Apr 20, 2023 | Believe: Truth to Live by, QPUpdate
“It’s the economy, stupid.” This was the message that it is claimed, won Bill Clinton the 1992 US presidential election. The phrase was intended to keep the campaign focused on the cost of living crisis faced by American working people. The point, apparently, was not...
Apr 13, 2023 | Believe: Truth to Live by, QPUpdate
When our kids were young, we would sometimes play a Veggie Tales sing-a-long CD when on a long car trip. One particular tune would stick in my head as an earworm. You can listen to it here if you so wish: VeggieTales Sing-Alongs: Are We There Yet? The chorus goes: Are...
Mar 30, 2023 | Believe: Truth to Live by, QPUpdate
I have on dozens of occasions crossed over the Atlantic Ocean without either flying or sailing! Some of you may have taken the same route over the Atlantic as me, as you leave mainland Scotland and cycle, walk, or drive across the humpback Clachan bridge onto the...
Mar 16, 2023 | Believe: Truth to Live by, QPUpdate
Yes, you have read the title of this blog right and yes, the question mark is playing a very important role in this title! This Monday, 21st March, is نوروز , Nowruz, the Persian new year, when our brothers and sisters from Iran traditionally say goodbye to winter and...
Mar 9, 2023 | Believe: Truth to Live by, QPUpdate
Payback culture, it’s the way the world works. You scratch my back and I scratch yours. You hurt me and I expect compensation. You let me down and I demand you make it up to me. It’s the law of Karma where our misdemeanours must be atoned for by our good deeds lest we...
Mar 2, 2023 | Believe: Truth to Live by, QPUpdate
Is God faithful? A few weeks back, via some glitch with our song presentation software we found ourselves singing, “Is God faithful?” The answer is, of course, a resounding “yes, God is faithful” as a multitude of songs proclaim. Yet the question mark chimes with...
Feb 23, 2023 | Believe: Truth to Live by, QPUpdate
On 24th February 2022 Russian tanks crossed the Northern Ukrainian border signalling the “special military operation” which planned to take Kyiv and decapitate the government of Volodymyr Zelenskyy within hours. That did not happen. Instead, a protracted and brutal...
Feb 16, 2023 | Believe: Truth to Live by, QPUpdate
When it comes to bad news, we must be near saturation point. So, in a world of relentless and unmitigated tragedy let me tell a good news story. Hatay, Turkey lies close to biblical Antioch from where Paul and Barnabas were commissioned to go and preach the gospel....
Feb 2, 2023 | Believe: Truth to Live by, News, Teaching series
My daughter and son-in-law have just moved house. They have obtained, not only a new home but a garden, with diseased trees. Last week my son-in-law’s father posted a picture of himself astride a branch like a cowboy, with a chainsaw in hand ready for the cut. I...
Dec 22, 2022 | Joy to the World, QPUpdate
‘Joy to the World’ is one of my favourite carols – yet it was written as a poem, not a song and not even for Christmas! Isaac Watts (1674-1748) the pastor hymn writer was tired of the church’s dullness in the sung worship of his day which consisted solely of Old...
