Neil's blog

How are you at sums? Do you use a calculator or add in your head; what about ‘keeping a diary’ & ordering your days? I would be lost without my wee book diary. I’d also be missing without God’s lead in counting days up right. Six days to labour & a seventh to chill out, enjoy with loved ones, & centre on God again.

“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” echoes the Bible prayer into our brand new 2012 (Psalm 90:12). Jesus taught us to count our days ‘one at a time’. Lena Martell sang it,

“One day at a time sweet Jesus
That's all I'm askin' of you
Just give me the strength
To do every day what I have to do
Yesterday's gone sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine
Lord, help me today, show me the way
One day at a time.”

St Paul taught us to number our days with gratitude, grateful for what we ‘do’ have rather than distracted by what we don’t or can’t have.

In the face of daily challenge & difficulty, R Niebuhr’s prayer helps us, when things get complicated, to trust in God’s Love and enabling Power.
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
 and wisdom to know the difference.”

Happy Counting in 2012!?

How good is it to sleep in!? Curled in a ball, nursing an ‘overhang’ from Christmas Day feasting, it is bliss to snooze on, untroubled by ‘alarm clock’ on St Steve’s (Boxing) Day. Christmas services, among my all time favourites, didn’t disappoint! We were able to wel-‘come all ye faithful’ & others drawn in by annual atmosphere, family tradition & the hope of something ‘more than meets the eye.’

My mum ensures we never miss The Queen’s Speech and how good to hear her speak so passionately about her Christian faith & the power of forgiveness for our wanting warring world. Once all our dinner guests had downed their cracker crowns & hastened home, we put our feet up in front of ‘The Box’ & tucked into sensational seconds of Turkey & trimmings, aaaah ‘Blessing Bliss’!

And yet, I'm aware that, the idyllic picture I paint is far from many people’s experience of Christmas. Beneath the clichéd “It’s just what I always wanted!” thank you of many, bubble simmering resentment, bitterness & long memories of hurt. In Nigeria I read of 2 Islamic terrorist attacks on Christians celebrating in Christmas services and see where such a divisive spirit can lead.

Conducting funerals over the festive season, I’m also alert to the pain of parting with loved ones, which can feel all the more sore at a time when they should be celebrating together. I take my hat off to those who work over Christmas to ensure emergency services & our protection. Living next to a Homeless Hostel, the dislocation & despair of homelessness is all too evident. And being chaplain to Killie FC I’m sensitive to the commitment required from professional footballers as they seek to serve up entertainment in Siberian-like Scottish conditions. Alas, they don’t get much time to be with their families in the process. And before you tell me how much they get paid for the privilege, I’ll inform you that many do not get paid more than an average wage & that one Celtic or Rangers player can get paid more than the whole of the Killie team put together. The photo attached shows the snow-blasted squad with me, dressed as one of the ‘Shoes Brothers’, giving a Christmas ‘Red Card’ to Sectarianism, Bigotry & all that causes people to ignore and hate those who are different from themselves.

Taking a prompt from Queen Elizabeth & following in the footsteps of Peace Prince Jesus, can I wish y’all a Forgiving & Peace-Passing New Year?

See the scene! Blues’ Brothers’ style - On opposite sides of a restless religious river stood one Roman Catholic Priest 'Father Jake' and one Protestant Minister 'Rev Neilwood'. Their "Mission from God!" (In true Blues’ Brothers’ style) To get their 'Good News Shoes' on, bridge gaps, break barriers and unite people in the truth that the 'Christ' of Christmas brings people together!

And so our recent FullOnArt short film tells the inspiring tale of a community uniting to dance their way into HIStory; the story of a God who comes in Christ to unite us with himself, within ourselves, & with other people. The Good News spreads like wildfire: God is for us, not against us; he loves us, wants the best for us &, against all the odds, can make the difference through you & me, ‘Together’!

When Christ was born, walked this earth, died & rose again, he wasn’t Roman Catholic or Protestant, nor of a particular political party or tribe, rather he was (and is) in the business of uniting us in God’s costly Love. Right across the Community, it's wonderful who joined the Christmas Dance to give a 'Red Card' to Sectarianism, Bigotry & all that causes people to ignore and hate those who are different from themselves.

We premiered the film in Fullarton Parish Church on Sunday last. One bloke’s response rises above the others. Delivered from a life of addiction to drugs, alcohol, bitterness & hatred, he spoke of being really emotional at the end of the film where a Celtic & Rangers scarf are thrown in the manger, tied together with a tartan scarf, & draped around a stripped Christmas tree cross. He painfully remembered how steeped he once was in bigotry & sectarianism and the awesome difference Christ now makes in his life, able to join Jesus in crossing clannish borders of ignorance & hostility to share God’s Love.

Christmas isn’t just for the kids! The Christ of Christmas is for everyone, and ours will be a better world when we realise it. A huge thank you to Father Willie Boyd & all in our community who rallied to help make this heart warming sharp shorty! Oddly enough, my congregation laughed loudest at seeing Willie & me arrested, what’s that all about!? (see attached photo)

(Prequel to 'MIN In Black' & 'Journativity', ‘The Shoes Brothers’ can be publicly viewed on facebook (original version) & an adapted version on Youtube (FullOnArt / NewShoesBros).)

An old Scottish pickup line, “Are you dancin’?” leads to the cheeky retort, “Naw it’s the way am standin’!” We’re film shooting, ‘The Shoes Brothers’, a Christmas prequel to last year’s ‘Min In Black’. All over Irvine, Father Willie Boyd & myself have been bopping about involving the community in a dance to celebrate the Christ of Christmas who unites us rather than the bigotry & sectarianism which tears apart.

In the (attached) photo Kilwinning paramedics enter into the spirit of the dance, if not with perfect timing. Likewise the Fire Service, Police, Councillors, Pensioners, Youth, Killie Soccer Squad & General Public have been drawn into the Dance. And what a laugh we’ve had in making a serious point.

Many use the excuse of ‘having 2 left feet’ to sit the dance out, but are persuaded to join in for the sake of the cause & a higher purpose, pleasantly surprised what fun it is! The short film will be premiered at our 11.00 a.m. service this Sunday & thereafter, viewed on Youtube & at school assemblies.

In worship yesterday, in the children’s chat, Dorothy got a ballroom dancing lesson and learned to trust her partner’s lead. Soon she was gliding like a swan across the floor and delightedly exclaimed, “Now I know what I’m doing!” (I was cut!) Later in the ‘Focus’ we danced the Scottish ‘Dashing White Sergeant’, which links teams of 3 in a fast flowing circle dance. One picture of the Christian God (Three in One: Father, Son & Holy Spirit) for many years has been that of a similar Threesome Dance into which God invites us all. Alas, so much of our world drowns out The Voice, out of step with our maker & dance instructor, splintered & fragmented through selfishness, bitterness, hatred & ignorance.

Jesus said, “I pray not only for my disciples, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.” (John 17:20-21)

This Christmas may many more hear & heed God’s call to join in with his unifying dance of Love, Hope, Joy & Peace! “Are ye dancin’?” “Who’s askin’?” “Jesus, Lord of The Dance!”

Friends,

At Fullarton we’re using ‘Shoes’ as a lens through which to view Advent & Christmas during this festive season. How many pairs of shoes do you go through? If you’re a hoarder & skinflint like me you keep shoes as long as possible. Comfortable, flexible & hardwearing shoes are ‘soul-friends’ I’m loathed to part with.

When God stepped into our world that first Christmas between BC & AD (Year Zero), like all babies he was born without shoes. He went on to wear the shoes & sandals of his time & showed us the best way for humans to walk, ‘close to God’. Because we easily wander from God & get lost Jesus came to return us to God, enabling us to walk in his ways forever. Jesus died without shoes, his feet & hands skewered to provide us with brand new ‘Good News Shoes’, a Soul Saver in the best possible sense!

As our new church banner says, “God in our shoes, so we can choose to walk in his!” As we journey to & through Christmas I trust you’ll glimpse new insights into God’s deep Love for you & be drawn to walk more closely in the footsteps of Jesus, our awesome human inspiration & World Saviour. Walk On!