The Donald family joined the Church. Alastair and Nicky had three sons. He worked in the Scottish office. This was in the days before devolution.
They were faithful at the prayer meeting, but having a young family meant that they could not attend together, so they took alternate weeks. One week Alastair would come, the next week Nicky would come. I believe that God honours people like that. They loved the lord and were consistent at public prayer.
I think it would have been very easy for them to go on the way they were, but God gives gifts, and one of Alastairs gifts was teaching. He felt that he should enter the ministry of the church of Scotland and this he did. The ministry took him to the North of Scotland and then back down to Edinburgh. It is their constiency at prayer that I adired most about the Murrays and the Donalds. When both of these families arrived at the church they wasted no time in getting involved in the prayer meeting. It was always a joy to be with them.
Wednesday, 10 October 2012
The Murrays
In a church, people come and go over the years. Sometimes people move on because of changes in their jobs, and sometimes they move in retirement. A family called Murray came to the North Parish. George had been a window dresser.Gill looked after their two sons and daughter
They were very faithful at the prayer meeting. George was interested in an organisation called "Christian Action in Research and Education". As a result of this some of us also took an interest in it. For me my interest has not endured in that particular organisation, but it has continued in that I am full time in a mission organisation and I also take an interest in other christian organisatians such as the "Christian Institute".
I think George and Gills starting point for everthing was the prayer meeting. They saw it as vital and it led them into taking part in the summer missions and ultimatetely led him into the ministry of the Church of Scotland.
I love them. they were very good to me. I saw in their lives consistency. I hope that I emulate it. As I get older I ask myself a question. Will I finish well? The murrays have consistently gone on doing well. I sometimes look back on the years I spent with them and I think that in as much as they followed Jesus christ, so I want to be like them. I am certainly like them in theology as they are very conservative as I am. I also think that they are very people orientated.
They were very faithful at the prayer meeting. George was interested in an organisation called "Christian Action in Research and Education". As a result of this some of us also took an interest in it. For me my interest has not endured in that particular organisation, but it has continued in that I am full time in a mission organisation and I also take an interest in other christian organisatians such as the "Christian Institute".
I think George and Gills starting point for everthing was the prayer meeting. They saw it as vital and it led them into taking part in the summer missions and ultimatetely led him into the ministry of the Church of Scotland.
I love them. they were very good to me. I saw in their lives consistency. I hope that I emulate it. As I get older I ask myself a question. Will I finish well? The murrays have consistently gone on doing well. I sometimes look back on the years I spent with them and I think that in as much as they followed Jesus christ, so I want to be like them. I am certainly like them in theology as they are very conservative as I am. I also think that they are very people orientated.
Monday, 24 September 2012
A Homage to parents
I think that the first people that influences anyone are parents. My father was second cousin to my mother, and he was not a local man. He came from Rutherglen and she came from Dunfermline. I am not sure about how they met, but I do know that he was working with an engineering company laying pipes in Dunfermline and he gave up that job and moved from Rutherglen to be with her. I think that sort of thing was not common in those days.
Mum was a twin. She and dad married and two years later, I came along. Four years after that, so did my brother.
They brought us up to go to the North Congregational church. The best I can say is that the church taught bible stories and that was a major help when it came to being converted. It gave me a good biblical background and without my parents I would not have had that.
They were honest very moral people. They taught me right from wrong. For that I am very grateful. When you really think about it a lot of what all of us have come from parents. We get their genes and when you get up in the morning and put your clothes on it is usually mothers who teach children how to dress themselves. I thought of that one morning when I was getting dressed.
I do not think they understood everything I did, but they accepted it. Neither of them went to University or had any academic qualifications so when I went to University, they were pleased, but it was all a mystery to them.
I think they made major sacrafices when my grandfather ( My mothers father) and my aunt, ( Mums twin Sister) came to live with us. Dad must have agreed to this and in the procees took on a lot. I think that in doing so he was very loyal to my mother.
He worked long hours in a textile factory and we lived in walking distance of the factory. The factory was his life. He worked all day and came home and watched TV. the only time my parents went out together was to church.
Thus, our lives as a family were simple, or complicated depending on what way you look at it.
My parents did their best for my brother and I with what they had. That is a major part of how I have become the man I am today.
Mum was a twin. She and dad married and two years later, I came along. Four years after that, so did my brother.
They brought us up to go to the North Congregational church. The best I can say is that the church taught bible stories and that was a major help when it came to being converted. It gave me a good biblical background and without my parents I would not have had that.
They were honest very moral people. They taught me right from wrong. For that I am very grateful. When you really think about it a lot of what all of us have come from parents. We get their genes and when you get up in the morning and put your clothes on it is usually mothers who teach children how to dress themselves. I thought of that one morning when I was getting dressed.
I do not think they understood everything I did, but they accepted it. Neither of them went to University or had any academic qualifications so when I went to University, they were pleased, but it was all a mystery to them.
I think they made major sacrafices when my grandfather ( My mothers father) and my aunt, ( Mums twin Sister) came to live with us. Dad must have agreed to this and in the procees took on a lot. I think that in doing so he was very loyal to my mother.
He worked long hours in a textile factory and we lived in walking distance of the factory. The factory was his life. He worked all day and came home and watched TV. the only time my parents went out together was to church.
Thus, our lives as a family were simple, or complicated depending on what way you look at it.
My parents did their best for my brother and I with what they had. That is a major part of how I have become the man I am today.
Friday, 21 September 2012
oh the Dutch, the Dutch
I read a book, by Floyd McClung called, "Living on the Devils Doorstep". A major part of the book is about his christian life in the red light district of Amsterdam. Just when I had finished reading the book, I got a letter from a friend who suggested that I go and work along side him in a christian youth hostel in the red light district of Amsterdam. I believe this was Gods providence. The book prepared me for this.
I have said things about this on a number of occassions, so I will not repeat them all here, but looking back, it was both the one of the worst and best experiences of my life. It made me the man I have become and I am so grateful to God for that.
The hostel was called "The Shelter and the general manager was a man called Feike. He is an outstanding bible teacher in my view.
One christmas he went through the pass over and it was from him that I learned that there is a piece of bread in the meal that they Jews do not know what to do with. I said, "That is a physical object so they do not have the option of doing nothing with it, so what do they do with it?". One of the girls at that very meeting had grown up in Isreal so she told us all that they hide it and tell the children to go and find it. The child who finds it gets the prize.
Fieke told us that it was this bread that Jesus broke and said, "This is my body, broken for you". The people present at that time, would have been astounded at this. It was after he rose from the dead and broke the bread again that they recognised him
As most Jews today, do not accept Jesus as messiah, they still do not know what that bread represents.
I also learned team work from Fieke. Some of the guests were homeless young people who would try to manipulate us into giving them chips ( French fries) and burgers rather than a proper meal. They would delay coming into the dining room until they knew that all the preper food had been served and only burgers and chips were left.
Fieke told the govornment agency that funded them that they would have to tell them that they had to turn up for meals on time or they would get nothing and that we had to enforce that. He said, "You have to learn that when one of you says no, you all say no, you have to be consistent. You cannot think that if you are nice to them you will win them for Christ. You won't. They will laugh at you behind your back." I realised immediately that he was right. He said, "I want them to know that there is an alternative way of life that is in christ".
It was tough discipline, but neccessary
Fieke made it very clear that he only had us for a short time, and in that time he wanted to train us and teach us things for life. I hope that over the years I have emulated this approach because I strongly agree with it. To this day, I still look back and thank God for what I learned from Fieke
I have said things about this on a number of occassions, so I will not repeat them all here, but looking back, it was both the one of the worst and best experiences of my life. It made me the man I have become and I am so grateful to God for that.
The hostel was called "The Shelter and the general manager was a man called Feike. He is an outstanding bible teacher in my view.
One christmas he went through the pass over and it was from him that I learned that there is a piece of bread in the meal that they Jews do not know what to do with. I said, "That is a physical object so they do not have the option of doing nothing with it, so what do they do with it?". One of the girls at that very meeting had grown up in Isreal so she told us all that they hide it and tell the children to go and find it. The child who finds it gets the prize.
Fieke told us that it was this bread that Jesus broke and said, "This is my body, broken for you". The people present at that time, would have been astounded at this. It was after he rose from the dead and broke the bread again that they recognised him
As most Jews today, do not accept Jesus as messiah, they still do not know what that bread represents.
I also learned team work from Fieke. Some of the guests were homeless young people who would try to manipulate us into giving them chips ( French fries) and burgers rather than a proper meal. They would delay coming into the dining room until they knew that all the preper food had been served and only burgers and chips were left.
Fieke told the govornment agency that funded them that they would have to tell them that they had to turn up for meals on time or they would get nothing and that we had to enforce that. He said, "You have to learn that when one of you says no, you all say no, you have to be consistent. You cannot think that if you are nice to them you will win them for Christ. You won't. They will laugh at you behind your back." I realised immediately that he was right. He said, "I want them to know that there is an alternative way of life that is in christ".
It was tough discipline, but neccessary
Fieke made it very clear that he only had us for a short time, and in that time he wanted to train us and teach us things for life. I hope that over the years I have emulated this approach because I strongly agree with it. To this day, I still look back and thank God for what I learned from Fieke
Monday, 17 September 2012
keith and Melody Green
Sometimes, one is influenced by people one has not met. Their influence is in their recordings and writings. I never met Keith Green.
A couple from the USA gave me some tracts written by Last Days Ministries that was founded by Keith and Melody Green. The tracts were reprints of articles that appeared in the "Last Days Newsletter" that was small magazine they published.
I found the articles riviting and got copies of them to distribute.
Keith died in a plane crash when he was 28 years old and the last item he wrote was, "Why You Should Go To The Mission Field". Today I would not agree with all of his reasoning, but I would agree with the main thrust of his arguement, that if you are a christian, you are called. All of the disciples had to go out and teach others to observe what they had been taught and as they used their gifts to proclaim the gospel, so it is our responsibility to do likewise. Howver even in the apostle Pauls day, most people who were saved continued to live and work where they were. Some do have to leave, but those who remained were just as faithful to the lord in what they did and so it is today as they suppor those who leave.
keith was used of the lord to stir people such as myself up into greater faithfulness
I do think that final article was used to spur me on to where I am now. It was certainly one of many things God brought my way to guide me
I also think Melody his wife wrote things that were good, practical Godly things about relationships, that have stood the test of time and have been used of God to guard my heart so that I do not turn aside to unbelievers. I have also never met Melody
As I blog, or write letters, or make short films, I wonder what sort of influence I am on people I have never met. I hope that I lead people into more Godliness.
A couple from the USA gave me some tracts written by Last Days Ministries that was founded by Keith and Melody Green. The tracts were reprints of articles that appeared in the "Last Days Newsletter" that was small magazine they published.
I found the articles riviting and got copies of them to distribute.
Keith died in a plane crash when he was 28 years old and the last item he wrote was, "Why You Should Go To The Mission Field". Today I would not agree with all of his reasoning, but I would agree with the main thrust of his arguement, that if you are a christian, you are called. All of the disciples had to go out and teach others to observe what they had been taught and as they used their gifts to proclaim the gospel, so it is our responsibility to do likewise. Howver even in the apostle Pauls day, most people who were saved continued to live and work where they were. Some do have to leave, but those who remained were just as faithful to the lord in what they did and so it is today as they suppor those who leave.
keith was used of the lord to stir people such as myself up into greater faithfulness
I do think that final article was used to spur me on to where I am now. It was certainly one of many things God brought my way to guide me
I also think Melody his wife wrote things that were good, practical Godly things about relationships, that have stood the test of time and have been used of God to guard my heart so that I do not turn aside to unbelievers. I have also never met Melody
As I blog, or write letters, or make short films, I wonder what sort of influence I am on people I have never met. I hope that I lead people into more Godliness.
Bald Eagle
I went to Glagow University. I chose Glasgow as opposed to Edinburgh, because it was far enough from home to warrent living in Halls of residence and I wanted to get away from home.
I was in Wolfson Hall in Maryhill. One day I was in my room when the block warden knocked on my door to introduce himself. His name was David Newell. He told me that he was the warden for the block I was in and he welcomed me. He then left. Later on one of the other men in the CU told me that David was a christian. They also told David that I was a christian because he returned to my room and I said, "I have been told about you", to which he said, "I have been told about you". We then told each other about our backgrounds. David was brethern and one of their speakers. I was Church of Scotland
David was a man of great wisdom. I thought he had pastoral skill which at times, I needed and he was a marvelous teacher.
There were times when a discoteque would take place in the hall and David would have an alternative to it. This was in the days before ipods and recordings were on cassette tapes. He would invite students to his flat for the evening and we would listen to these tapes. Some of them were by the Irish preacher Wullie Mullan. One day I asked him where he got the cassettes from. He gave me the contact details. They came from a tape lending library called, "Things That Matter". I decided to become a member of the library so that I could borrow cassettes for myself. I did not know that by doing that I was making my first contact with Operation Mobilisation, because "Things that Matter" were a ministry of that organisation, and here I am today in that very same organisation. God used David to encourage me to take that first step. All I wanted to do was borrow teaching cassettes so that I could grow in the word of God, but it did more for me than that. As I borrowed tapes by a variety of preachers, one of them was George Verwer. I could never have imagined then that one day I would not be listening to recording of such meetings but that I would actually be there.
Another couple of pieces of wisdom David gave to me were the local church. Gods work is carried out by the church and it is vital to be in good bible believing church. It is there one finds fellowship and teaching and they will be people of prayer and it is neccessary for the christian to be in fellowship as part of a local church
I also learned from David that in choosing a church, he said, " The closest bible believing church to your home, that is the one". It is that lesson that led me to my present local church. It is bout two minutes walk down the road from where I live. For you dear reader it may be further, but I urge you not to treat choosing a church as being like a trip to the supermarket. I think it is true that we live in culture in the UK where christians see themselves as consumers and they take a long time finding a church as they go around the churches in their area and the choose one that makes them feel good even if on the way they pass by some perfectly good churches that would gladly welcome them. Such churches could benfit more from new people joining them than the one they choose because it has the big name and makes them feel good.
I value David for teaching me those lessons. They have had a profound effect on my life for many years now.
David was a bald man ( as I now am) and one of my fellow students laughed and called him Bald Eagle. This was a term of endearment. We all loved David Dearly and the fact that I still practice the things I learned from him is testament to the influence he has had on me.
I was in Wolfson Hall in Maryhill. One day I was in my room when the block warden knocked on my door to introduce himself. His name was David Newell. He told me that he was the warden for the block I was in and he welcomed me. He then left. Later on one of the other men in the CU told me that David was a christian. They also told David that I was a christian because he returned to my room and I said, "I have been told about you", to which he said, "I have been told about you". We then told each other about our backgrounds. David was brethern and one of their speakers. I was Church of Scotland
David was a man of great wisdom. I thought he had pastoral skill which at times, I needed and he was a marvelous teacher.
There were times when a discoteque would take place in the hall and David would have an alternative to it. This was in the days before ipods and recordings were on cassette tapes. He would invite students to his flat for the evening and we would listen to these tapes. Some of them were by the Irish preacher Wullie Mullan. One day I asked him where he got the cassettes from. He gave me the contact details. They came from a tape lending library called, "Things That Matter". I decided to become a member of the library so that I could borrow cassettes for myself. I did not know that by doing that I was making my first contact with Operation Mobilisation, because "Things that Matter" were a ministry of that organisation, and here I am today in that very same organisation. God used David to encourage me to take that first step. All I wanted to do was borrow teaching cassettes so that I could grow in the word of God, but it did more for me than that. As I borrowed tapes by a variety of preachers, one of them was George Verwer. I could never have imagined then that one day I would not be listening to recording of such meetings but that I would actually be there.
Another couple of pieces of wisdom David gave to me were the local church. Gods work is carried out by the church and it is vital to be in good bible believing church. It is there one finds fellowship and teaching and they will be people of prayer and it is neccessary for the christian to be in fellowship as part of a local church
I also learned from David that in choosing a church, he said, " The closest bible believing church to your home, that is the one". It is that lesson that led me to my present local church. It is bout two minutes walk down the road from where I live. For you dear reader it may be further, but I urge you not to treat choosing a church as being like a trip to the supermarket. I think it is true that we live in culture in the UK where christians see themselves as consumers and they take a long time finding a church as they go around the churches in their area and the choose one that makes them feel good even if on the way they pass by some perfectly good churches that would gladly welcome them. Such churches could benfit more from new people joining them than the one they choose because it has the big name and makes them feel good.
I value David for teaching me those lessons. They have had a profound effect on my life for many years now.
David was a bald man ( as I now am) and one of my fellow students laughed and called him Bald Eagle. This was a term of endearment. We all loved David Dearly and the fact that I still practice the things I learned from him is testament to the influence he has had on me.
Thursday, 6 September 2012
The taits
On that first day at the North Parish, Gordon introduced me to the Tait Family
If ever I met a man who was a shining example of an elder it was Bill Tait. I loved him and his family and was very upset by his death.
Jean tait sang in the choir, and when I joined OM, she was one of my supporters. She was a headmistress at a primary School
Bill and Jean had three children, Beth, Pat and Graham.
Trajedy hit the family. Beth was about the same age as me and she went to University. While there, somehow she fell off a balcony and was severely injured and put on a life support machine. One day Bill and Jean had to make the decision that I am sure they were hoping they would never have to make. They gave permission to switch the machine off. No parent expects to see the death of their child, especially when she is only 18 years old. I expect Bill and Jean had a lot of private issues to work through, but they never cursed God. They never lost faith. Indeed they were an outstanding example to me of faithfulness in all circumstances. They could say with Job, "Thou he slay me, yet will I trust him"
Not only were they faithful, Bill went on to become an auxilliary minister. Only a few days ago, I was looking at a booklet written by Gordon and Bill had supported the writing of it. His name is written inside the cover and I cannot look at it without remembering and treasuring the years I had with Bill and Jean. In his providence God brought them into my life when I needed faithful older christians.
I said that it was Agnes Whiteford who invited me to the prayer meeting. If she invited me it was Bill and Jean and people like them who kept me going. They regularly attended the prayer meeting. Prayer was foremost in their lives and I think it made them the Godly people they were.
I loved them, and when I am in the North Parish these days, there seems to be a gap that has never been filled. Bill and Jean are now with the lord. The choir in the North parish does not look right to me without Jean.
If ever I met a man who was a shining example of an elder it was Bill Tait. I loved him and his family and was very upset by his death.
Jean tait sang in the choir, and when I joined OM, she was one of my supporters. She was a headmistress at a primary School
Bill and Jean had three children, Beth, Pat and Graham.
Trajedy hit the family. Beth was about the same age as me and she went to University. While there, somehow she fell off a balcony and was severely injured and put on a life support machine. One day Bill and Jean had to make the decision that I am sure they were hoping they would never have to make. They gave permission to switch the machine off. No parent expects to see the death of their child, especially when she is only 18 years old. I expect Bill and Jean had a lot of private issues to work through, but they never cursed God. They never lost faith. Indeed they were an outstanding example to me of faithfulness in all circumstances. They could say with Job, "Thou he slay me, yet will I trust him"
Not only were they faithful, Bill went on to become an auxilliary minister. Only a few days ago, I was looking at a booklet written by Gordon and Bill had supported the writing of it. His name is written inside the cover and I cannot look at it without remembering and treasuring the years I had with Bill and Jean. In his providence God brought them into my life when I needed faithful older christians.
I said that it was Agnes Whiteford who invited me to the prayer meeting. If she invited me it was Bill and Jean and people like them who kept me going. They regularly attended the prayer meeting. Prayer was foremost in their lives and I think it made them the Godly people they were.
I loved them, and when I am in the North Parish these days, there seems to be a gap that has never been filled. Bill and Jean are now with the lord. The choir in the North parish does not look right to me without Jean.
kate
One of the people Gordon introduced me to was a girl a few years older then me called Kate Foster. I looked on Kate as being like an older sister. She welcomed me into the youth fellowship and I think Kate was a very humble girl. I can never think of that first day without remembering her and some time later, we had a meeting where we could choose our favourite songs. Kate chose one called, "Teach me Thy way". I remember her every time I hear it.
it was just lovely to have a new friend. I needed her at that time to settle into the North Parish. Never underestimate friendship. It has a value beyond compare
it was just lovely to have a new friend. I needed her at that time to settle into the North Parish. Never underestimate friendship. It has a value beyond compare
Wednesday, 5 September 2012
A change of church
As a child and a teenager, you have a way of life that is predictable. You have friends, you go to school, you listen to popular music and life is ordered. One day something happened that changed my life. The church where I went to Sunday School closed and I decided not to go to the church they were joining, in fact I wanted to have nothing to do with church at all.
However, I thought there were be a row if I said that to my parents. My mother said she wanted me to go to a church even if I did not go to their church. I decided to go round all the churches in the town over a period of time and wear my parents down and then I would drop out of church. At least that was my plan. God however had another plan.
On the Sunday when I put my plan into action, I decided to go to the North Parish. I knew a couple of boys there from school so I thought that the worst thing that could happen is that I could have a good chat with them. I said in my heart, "God, if I am ever going to go to this church a second time, I am going to have to be very impressed with the preaching, and as I have never heard impressive preaching, that is not likely to happen, is it?"
I went to the church and there were no hymn books left. I went up on the balcony and a lady was there with her daughter. The lady could see I had no hymn book, so she gave me hers. That made me feel good. What shocked me more was the preaching. It was very personal and I had never heard anything like it. As I came down the stairs from the balcony, I said in my heart, "God, I must admit that was impressive preaching". As I was leaving, the minister stopped me at the door. This was my introduction to Gordon Jenkins. I had intended to go to the church just once, and being stopped at the door like that made a difference. Gordon introduced me on the spot to the tait family and to Kate Foster. These people would become very dear to me indeed.
Gordon became a major influence on me with his teaching. It was he who led the prayer meeting that Agnes Whiteford invited me to. He became my mentor and counsellor and I needed a great deal of that. Much of the man I have become is due to his teaching. My starting point for life is something I learned from him. He saw himself as a learner, and he once said to the children that he thought that in heaven we would still all be learners. I saw in that statement his humility and I sought to emulate that in my own life and I hope that it can be said that I still do.
However, I thought there were be a row if I said that to my parents. My mother said she wanted me to go to a church even if I did not go to their church. I decided to go round all the churches in the town over a period of time and wear my parents down and then I would drop out of church. At least that was my plan. God however had another plan.
On the Sunday when I put my plan into action, I decided to go to the North Parish. I knew a couple of boys there from school so I thought that the worst thing that could happen is that I could have a good chat with them. I said in my heart, "God, if I am ever going to go to this church a second time, I am going to have to be very impressed with the preaching, and as I have never heard impressive preaching, that is not likely to happen, is it?"
I went to the church and there were no hymn books left. I went up on the balcony and a lady was there with her daughter. The lady could see I had no hymn book, so she gave me hers. That made me feel good. What shocked me more was the preaching. It was very personal and I had never heard anything like it. As I came down the stairs from the balcony, I said in my heart, "God, I must admit that was impressive preaching". As I was leaving, the minister stopped me at the door. This was my introduction to Gordon Jenkins. I had intended to go to the church just once, and being stopped at the door like that made a difference. Gordon introduced me on the spot to the tait family and to Kate Foster. These people would become very dear to me indeed.
Gordon became a major influence on me with his teaching. It was he who led the prayer meeting that Agnes Whiteford invited me to. He became my mentor and counsellor and I needed a great deal of that. Much of the man I have become is due to his teaching. My starting point for life is something I learned from him. He saw himself as a learner, and he once said to the children that he thought that in heaven we would still all be learners. I saw in that statement his humility and I sought to emulate that in my own life and I hope that it can be said that I still do.
Three People
I went to Sunday school, which at best, I was indifferent to and at worst, I hated and found boring. I was a polite sensitive child, but if ever I had the chance to drop out of Sunday School, I would gladly have taken it. On reflection, I am glad that never happened.
As a small child, I was taught by Doreen Curry whom I later performed with as an actor in the Drama group in the same church
As I moved up the Sunday School, my teachers were Careen Cellars, Douglas Johnston and Peter Fry.
I am sorry to say that I have no idea where any of them are nor do I know anything about their spititual state. however they all taught me bible stories and were very kind. I think all of them had a lot of patience to put up with me. Just like God used George Gahagan so he used all three of these people to lay the foundations of my life. The stories gave me a good grounding in preperation for the day that I was converted.
If it were at all possible, I would love to know where all of them are. Even as a child, I was consious that Douglas and Peter were exceptionally intelligent men. They would be great intellectuals to their peers.
As a small child, I was taught by Doreen Curry whom I later performed with as an actor in the Drama group in the same church
As I moved up the Sunday School, my teachers were Careen Cellars, Douglas Johnston and Peter Fry.
I am sorry to say that I have no idea where any of them are nor do I know anything about their spititual state. however they all taught me bible stories and were very kind. I think all of them had a lot of patience to put up with me. Just like God used George Gahagan so he used all three of these people to lay the foundations of my life. The stories gave me a good grounding in preperation for the day that I was converted.
If it were at all possible, I would love to know where all of them are. Even as a child, I was consious that Douglas and Peter were exceptionally intelligent men. They would be great intellectuals to their peers.
Another story
Another story George Gahagan told was about the Devil having a meeting with all his demons. The devil said that too many people were believing in Jesus and he needed a stategy to stop them doing that. One demon said, I know, I will go though the world and I will tell them that it is not true and only a fool would believe in Jesus and if they do then they are stupid and people will laugh at them and persecute them. Sit down said the devil. We have tried that before and it does not work.
Another demon said, I will go thoughout the world and tell start wars and there will be so much conflict that no one will believe in Jesus, how could anyone believe in a God who allows that. Sit down said the devil, we have tried that to and that does not work
Then the smallest demon put his hand up and said, I know what I will do, I will tell them that is all true that they are sinners that Jesus really was born, that he did grow up that he is the saviour of the world and he did die for their sins and that he has risen for the dead and that if they trust in him they will be forgiven. Then I will tell them there is plenty of time. When they are young, I will tell them they are not grown up yet, so there is plenty of time, and when they are grown up and married and having families, I will tell them there is plenty of time, and when they are old I will tell them there is still time, and they will grow old and they will put off trusting in Jesus, until it is too late.. Then go said the devil and do just that. The point is that some people do put off that decision, but the bible says NOW is the hour of salvation. We must trust Jesus NOW and not think that some day in the future we will trust him. The truth is that our hearts will become hardened.
I look back and can see that God used George Gahagan and people like him to the do the ground work in my life so that when the day came I was ready to understand the gospel and to put my trust in Jesus Christ. I am so thankful for that.
Another demon said, I will go thoughout the world and tell start wars and there will be so much conflict that no one will believe in Jesus, how could anyone believe in a God who allows that. Sit down said the devil, we have tried that to and that does not work
Then the smallest demon put his hand up and said, I know what I will do, I will tell them that is all true that they are sinners that Jesus really was born, that he did grow up that he is the saviour of the world and he did die for their sins and that he has risen for the dead and that if they trust in him they will be forgiven. Then I will tell them there is plenty of time. When they are young, I will tell them they are not grown up yet, so there is plenty of time, and when they are grown up and married and having families, I will tell them there is plenty of time, and when they are old I will tell them there is still time, and they will grow old and they will put off trusting in Jesus, until it is too late.. Then go said the devil and do just that. The point is that some people do put off that decision, but the bible says NOW is the hour of salvation. We must trust Jesus NOW and not think that some day in the future we will trust him. The truth is that our hearts will become hardened.
I look back and can see that God used George Gahagan and people like him to the do the ground work in my life so that when the day came I was ready to understand the gospel and to put my trust in Jesus Christ. I am so thankful for that.
I think agnes whiteford, was by far the first and greatest encouragement I had to engage in corporate prayer. However God used others to do some ground work before I ever met her.
One of those was a man called George Gahagan. When I was a child, he was the minister of the Church I went to. Looking back, it was a liberal church. I never heard things like messages of Gods grace, or his love,or his wrath and there were no prayer meetings. There was a lot of social activity such as Jumble Sales, sales of work the Drama group and the rambling club. It was as though there was little to no spiritual input at all, except for one thing, George Gahagan was an outstanding story teller and very good at communicating with children
Most of the stories he told were once he had recieved from other ministers. Occassionaly he would tell a story about his own childhood. These stories illustrated usually just one point, and all of them were of a spiritual nature and as I look back, I can see that all of the ones I clearly remember, did in fact contain Gospel truth
Later when I was in my teens he told us that he learned how to tell stories to children by telling them to his own children. They would ask him to tell the same stories over and over again, but they expected him to tell them in the same way every time and if he changed anything they would stop and correct him. He therefore applied this technique when he told sorties to the Sunday school while we all sat in church. I think it was possible for an adult to get more out of his childrens addresses than the sermon.
I am not a good childrens speaker, but one of the stories is like this. There was a boy who built a toy boat. He love that boat and he loved sailing it in the local river. One day he was sailing it and the flow of the river took it away from him. Try as he might, he could not find it. He was sad. Some time later he was passing by a pawn shop and he saw his boat in the window. He went in and said to the shop Keeper very excitedly, "That is my boat, please may I have it back". The shop keeper said he could only have it if he bought it. The boy ran home as fast as he could and opened his piggy bank, he counted the money and had just enough. He took the money and ran all the way back to the shop to buy the boat. He handed over the money and the shop keeper gave him the boat. The boy clung on to the boat and said, "You are mine twice over, You are mine because I made you, and now you are mine because I bought you" the point is that God has made us, but now we are all sinners and God has bought christians by the death and resurrection of jesus
One of those was a man called George Gahagan. When I was a child, he was the minister of the Church I went to. Looking back, it was a liberal church. I never heard things like messages of Gods grace, or his love,or his wrath and there were no prayer meetings. There was a lot of social activity such as Jumble Sales, sales of work the Drama group and the rambling club. It was as though there was little to no spiritual input at all, except for one thing, George Gahagan was an outstanding story teller and very good at communicating with children
Most of the stories he told were once he had recieved from other ministers. Occassionaly he would tell a story about his own childhood. These stories illustrated usually just one point, and all of them were of a spiritual nature and as I look back, I can see that all of the ones I clearly remember, did in fact contain Gospel truth
Later when I was in my teens he told us that he learned how to tell stories to children by telling them to his own children. They would ask him to tell the same stories over and over again, but they expected him to tell them in the same way every time and if he changed anything they would stop and correct him. He therefore applied this technique when he told sorties to the Sunday school while we all sat in church. I think it was possible for an adult to get more out of his childrens addresses than the sermon.
I am not a good childrens speaker, but one of the stories is like this. There was a boy who built a toy boat. He love that boat and he loved sailing it in the local river. One day he was sailing it and the flow of the river took it away from him. Try as he might, he could not find it. He was sad. Some time later he was passing by a pawn shop and he saw his boat in the window. He went in and said to the shop Keeper very excitedly, "That is my boat, please may I have it back". The shop keeper said he could only have it if he bought it. The boy ran home as fast as he could and opened his piggy bank, he counted the money and had just enough. He took the money and ran all the way back to the shop to buy the boat. He handed over the money and the shop keeper gave him the boat. The boy clung on to the boat and said, "You are mine twice over, You are mine because I made you, and now you are mine because I bought you" the point is that God has made us, but now we are all sinners and God has bought christians by the death and resurrection of jesus
Tuesday, 4 September 2012
An invitation from an old lady
As a young man, I met an elderly lady who was in my church. Her name was Agnes Whiteford. She was a widow and a very godly lady.
I was new to the church, and had never been to a prayer meeting. In fact I had no idea what prayer meetings were. Every Sunday I heard he prayer meeting announced from the pulpit. I wondered what such a meeting would be like. I was curious to go, but needed an excuse to go. I did not feel that I could just turn up.
One day, I was going into church and Agnes Whiteford and one of her friends was in front of me. She turned and spoke to me. She invited me to the prayer meeting. This was the excuse I needed. I thought, “That old woman has invited me, so now, I can go”. The meeting was in the manse. It was more like a midweek meeting as there was teaching from the bible, followed by prayer. I had not experienced anything like it before. I had heard formal public prayer before, but not individuals corporately praying together like this. After a few weeks, I decided to have a go at it myself. I kept attending the prayer meeting and such meetings have become a fundamental part of my life and Agnes Whiteford had no idea how God used her that day she invited me to the meeting to get me started.
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