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There is no doubt this project has been talked about for years now it is happening people are proud of the project. You can see A giant banner alongside one freshly paved stretch of the $2.75bn (£1.7bn) highway declaring “Once a promise, now a reality.”

Many environmentalists and social commentators are warning that the highway will bring a whole string of new problems. One thing many are afraid of is the increase risk of AIDS being transmitted to the populations. The truth is the local people are not prepared for what is happening to them. I spoke with Professor Patricia Garcia of University of Cayetano and she explained about the fear of STDs and AIDS increasing because of the Highway.

In an article written in the Guardian last year one leading academic has suggested, “It’s not roads that destroy the Amazon, it’s the people that come because the road provides better access,” Ernesto Raez, director of the Centre for Environmental Sustainability at Cayetano Heredia University in Lima agreed with this “We shouldn’t blame these people – most of whom are very impoverished. The problem is that the authorities are too weak to control this influx.”

There is also the Madre de Dios region, which has long been a draw for wildcat goldminers, who believe they will make their fortune because the price of gold has risen considerably over the past few years.

The article in the Guardian continues, “Rainforest destruction is not the only concern. Aguirre, the governor of Madre de Dios, warns the road could also aid South American drug cartels. Recent years have seen Peru become one of the world’s leading cocaine producers, with Mexican, Colombian and Brazilian gangs continuing to extend their tentacles into the country. “I wouldn’t be surprised if this road became one of main drug-trafficking routes in the next few years,”

So Peru is changing yet the needs of the poor still remain. Our work in the Vine Trust is to continue to make alliances around the world with like minded people in order that we can change lives for the good I guess our motto holds good ‘ Connecting People To Change lives”

Well it’s really all very exciting! We’re trying to make sure that the work we do in partnership with Union Biblical is the best it can be. Like everything in our lives it is foolish to sit back and expect nothing to change. Life is all about change and we in the Vine Trust recognise that everything we do in Peru has to be monitored and improved upon. We also realise that Peru itself is changing and with it comes governments that are changing their attitudes to the way homes for abandoned children are run. It’s all very positive and great to see a change in policy.

However the changes in policy means that we will be faced with increased numbers of professional staff to be employed resulting in greater costs. Yet it’s difficult to complain when you know that the end result should mean a much better service for the children of Peru.

All these changes will mean in the long term that we may not always have boys staying for long extended periods in the homes. While it is true that many of the boys have been abandoned, others may never tell the real story behind their misfortune. The new rules means that homes will require to have a phycologist and a social worker on the staff of each home.

Having a social worker on the staff means that a greater opportunity will arise for children to be reunited with their parents and their parents traced down and encouraged to find ways to reintegrate their children back into family life. No doubt there will always be a need for children to be looked after but the opportunity for children to be adopted by Peruvian parents is also an option that seems now to be gaining favour in government circles.

Today I met with quite a few inspirational people who have a real desire to be change makers here Peru. Already the change is coming about. It’s ten years since we brought the first Amazon Hope over from Scotland. Ten years on Peru is a much changed place. it’ seems to me that it’s time we all gave this nation a clap on the back for he way they have and are working to make this country a more democratic and tolerant place in which to live

It was a very successful evening. Raymond Blanc the world famous chef was in attendance having overseen the menu for the evening. As Chair of the Vine Trust I’m so grateful to Orient Express for their generosity in picking up the cost of the evening. Already we’ve received substantial pledges. Its all such a contradiction here i am engaging with the corporate world looking for support and finding some very generous people willing to help. Yet at the same time I’m writing on the blog reminding the country that ” Humankind cannot live on bread alone” Its never far from your mind when your in London these days. Whose on the right? The protest outside St Paul’s acts as a timely reminder to all of us not to build up treasure on earth. Yet somehow we can’t get away from money we need it to make things work.

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I must admit I was a little disappointed after going through the swing doors at St Paul’s. The lettering on the glass doors is quite inspirational then you find yourself coming to a ticket barrier. You can’t go any further unless your willing to pay. It got me thinking about the inherent contradictions that we all live and work through. How is it if this is a gateway to Heaven I’ve got to pay. Surely it should be free – I mean going into the House of God should we really have to pay? Yet we need funds to keep these large magnificent buildings open. So what should I do turn away and reflect. Perhaps God might be outside the walls of the cathedral inhabiting one of the tents. What an interesting picture the tents make they remind us that we have no abiding city. Heaven is not made with stones and bricks. Its a different place.

Manna Dobo Artist

However i wanted to follow up on my last post. Manna Dobo is a quite outstanding artist and respected in her field of visual arts. We are so fortunate to have someone of her experience and talent teaching at Bo’ness Academy. Anyway not many people could come down to the church at the drop of a hat and paint such an outstanding piece of work in less than an hour. Here in this work Manna was responding to the mood of the church and the worship of the moment as she put together this painting. The interesting thing is that she painted it with a feather in her hand and her eye and her heart ‘tuned-in’ to worship. I’ve entitled the painting “Too Close for Comfort” not sure what the artist will think of my presumption in naming the painting. However it speaks to me of the God who comes closer to us than we can imagine. Sometimes it is an uncomfortable feeling like lips being burned with the coal from the alter, or depending on your next meal to arrive with ravens. Yes God can be found in the ordinary but too often the ordinary is too difficult for us to trust or even understand.If you look closely can you see the face of the crucified Saviour kissing the face that is at prayer?

If you have time listen to the replay of the service before it is replaced by the current one on Monday morning. It it mann speaks about the place of the feather in her hand while she paints. Its worth listening to and also worth the visual impact of seeking it all come together.

I think you can also pick it up for a longer time if you go to Sanctuary first’s website www.sanctuaryfirst.org.uk The theme was finding God in the ordinary. What could be more ordinary than a feather, yet the artist in Manna saw that the feather speaks of flight and height, of prophets being fed and prophets being touched by winged seraphims with burning coals. It speaks of hope and for many people it is a reminder to lift themselves from where they are to where they might be.

I found Sanctuary First this evening to be a very peaceful and engaging service. Its worth taking a look at the service when the replay goes up later today on the church web page www.standonline.org.uk What I found especially effective was the amazing artwork of Manna Dobo she painted a wonderful reflection on the idea of “God in the Ordinary.” Manna’s painting is based around the inspiration of a feather. She explained how God has used winged creatures to inspire and sustain many of the biblical characters. Feathers speak of that which we often cannot see but which is the sign of heaven touching earth.

I also though our new young people’s praise band “Stand United” did really well leading us in worship this evening. And of course everyone who read and shared from the techie dest to our internet congregation, deserve to be recognised for their input . If you had a chance to shatre in the service, i’d love to hear your views.

Anyway, back to our theme for the month. I like this theme. Its not the first time I’ve written about it, nor do I expect it to be the last. When it comes to thinking about spiritual things too often we miss the point because we’re trying to find the esoteric, or the hidden meaning. Too often we’re looking for an extra ordinary sign or miracle from God to help us believe. The thing is, it seldom happens that way. God is discovered in the ordinary everyday things of life. Jesus used the every day household diet of bread and wine to describe his presence. He took the ordinary and turned it into an extra-ordinary symbol of his presence.

The important thing to understand about God in the ordinary is that it often involves struggle and a great deal of soul searching and no doubt even a crisis of faith. It is as we live our lives through difficult situations, be it unemployment or a moral dilemma that we come to recognise where God is to be found.

I think we need to understand that having faith brings with it many unsolved questions. Reading Philip Yancey’s book “Reaching for the Invisible God” I was impressed with his chapter entitled ” Mystery of the Ordinary” In this chapter he quotes the 18th American Century Quaker Trueblood, ” If a man wishes to avoid the disturbing affects of paradoxes, the best advice is for him to leave the Christian faith alone.” In other words if your not up for living with holy tension don’t begin to follow Jesus. He continually asks us to do the impossible. To love our enemies, to turn the other check. He tells us we have to follow him, then he says, but you didn’t choose me, I chose you. Yes sometimes its confusing, and there is an intellectual struggling with faith as much as there is a moral struggle. Yet we find ourselves drawn into the life and love of Jesus of Nazareth and in the words of Luther we end up saying ‘ Here I stand I can do no other” If if i’m frustrated, even if its difficult, even if I don’t seem to fit into my church at the moment. The dye is cast. I guess its summed up for me in the words of a Bob Dylan song ” I’m Pressing On” Its as we press on through the ordinary we discover there is no ordinary, what was our ordinary, was also our pathway into the Kingdom. have a listen to Regina MCrary’s version of this song. Its absolutely inspiring. When she tells her story , it puts this song into context.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

I came across this quote by Reinhold Neibuhr, ” nothing that is worth doing can be achieved in our lifetime: therefore we must be saved by hope. Nothing which is true or beautiful or good, makes complete sense in any immediate context of history: therefore we must be saved by grace. Nothing we do however virtuous can be accomplished alone: therefore we must be saved by love.” Now there is an interesting idea! Is it not out of the bounty of God’s grace that we are saved. So lets just keep pressing on with faith, hope and love in our hearts living through the ordinary times.

I’ve got less than two months of sermons to preach so what I’ve decide to do is to focus in the mornings on the Epistle of Philippians and in the evenings think about the importance of developing and living out a prayer filled life. Sanctuary First Prayers will feature in Evening Worship.

Let me say something here by way of introduction to both of these themes.

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The Epistle of Philippians seeks to provide for the Christian an alternative identity that is centred around the person of Jesus Christ rather than a family bloodline identity. The story of how the the church was founded at Philippi is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. It tells how Paul first met Lydia the fashion designer, who was a Gentile by birth and how she had attached herself to the Jewish community in the city. She in some way was in search of a new identity. This was common place, it was a growing practice in the ancient world for rich women to connect with the so called “God fearers” We are told by the ancient historians that many Gentile people had become disillusioned with the gods of Rome and had found Judaism to be more spiritually and intellectually acceptable as a religion. People like Lydia were known by the Jews as “Godfearer”.

In this letter Paul compliments the Philipppians on their loyalty and thanks them for their encouragement and generosity.
The epistle has been divided into four main sections or chapters. Over a four week period we will look at the chapters and see how Paul teaches believers to be completely focused on the person and nature of Jesus Christ. It is a letter that highlights the importance of practical Christianity. It is because of this emphasis that the epistle continues to be relevant for 21st century Christians.

The letter inspires its readers to be imitator of Jesus Christ. Each chapter speaks of the qualities we must strive to emulate. Chapter one speaks of our whole life being hidden in Christ’s life. In others words we must not become ‘I‘ centred instead we must die to self in order that Christ’s life might be seen in us.

Chapter two speaks of our minds being shaped by the role of the servant. It is the upside down world of service that Jesus came to talk about and live out. Remember Jesus said, “If you want to be great learn to be the servant of all. Not easy but greatly rewarding.

In the third chapter he speaks of the temptation to follow other paths that lead away fro the gospel. Paul encourages us to have an ambition, a target at which we can aim. Jesus Christ is to be our goal. Our focus needs to go beyond time and look towards eternity.

Finally if we are to survive with our new identity we need to have the strength of Christ. There is a wonderful passage in the Book of Proverbs where it says “ Trust in the Lord with all your heart and don’t depend on your own understanding”.

I hope that these studies will equip all of us to change our mindset, so that we see the world and each other through the eyes of Christ. When this happens we learn to love our enemies and do good to those who would seek to harm us. So what more should I say, perhaps, just a welcome to the radical world of Jesus turns sinners into saints.

When it comes to February I thought there is no greater theme to focus on than the theme of Prayer. Robert Murray McCheyne one of the great 19th Century Divines once wrote ” A man is what he is on his knees before God, and nothing more.” As we have been considering the Christian Identity, so we need to be continually reminded of the importance of prayer in the life of the Christian. I thought it would be good to take inspiration from three Old Testament Characters and look at their prayer life.

The first that came to my mind was Nehemiah. His prayer was a short and instant one in which he prayed for the favour of the state to rest upon his proposals. I believe hat the Church today needs to find ways to work with governments to see that good prevails.

The second was the Character of Samuel. He encounters the presence of God and is taught by Eli the priest how to pray. Samuel learned about the God who speaks at a time when all seemed to feel that God was silent. Surely there is much that we will be able to learn from a study of the prayer life of the young boy Samuel.

Finally I think there could be no more fitting sermon with which to leave the congregation than to reflect on the prayer f our lord in John 17 when he prays for the unity of the church. At a time like this surely all right thinking christian people are longing and praying for the unity of the church.

Please make a point of praying for me as i begin to prepare these sermons over the next week or two. Let me know what you think and if you have any contributions to make to the sermon contents i’d love to learn from you.

All i can say is, what wonderful news that Lloyds TSB Foundation following a long-running dispute, has won back the £3.5m it was owed under a covenant agreement it had signed with Lloyds Bank Group. Why any group of bankers, in todays climate, would wish to go back on such an agreement beggars belief. Could they not see that the public and any right minded person would be in favour of a Charity that has given away 0ver 85 million of the bank’s money to good causes in Scotland. All I can say is well done to Mary Craig the Chief Executive of the Foundation and to her Board for not giving into the Lloyds Banking Group and for having the guts to take them all the way to court. Shame on the Lloyds Banking Group for putting so many small charities through the hoop these past few years!

The Foundation was set up as a separate Charity free from the influence of the Banking Group. They had claimed they should receive the money under an agreement entitling the Foundation to a share of profits. The agreement increased the profits following Lloyds’ acquisition of Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) in 2009. Earlier Lord Glennie had ruled against the Foundation, in a remarkable turn around three appeal judges overturned his decision and ordered Lloyds to pay up £3.5m.

I was thinking how proud Henry Duncan the minister from Ruthwell who originally founded the Savings Bank would have been of this ruling. Talking about the Foundation, I’m also glad that the Board of the Foundation has changed its policy towards funding churches who employ elders as part of their community ministry team. A few years ago we were informed that we could no longer use Lloyds TSB Foundation as a funder because Lilias and Dianne both elders in our congregation were also employed by the Kirk Session. I’m glad to report that the Foundation has since looked at the special office that Elders in the Kirk hold and have agreed with me that it would be discriminating on religious grounds to prevent an application going forward to the Foundation.

So you can imagine I’m feeling good on two accounts. Glad that Mary and her team have money to give away to good causes and more than glad that we in St Andrew’s Bo’ness can now once more make our bid in the next round of funding. Some of our pioneering work overseas was first funded by the Lloyds TSB Foundation.

Isn’t it inspirational to think that a man like Henry Drummond in seeking to care for the poor is still making an impact on his beloved Scotland. It is surely more important then for us, in an age that would like to exclude faith from the public arena that we who are the inheritors of Christian Faith be ever the more creative and compassionate in our calling to serve the whole of Scotland regardless of class creed or colour. Parishes churches are amongst the best placed organisations to serve communities. indeed we need to remind those who know little of the history of our land that far from bring disunity into communities, our history has often been the opposite. Some of Scotland’s greatest social entrepreneurs have been and still are committed Christians.

Now in a spirit of grace and goodwill the Lloyds Banking Group should agree to continue its giving to the Foundation, without any strings attached, instead of the threat that seems to be saying that the covenant will be terminated at the earliest opportunity. Who knows maybe even a Banking Group could be shamed into doing the right and honourable thing. Of course the question remains would the Foundation still want their money. If not I can recommend a minister who would gladly solve this issue if it turns out to be a problem.

Over lunch a few weeks ago I expressed an interest in going to the Zoo to see these amazing animals. You can imagine my delight when on Christmas morning I got a ticket for two to go on a Panda Safari. Today was the day. It was rainy and windy when we arrived at the Zoo. We were with an umbrella! And it was pouring down. Still my trusty companion. (SJ), and myself regardless of the rain braved the storm. Heads downs we battled against the elements. We passed the famous Penguins and arrived five minutes before our designated time for our appointment with the Pandas. Oh yes, you get given a time and you can’t be late.

I must confess the whole thing was a bit of an anti-climax. I was expecting the Giant Pandas to look like yes Giants! Instead as i peered through the glass window “Sweetie” or Tian Tian, seemed quite small, but she was very cute. We were given barely 10 minutes in the Panda complex then ushered out and told we could go and view the open air enclosure. Now who in their right mind would want to do that on a windy stormy day? We went to the Monkey house instead. We had an amusing time reflecting on our so called ancestors. It wasn’t long before we were back in the car trading for lunch.

So what did I think of the experience? Perhaps the Zoo could have made more of the opportunity, by telling us all a little about the life of Pandas. They could have gathered us together and shared the story of how these animals until recently were heading for extinction. They could have shared some interesting facts about Pandas. Above all from the perspective of someone like me who knows nothing about Zoos and pandas, I thought Sweetie looked a bit sad and forlorn. However that is a completely subjective thought. One thing I do feel is that the Zoo needs to reflect on how it is presenting the story of the pandas to the world. Admittedly today was a cold and stormy day and that in turn may have curtailed the programme a little. In the end I would say it was a bit of an anti-climax but you know what the company was good even if the Pandas didn’t say much.

Here I am it’s 1.45am in the morning and I’m taking part in the 24 hour prayer vigil here in the church. Already we’ve had a constant stream of people coming to pray. Some people might think it strange that people want to pray yet the truth is that more people pray than ever go regularly to church. There is an element of longing for more in all our souls whether we’re paid up believers or not.

There are a number of quite outstanding opportunities to stimulate our minds to think about the meaning of Christmas. The Labyrinth is really quite wonderful. If you have some time try and visit us here in person and go through the labyrinth experience. If you can’t log on to www.standonline.org.uk click on the green live video button that is along the top of the web page. It will take you to the church where the labyrinth is been streamed out live. You can chat with others on line and make your prayer requests.

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I found the content of he Labyrinth quite challenging and inspirational. You are invited to think what it might be like if God were to ask you to go on a journey. A bit like the wiseman. They had to prepare for the journey. They had to step out in faith. They were reading the signs. So what are the signs that God is giving to you to convince you to make your journey.