pentecostalists, is working on Calvin’s teaching on the Holy Spirit and comparing it with their own church’s doctrine. Finally one student is looking at why the oldest church in the city, the Presbyterian, has grown so little in its 125 years existence.

Although we’re foreigners we want to help Christians understand how the Bible, theology and evangelism works.

And it’s an honour even if our help is fly-sized.

Photo: Living with violence: Lima street poster showing children on a dump of arms

2009-10-07T13:44:00.003+01:00

This half-semester I’m teaching History of Israel: New Testament. It’s an introduction to Jesus’ world: culture, history, literature and so on. We started off with a virtual tour of Palestine.

At the end of the class, the student rep asked if he could say something. This sometimes happens and concerns internal student affairs. Today was different: “Let’s have the dream of going on a class trip to Israel”, he said. Now the rep is sincere and Christ-like but poorer than a church mouse (the mouse doesn’t owe Seminary fees). So us realistic souls just smiled, packed away our books and had something amusing to tell our wives.

Two days later in a shopping centre I saw pictures of Israel, placed by a group of students who’d come back from a visit. They’d been funded by an Israeli-Colombian association.

Today I let the students know about the funding, and recharged my practice of faith.

Photo: Dreams and reality can combine: Olwen photoshopped on the Lima coastline

Saint Paul and the minibus

2009-09-30T13:52:00.004+01:00

It was the mid-semester break, so we decided to have a couple of days away from the city. These kind of trips give me butterflies in my stomach: you’re not sure of where you’re going, where you’ll stay, nor how safe it’ll be.

We arrived at the bus terminal where buses and the like aggressively tout for travellers, trying to persuade you to buy a ticket to who knows where. We got a small bus for Guatapé (pronounced Guah-ta-pay) which soon filled up and then someone got on with 35 buckets. The area we headed for is renown for its lakes, granite monolith and the ex-home of that most infamous drug baron, Pablo Escobar.

After 2 hours we were the last people on the bus and arrived in a small town which was hot and deserted. Feeling somewhat conspicuous we walked to the main square, sat in a shaded restaurant and enlisted the waiter’s help. Things worked out really well and we soon got a quiet hotel room overlooking the waters.

The locals were welcoming, more so than we’ve found elsewhere in Colombia, but it was still a relief to get home safely. It makes you wonder how the apostle coped with all his journeying.

But maybe that was one of his gifts.

Photo: Overlooking the lakes near Guatapé

Box of old gold

2009-09-23T14:11:00.001+01:00

Teachers in the Seminary fall into two categories: permanent and visiting. The visitors are either potential lecturers or retired ones. One of the retirees, Jack Voelkel has just returned to Arizona after a couple of months teaching. He previously worked in the Seminary for 10 years in the 90s and recently had the task of clearing out his old office.

It meant I inherited a number of musty files, lithographed sheets and faded booklets. Amongst them are one or two important documents, for Jack had specialized in missions, especially those in Peru and Colombia. It felt as if someone was passing on original writings from the reformation.

We have little congregational detail of the reformed church at Knox’s time, for records have disappeared. The annoying thing is that in South America, and on missions boards, no one seems to realize that the same process is happening today. The first generation of believers have passed on, with little recorded. Written accounts of churches are rare. History is vanishing, and future generations will be the poorer.

Maybe I ought to get a scanner, a year’s sabbatical and a big bribe for Olwen.

Humour in the Old Testament

2009-09-16T13:58:00.005+01:00

It’s a funny old world in the Seminary. In fact my neighbour has just written a book called, “El humor en el Antiguo Testamento” (Humour in the Old Testament). And recently one of our charismatic teachers had me smiling all day when she announced we should all fast on a particular occasion, not realizing it was the cook’s last day before retirement.

Then the authoritarianism of the place never ceases to enliven things. Letters arrive on minor matters with signatures that look like those on a Bill of Rights. Communications are sent calling meetings with no explanation, as if everyone were a subversive. Terse emails go out keeping offenders right. And consultation is so rare that a colleague commented about leaving her mind at the Seminary gates.

The interesting thing is the effect it has on you. The products of authoritarianism are a loss of team-work and increased individualism. Exactly the kind of thing that Latin Americans are famous for.

And everyone just keeps on laughing.

Photo: Always something to have a laugh about

Battering ram caught by umbrella

2009-09-09T00:35:00.003+01:00

In explaining why unfortunately she won't be staying on here, Fiona Christie wrote in her prayer letter, "because life is so intense, the colours so bright, the noises so loud, the pain so profound, the violence so extreme, that I feel a bit battered by it all."

Of course It's not just Colombia that creates that feeling of being hit by a colourful battering ram. Donnie Smith has told me how he feels an immediate tension when leaving the Seminary for Lima's streets.

To try and give you a sensation of what it's like, on a couple of occasions I hid my video camera in a rolled up umbrella and left it running while walking along our local main street. The link's below.

Olwen arrives back this evening - hurrah! Nine students have been told to stop attending classes for defaulting on payments - aghhh! And last night only one person was murdered in the city - the lowest for 6 months.

Photo: In your face - Abel and his one arm

Link: http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidandOlwen If that doesn't work go to the YouTube site and Search "davidandolwen"

Reversing tragedy

2009-09-02T13:22:00.005+01:00

With Olwen away life is quiet. So it was unusual to find myself at two events where the organizers ran out of seating.

There was the opening of the Ludoteca children's centre in an area saturated with social problems. The new building provides a safe environment for the youngsters to enjoy being children and to appreciate God's love. Money was kindly given from Scotland, especially through the Sunday Schools, to support the project. A YouTube video gives you a sense of the event (see link below).

The other seat-shortage occasion was at the Hora 25 Theatre where University students were performing. Built like a compact amphitheatre it has only 60 seats. But the ticket lady, a substantial do-what-I-say Caribbean woman, just kept selling tickets. So the extra 40 customers had to squeeze onto aisle steps or sit at the edge of the stage. We watched a 2 hour 20 min performance without a break.

What was the drawing power? The ancient Greek tragedy of Antigone, where modern Colombian themes of a displaced people, harsh government and tragic young deaths are explored. When I was at Free Church College a fellow student, John MacCallum said about shallow thinking politicians: "They've never read the ancient classics".

And what inspired Ludoteca? A story in ancient Greek where tragedy turned to triumph.

YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/DavidandOlwen
Or go to the YouTube website and Search "davidandolwen"

Photo: Aiming to bring tragedy to triumph: families Ludoteca wants to help

Healing even hypochondriacs

2009-08-26T13:45:00.001+01:00

Last Wednesday I heard that our valiant Rector was seriously ill with the flu, as was Catalina, his daughter. Soon afterwards the Administrative Director and the Communications' Director were taken unwell.

Receptionists appeared with face masks on, but illnesses continued and the Academic Secretary succumbed. It seemed to be just hitting important people.

A compulsory meeting was called and a doctor explained about flu prevention. Recklessly I didn't go for I knew that if someone describes symptoms, within the hour I'll have the illness Unfortunately the person who called the meeting, the Vice-Rector, became genuinely unwell. As is Patty Reaño.

Swine fever? Neah. The weather's changing: there's a coolness at night, rains are ferocious and the thunder would scare a vampire. Over 150 of us live or work on campus so a flu epidemic is possible. But the Great Physician is here too, and even has time for us hypochondriacs, so don't worry.

Photo: Manuel with the Administrative Director - over-worked, over-stressed and under-paid

Bank Holiday no. 13

2009-08-19T13:33:00.002+01:00

It's been a Bank Holiday weekend to celebrate the Ascension of Mary. The local supermarket opened a beer tent and encouraged tango dancing in the forecourt.

Otherwise it's been quiet enough: a gambling entrepreneur was assassinated and boys are flying kites. The Seminary was shut for the day.

In Colombia there are 18 bank holidays, equivalent to nearly 4 weeks of work. They interfere with the ordinary rhythm of study and students get disorientated. On today's return to classes, I was in early, got set up and waited. The class eventually arrived in a bit of a confused state.

At the end someone asked if we were always going to be in this room Only then did I realize I'd gone up one floor too many, and taught in the wrong place.

One of the first things the Reformers did was to chuck out saints' days. Great, life's confusing enough without the bodily ascent of the Virgin Mary getting in the way.

Photo: Latin America is a confusing place