Neil's blog

There is something wonderfully uplifting about someone else’s pain, the only problem is that you stand on someone else to get the punty up (hand up). When I suggested to my congregation on Sunday morning that they should all be supporting England against Germany (unless they were German), the grunt of resistance was audible! I wished us all ‘the Grace of God’ to get beyond our shoulder chip against the ‘auld enemy’, but felt a brick wall towering between us. And yet, I have to confess to being in convulsions of laughter following the fall-out from Sunday’s woeful English performance. For example, when Lampard scored what should have been England’s second goal, someone was overheard shouting, “England, the only way you’ll get 2 – 2 today, is if Arch Bishop Desmond himself comes on the park!” You can see an advertisement for the new film ‘Out of Africa’, a romantic tragedy, attached here.

Now, there has to be the chance to laugh at other people’s expense and perhaps the reason us Scots can belly laugh so loudly is that we’ve had to largely laugh at ourselves, all too often bombed out of the World Cup (sadly not since 199. But I’ve found these last few weeks a good test of my spiritual maturity. John Ortberg asked Dallas Willard how he monitored the condition of his soul. He regularly asks himself two questions:—“Am I growing more or less easily irritated these days?—Am I growing more or less easily discouraged these days?” For me the big question is, “How generous hearted have I been today?” How generous with my money, time, talents, prayers & thoughts have I been?

When I am able to look across the river and see another church multiplying and making a huge difference in our communities and say, without a hint of jealousy, “PRAISE GOD!” God’s Grace is getting a grip in me. When I can warm heartedly look an enemy in the eye and shake his hand after a torrid game of football, God’s Holy Spirit is being given more room in my life. When I’m able to respond to the need of a neighbour without worrying where I’m going to get the resources to fill the gap left with me, the sacrificial Love of Jesus is truly turning me inside out. When I can watch an England World Cup game and genuinely want England to win I think I’ll almost be there, right behind Jesus, following in his footsteps. I must confess to not being there yet; but by God’s Amazing Grace I aim to be there, as I press on toward Heaven’s call.

May the Grace of The Lord Jesus Christ be with you all!