"Our Father in Heaven, give us
the long view of our work and
our world. Help us to see that
it is better to fail in a cause that
will ultimately succeed than to
succeed in a cause that will
ultimately fail....Through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen."
Western Isles FCDA | |||
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| Western Isles FCDA The Western Isles branch of the FCDA held a second and very successful rally in the Town Hall in Stornoway on the 11th of November. Some 250 folk gathered, and in this way showed their concern about current trends in the Free Church of Scotland. The Rev. Maurice Roberts of Greyfriars Free Church in Inverness addressed the meeting on the subject: "No Repentance, No Revival". He surveyed some of the revivals of the past. He then considered Zechariah 11 and the breaking of the two staffs, Beauty and Bands. He warned that unless we humble ourselves and repent, Christ in His wrath may cast off the church in our land and do as He said to the church at Laodicea: "I will spue thee out of my mouth" (Rev.3:16). Mr Roberts proceeded to outline some of the specific sins of which we are guilty as a Church. He urged us as a Church to turn and cry to the Lord for His mercy and look to Him to produce the mighty revival we so badly need. If you would like a tape of the second rally talk "NO REPENTANCE, NO REVIVAL" by the Rev. M. J. Roberts, please send £2.50 and a note of your address to: Mr Donald MacDonald, 35 Anderson Road, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, HS1 2PG, Scotland, UK. | Ecumenical Assembly |
In the year 2000 it is hoped by "Action of Churches Together" that the scottish Churches will abolish their individual assemblies to form one new General Assembly with full Roman Catholic participation. It will consist of the Roman Catholic Church, Church of scotland, Scottish Episcopal Church, United Free Church, Methodists, Congregationalists, United Reformed, Salvation Army and Quakers. The essentials of the gospel are under threat from those whose only concern is organisational unity. | Highland Christian Schools Trust |
The second AGM oh the HCST was held in Dingwall on 26th september 1997. Mr David Blunt addressed the meeting on "The Biblical Necessity for Christian Education". Noting the current dissatisfaction with state education, he argued that the fundamental fault of the system is that it is not Bible based. Education should be Christian in the sense that Christ and the Bible should undergird, inform, integrate and influence all that is taught. The trust has only been in operation for two tears, but is enjoying steady growth. They publish Education Witness and are working towards establishing Christian Schools. Further information: HCST, c/o 8 Station Sq, Fortrose, Ross-Shire, IV10 8WA. |
The Pharisee and the Prodigal | |||
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The Pharisees criticised Jesus because crowds of sinners gathered to Him and He seemed quite happy in their company. Surely if Jesus were a good person He would have lots of good people around Him? But He longs to save sinners. This is His great ambition, the reason for which He has come into this world, and He will achieve it. He explains this to us in the well-known parable of the Prodigal Son. A Wasted Life A young man longs to be free and to enjoy himself. He succeeds in getting money from his father and sets off for a far country where he can be away from all restraint and please himself. He has what many would think of as a wonderful time with "wine, women and song". But drink and drugs, gambling and partying, soon use up his money. To make things worse there is a famine and economic recession. You will find many a prodigal on the streets of Glasgow, Edinburgh and London. When they set out they did not mean to end up homeless, suffering from alcoholism, drug addiction or AIDS. A Wise Decision The Prodigal Son came to his senses. He realised what a fool he had been. Sometimes it is only when people hit the bottom that reality dawns. In pain, faced with death and hell, they start thinking about their soul and need of salvation. Sadly, even in that situation, many display their spiritual blindness. Without the convicting work of God's Spirit, they are bewitched by Satan and follow him blindly to a lost eternity. The Prodigal thinks of the happiness and riches of his father's house. But how dare he return after the mess he has made of his life? He will humbly ask to be accepted as a servant, not a son. He must return as it is his only hope. He is dying. He will plead for mercy. A Wonderful Welcome While he is yet a great way off his father sees him. The sorrowing father is obviously on the look-out for him. Without hesitation the loving parent runs, embraces and kisses his wretched son. He puts the best robe on him instead of his rags, shoes on his feet, a ring on his finger and the fatted calf is killed. "This my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found" (Lk.15:24). The devil says there is no hope. You are too big a sinner. But Christ is an even bigger Saviour. "Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth" (Lk.15:7). A Wild Brother When the Prodigal's elder brother comes home from work and hears the music and dancing and discovers that it is a celebration to mark the return of the Prodigal, he is very angry and will not join in. He is jealous. It is not fair that one who has wasted his money and his life should be accepted by God and get a place in heaven. The Pharisee wants the Prodigal to be punished for his sin. He thinks that he, himself, will be accepted in heaven because of his own good works. There are still Pharisees in the church today and very little hope for their salvation. Are you one of them? You need to be born again. | |||
Christ the Apple Tree | |||
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Have you ever thought of comparing the Lord to an apple tree? In the Song of Solomon we find a kind of parable of God's loving relationship with His people. The pictures used are richly descriptive. In one of them, Solomon says: "As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste" (Song 2:3). Shade Think of the weary traveller under the blaze of the Middle-eastern sun. The heat is unrelenting. Everything is dry and brown. Tired and thirsty he sees a lonely tree ahead. Towards it he stumbles and having reached the end of his resources sits down under its shade. How delightful is its shadow and how refreshing is its fruit! The hot sun beating down is a picture of God's justice. How can the poor sinner survive? Yet under the shade of the apple tree we are protected. Christ bears the full wrath of God for us. Hear Him cry on the cross: "My God! My God! why hast thou forsaken me?" (Mat.27:46). It was for you, child of God. He "bare our sins in his own body on the tree" (1Pet.2:24). Christ "hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us" (Gal.3:13). "He is the propitiation for our sins" (1Jn.2:2). We sit under Christ the Apple Tree. The blazing sun of divine wrath has been turned from us onto Him. The Tree is burnt up and dies but we are protected. Fruit Along with shade, the apple tree provides the tired and thirsty traveller with refreshing fruit. Surely these sweet fruits are God's promises to us and the evidences of His love. How the convicted sinner leaps for joy when he hears God say: "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow" (Is.1:18), and "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin" (1Jn.1:7)! Are we not greatly encouraged when we read that nothing "shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom.8:39)? As we struggle against sin and temptation and are aware of the strength of the enemy, does it not help to hear that "He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil.1:6)? Going through trials and tribulations we rejoice to know that our loving Father is personally involved in making sure that for us "All things work together for good" (Rom.8:28). However low we feel, "Underneath are the everlasting arms" (Deut.33:27). Even though all turn against us we have His Word: "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me" (Heb.13:5-6). | |||