A busy time of year

People often keep saying to me 'This must be your busy time of year.' As if ministers only work at Christmas. I now find myself gently reminding them that we are ministers, not Santa Clause and that we do work the rest of the year.

Anyways, this has been a busy week, with school visits, home visits, the school at the Church today which saw us packed to the gunnels (if that is indeed how you spell gunnels!), and still a bit to go before we get to Sunday.

If we are not careful we could miss some important news items that drift past us....like Bruce Springsteen making the top 50 records of the year for Devils and Dust (in the Rolling Stone Poll) http://www.backstreets.com/news.html

Or the news that civil partnerships have become law. I don't know about you, but I feel that this is something that needs to be evaluated in the cold light of day. I get very frustrated listening to people quoting little bits of the Bible and saying that 'this is the justification that it is a sin.' I don't feel it is as simple as that. We need to be aware that people do have a deep love for each other.

Is love a sin? If is time we sat down and had a look at where our relationship with love and law should be. I am, personally, happier following the call to love rather than the call to 'the' law. That sometimes comes down to how people interperate snippets and turn it to their advanage. Christmas, the season for love.

And finally for those who have doubted my skill at bowling....watch and see......

What a weekend

Can't believe it.........................

First weekend free since................well since I can't remember, but it was sometime in August before the Panto. Sometimes we all need a wee break...even me. It helps to recharge the batteries. Looking forward to a good week. I do hope many people get along on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, oh yes and that I win at the Bowling on Thursday night........

Still in the Christmas Spirit...................

next week at this time??? Will Santa have been???

I have seen Christmas

After my worries about over commercialism. All is not lost. Today I attended the Knightswood Toddlers Christmas party. To see the magic in the eyes of the children as they come forward to get their presents from Santa, you see the acceptance of the magic of Christmas.

Even tonight as Pam and I wrapped presents you remember the reason that you buy the presnets, give the presents.

Love.

If you can feel the love, then you can feel the spirt of Christmas.

So all is not lost...........9 sleeps to Christmas

Can Anyone see Christmas?????

This has been a trying day, started off well enough, delivering leaflets for the Church. Then, Church open for prayer and quiet...all went very well.

Afternoon even better, joining the ladies of the Thursday Fellowship for their Christmas lunch, mind you I do wonder how many Christmas lunches they can go to in one year, for some it seems the neverending party of meals, drinks and...whatever......

Then tonight, at the Bankhead School Show.......great performance all round...back to the Church with the teenagers for Chips and Ice Cream.....so, you may now be thinking...whats getting at him!!!!!!!!

Its Christmas decorations.................

I have, over the years, seen some houses done up very nicely over Christmas, some great displays. But some are now getting a bit over the top, so much so that you can barely see Santa Clause - never mind Jesus - among the glare of the lights. Gardens filled with giant snowmen, santas, and Homer Simpson - yes Homer Simpson - I am sorry its all getting too over the top for me. How can we ever escape the blight of commercialism that hangs like a cloud over Christmas?

Will somebody please remind me of the reason for the season.............

Off to find my sunglasses to deflect the rays now

Braehead

Survived!

Are they worth it - depends who it is.

Today started with a visit to Bankhead School, then Knightswood Toddlers. It was all alk about Christmas celebrations and parties, visits from Santa and holiays. They all looked fairly excited (well in the Toddlers those old enough did). Are the kids worth it? They help make the spirit of Christmas.

I have been listening during the day to all the talk about MSP's expenses. In the last year they claimed almost £10 million. A question was asked today were they worth it!!

I will avoid commenting directly, but suffice to say that when I have had value for money the cost has seldom been a factor. If I feel I have been ripped off, then cost (regardles of how much) is always a factor. So maybe we should wait until the dust settles before we judge.

Value for money is always close to my heart..............off to Braehead for an evenings shopping!!!!!!!!!!

The whole trouble with Christmas - Missing People Out

Been a stressful day, blood taken at 9.30, dentist at 10.30.......and problems with the web site. But thats not what causes me the biggest stress!!!

This year I have gone through the usual debate about Christmas Cards. Who do I send to? The people who send to me? The people who are my friends? People at Church?

I end up sending cards to family and close friends. Why? Because I am frightened to miss people out. I would feel terrible giving a card to someone and forgetting someone else? How would they feel to be left out? This year some people have sent cards to me and Pam, which has been very nice, but for me that only adds to my confusion. Am I the only one who is like this? Oh the quandry I can get myself in about cards..................so,

Merry Christmas to you all

The Big Start

Over the last couple of months I have came across blogs. So I thought, I should have a go. What exactly does a Minister do, what do they really think? What annoys them? What are their rambling thoughts..........well, here goes