Another wee brain-teaser!

The last brain-teaser proved to be very popular.  However, I know of only one person who managed to complete it correctly!  So, for those who like to keep their little grey cells exercised, here is another one - and it's a wee bit more simple (I think!).

The words  below are all anagrams of names of places visited by the apostle, Paul.   Start off by working out as many as you can without any assistance.  Then, if you have access to a Bible map (or should that, nowadays, be 'Bible app'?!!), you should be able check out Paul's journeys.  If you are having a real problem, then the chapter and verse from The Acts of the Apostles, in which the place is named, is given in brackets beside each anagram.

Have fun!

1. SAD MUSCA (9:10);  2. SAIL SAM (13:5);   3. STRAY L (14:8);  4. BREED (14:20);   5. TO CHINA (15:35);   6.  ROAST (16:8);   7. HI PIP PIP (16:12);   8. LOAN THIS CASE (17:1);  9.  HASTEN (17:15);   10. HIT CORN (18:1);   11. SEE PUSH (18:19);   12. I MELT US (20:17);   13. USE AS CRY (28:12);   14. AS RUST (21:39);   15. MORE (28:16).

As before, I'll post the correct answers in a few days' time - so keep checking!

Thank You, Lord!

It happened in a previous fellowship in which I was a part of the Leadership Team.  During a time of open ministry a young lady, who was a visitor, came to me for prayer.  As she looked up at me with a smile that seemed almost to split her face, I inquired as to any specific reason for prayer, and received the response, "The Lord has blessed me so really wonderfully, and I want to be able to really thank Him."  As I waited to discover the nature of such an obviously enormous blessing, she continued, "He has supplied me with a new pair of sandals.  Now, I just want more of Him!"

Although I knew that most, if not all, of those in the building at the time had wardrobes full of clothing and footwear, I didn't need to look any further than myself to realise how often we take so much for granted.  "A new pair of sandals" - and in Motherwell, in the middle of winter (it was January, as I recall)!  I felt strangely humbled, and honoured, to be permitted to pray with one whose heart was so full of thanksgiving.

There is much for which you and I, if we are genuine disciples of Jesus, can and should offer thanks to God - regardless of our financial, or material, circumstances.  There is the wonder of our salvation; the indwelling of God the Holy Spirit; the assurance of eternity in the Father's presence.  There is the family of the Church; the fellowship of the saints; the freedom to meet, together, with Him.  There is the written Word; the open door of prayer; the fruit, and gifting, of both the Lord Jesus, and Holy Spirit.

It is the constant exhortation that we be thankful, and praise the Lord.  The Psalmists were full of such praise and thanksgiving.  So David sings out, "I will give You thanks in the great assembly; among throngs of people I will praise You." (Ps.35:18), while the un-named writer of Psalm 105 encourages his listeners to "Give thanks to the Lord, call on His Name; make known among the nations what He has done." (v.1).  Paul, too, says that we should be "... always giving thanks to God, the Father of everything, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Eph.5:20).

Let us, then, be filled with thanksgiving that will lead to praise which, as He is "... enthroned on the praises of His people." (Ps.22:3), will bring us ever more closely into His Presence, there to offer to Him the worship of our hearts and lives.

And a suggestion:  Let us cultivate an attitude of gratitude at all times!

Bearing your cross.

It was a video clip intended to be used to introduce a preached message on Mark 8:34 - "And [Jesus] called to Him the multitude with His disciples, and said to them, "If any man would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me."   However, it was not one that I would have used.  There are a couple of reasons for that. 

First of all, the 'cross' that was being carried was smooth and light; it was no more than six feet in height (and, I suspect, was not even that!); it was only about thirty inches at the crossbeam.  The gentleman who carried it did so through a variety of scenic backgrounds and, eventually, came to a place where a number of identical crosses were piled up, and where he left that one.  He then returned, unladen, to where he started, and collected another 'cross'.

My second reason is that I am not convinced that Jesus was speaking of a physical 'cross' being carried.  It's a popular notion that has passed into popular language.  If I have a difficulty, I have "my cross to bear"!  So I have to transport my wife to a Christian gathering, at a time at which I had planned to do something else.  Obviously, that's a cross that I have to bear.  Rubbish!  Indeed, double rubbish!!  I am being a husband to the woman whom I love!  It is always my delight to be of help to her.

I'm reminded of the story of the boy, seen by a gentleman, carrying a smaller boy on his back.  "That's a heavy burden you're carrying." said the gentleman.  "That's not a burden," replied the bigger boy, "that's my wee brother!"

Or, perhaps, I don't like my job.  However, I need it in order to pay the bills.  Accordingly, it's a cross that I have to bear!  Once again, rubbish!  It's a necessity; it's something I chose; if I'm so unhappy, I should be considering changing it.  But it's no cross.

I might sum it up by suggesting that just because something that is expected of us rubs against our grain, or causes us some inconvenience, doesn’t mean that we are fulfilling the call to take up our cross!

So what is Jesus saying?  May I suggest that He is referring to commitment?!  It was His commitment that took Him to Calvary - commitment to the will and purpose of the Father.  That's why it must be a daily occurrence.  Every day I need to commit myself, afresh, to Him.  For some, for example those in the persecuted church, this will mean physical privation.  For others, it will simply mean standing up for what is right in His sight.  But it is not the result of my commitment that is my cross; it is the commitment itself.

Are you taking up your cross, on a daily basis, and following Him?   Is your commitment to His service renewed every day?   Only as it is, will you be able to fulfil the prayer of Richard of Chichester, to know Him more clearly, love Him more dearly, and follow Him more nearly, day by day.

Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill (2)

I may not be known to many, but I am certainly known to my MSPs and, indeed, to my representative in the Westminster Parliament as well.  I only wish that others, who are just as capable as I - and many who are more so - would take the time and effort to contact their political representatives and remind them that, in a democracy, that is exactly what they are - representatives of the people who elected them to high office!

Following the letter below that I sent out at the end of last week, I received a couple of responses that sought to show that my concerns were unfounded.  This is a copy of the response sent to those responses!

"Dear [name]

Thank you for your prompt response.

I appreciate all that you have written.  However, I am still concerned about, for example, the list of "corporate parents", in Part 7 of the Bill, who will, as I understand the situation, be able to provide a "nominated person" for every child.  I accept that a Health Visitor has a part - one would claim, an important part - to play in the early days of a child's life; that a schoolteacher will be keeping an eye on all of his/her charges and be in a position to raise any legitimate concerns.  This kind of scenario is not the issue.

However, when I see that, e.g., the Chief Constable of Police Scotland is on the list, I wonder exactly what is going on!   Is my grandchild of six years of age deemed worthy of police attention without any misdemeanour having been committed?  If he does happen to commit a chargeable offence, will not the police be automatically involved in any case?

You kindly refer me to the Pilot Project in the Highlands, but fail to mention that some 8,000 children (approximately 20%) have plans that are led by social workers or head teachers!  Is this truly indicative of the level of poor parenting in that area of our land?

I would respectfully suggest that this Bill, like so many pushed through by this current government, is poorly thought out, and may well lead to a plethora of unintended consequences.  As I have already urged, please vote against this Bill - at least Part 3, and its associated Part 7.

Kind regards."

Let more of us ensure that our elected representatives are aware that they are answerable to us, the electorate.  Please check out this blog for any future, contentious, issues.  There are a number 'in the pipeline'!

Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill

On Wednesday of this coming week (19th), the Scottish Parliament will consider, at Stage 3 (the final debate and vote) the Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill.  This is a Bill that, if enacted, would allow the appointment of a 'named person' for every child in Scotland, who would have powers that could be used to over-rule decisions made by the biological parents.  This is a matter of great concern to many, and the following is a copy of the e-mail that I have sent to my own MSPs.  I would encourage others to contact their MSPs as well.  Please feel free to use any of the information that is below, but do not simply copy and paste the e-mail.  It's not that I would be complaining about any breach of copyright (!), but simply that if a number of identical communications are received, then only one is considered!

"Dear [name]

As you are aware. I have been concentrating, recently, on other matters.  However, I am now obliged to turn my attention to The Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill and, in particular, Part 4.

It would seem to me, and to many others, that this section of the Bill, if enacted, has the potential to undermine parents and carers - particularly if the 'named person' were to disagree with the parents or carers over a matter concerning the up-bringing of the child.  Even as august a body as The Faculty of Advocates raises similar points regarding a violation of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. In their submission to the Education and Culture Committee they add that the Bill “dilutes the legal role of parents, whether or not there is any way that parents are fulfilling their statutory responsibilities. It undermines family autonomy.”

The Law Society in Scotland similarly notes that the proposals could potentially breach European Human Rights Law on privacy and family life, stating that, “there is scope for interference between the role of the ‘named person’ and the exercise of a parent’s rights and responsibilities.”

There is also the matter of data protection.  Under current legislation, information can be shared without parental consent only if there is a danger of “significant harm”, but the Bill, if enacted, would enable data to be passed on to a named person without permission if there is a perceived risk to a child’s “well-being” [26.3,4.(a)]. What constitutes “well-being” is, obviously, subjective and could lead to unnecessary investigations into a child’s personal life.  This could well have the, I would hope unintended consequence, of parents, in the case of an accident involving their child, being deterred from taking the child to a hospital, or even to their GP's surgery, because they were afraid that they would become embroiled in the care system.

No-one is going to pretend that there are not cases in which a child needs to have an adult, other than the biological parents, involved in its care.  Indeed, during the twelve years in which my wife and I fostered, the majority of the children for whom we cared would have been thus classified.  However, this is, thankfully, a small minority.  Do you really want to see parents who are perfectly adequately looking after their child(ren) have their position usurped by the State!

Just last month, prominent Human Rights lawyer Aidan O Neil QC said that it is “startling” that the proposal “appears to be predicated on the idea that the proper primary relationship that children will have for their well-being and development, nurturing and education is with the State rather than within their families and with their parents”.

I am also concerned about Part 7 of the Bill and the concept of "Corporate Parents" - especially given the vast array of persons who would come under that description, as outlined in Schedule 3.  Once again, it would seem to me, this is an attempt by the Scottish Government to undermine perfectly good and responsible natural parenting in a manner that is worthy of Plato's Republic!

I am asking, therefore, that you either oppose the Bill in its entirety, or that you support any amendment that would remove Part 4 and, even Part 7.

Yours sincerely,


For those in the Motherwell and Wishaw Constituency, the MSPs are:

Mr John Pentland, MSP    john.pentland.msp@scottish.parliament.uk

Mrs Clare Adamson, MSP   clare.adamson.msp@scottish.parliament.uk
Mr Mark Griffin, MSP    mark.griffin.msp@scottish.parliament.uk
Mr Richard Lyle, MSP  richard.lyle.msp@scottish.parliament.uk
Mrs Margaret McCulloch, MSP   margaret.mcculloch.msp@scottish.parliament.uk
Miss Siobhan McMahon, MSP  siobhan.mcmahon.msp@scottish.parliament.uk
Mrs Margaret Mitchell, MSP   margaret.mitchell.msp@scottish.parliament.uk
Mr  John Wilson, MSP  john.wilson.msp@scottish.parliament.uk