The thing is perhaps voters will in the end decide to stick with what they know rather than take the chance at a time like this with the other two parties who have rather inexperienced leaders. Brown may well end up Prime Minister again if Clegg can steal votes from the Conservatives.

Anyway I enjoyed much more my seat in the sun here in St Andrews Fife, this afternoon, looking out over the North Sea reading my latest theological aquisition, “The Theology of John Zisioulas, Personhood and the Church”. I’m in the process of preparing myself to preach a series of sermons on the Epistle to the Ephesians.

I hope to start preaching on the introduction this Sunday. Ephesians has much to say about the nature and purpose of the Church. You know we really have a purpose as Church to be the alternative to the empty individualism of worldliness. We are God’s living manifesto for change in the heart of humankind. Its actually fasinating to hear politicians speak about the nature of greed and dishonesty among politicians. However none go to the source of the problem. The need for a redeemed humanity.

One of the great liberating ideas is that the Church is the Community of Resurrection. There is a great phrase I came across in the above book which I’ve found myself meditating upon this afternoon it is this ” The final resurrection of the many is the cause of the resurrection of the one Jesus Christ.” How brilliant and inspiring is this thought. Christ rose so that he might bring to life again all those who have fallen asleep.But more than that those who are dead in their trespasses and their sins. You and me and even our MPs

It gives us all a whole new perspective on the resurrection and also on the great eternal love affair that exists within the Godhead towards us human beings. All things will be brought together in Christ. there may well be a great ash cloud hanging over the UK this evening but one day the groaning of creation and the pain and disruption of life will be set free and will be made new in Christ. In him all things will come together in peace and harmony. In Christ the many become one. In Christ diversity comes into unity. So ultimately Christ is the great unifier of all things and the ultimate answer to all political questions.

Talking about prayer is another effective way to engage work colleagues and friends without appearing to be intrusive. The strange thing is that most people will respond to the idea of prayer. Even if they’re not sure they believe. They will be touched by the thought that someone was thoughtful enough to suggest prayer.

Many years ago I remember doing a prayer experiment round the parish. I took my young probationer minister at the time and we went door knocking. We simply knocked doors and asked people if they had any requests for prayer. The funny thing was that no one questioned me or asked why I was doing it. It was as though i was the milkman inquiring how many pints were required. Admittedly I we were wearing clerical collars, but in some strange way people realised that was the business of the church. Perhaps they saw us as God’s postmen picking up the mail for heaven. The astounding thing was that we went to twenty or thirty doors and no one refused to give a topic for prayer. I well remember one big man came to the door with his simit on and his shaving razor in hand and the foam all over his face. When I told him what we were doing he moved away as though to shut the door, then he turned and said ” Could you pray for Mary across the street she’s struggling at the moment with cancer.” I’m learning that there is often more faith in the street than in the church.

Back to the work place when I worked in the bank we used to have social nights out. The easy thing would have been to decline. I have never been into the drinking culture. I’m amazed actually at the amount of alcohol people drink today. I over heard a man in a shop today tell someone that he was going to a night out. It was costing him £45.00 but he could drink all he wanted. Anyway on our “nightouts” I used to make a point of ordering a soft drink and time and time again it made it easier for younger members who didn’t drink to make the same order. I’m sure example in the work place goes a long long way.

One final thing there is nothing to beat being motivated at work. Have a look at this website and the comments about motivation http://www.surfinthespirit.com/business/win-at-work.html So what do you think.

Click here to view the embedded video.

I’ve been reading Max Lucado’s book entitled ” Cure for the Common Life” in this book Lucado seeks to enourage his readers to serve God by living in what he calls “Your Sweet Spot”. The secret of a happy contented life according to Lucado is to live in the place where you feel content. To live and work out of your God given talent. In other words we learn to bat to our strengths.The thing is, its not always that easy. He suggests that if we are a square peg in a round hole that we should learn to change our attitude towards our job before we change our job. He recognises that we might have to change our workplace but he offers some advice to those who have to survive before a change occurs.

Its a simple idea but it is a biblical idea. He suggests that we blur the dividing line between the secular and the sacred. Offer your desk, your work tools, your situation to God as an act of worship. I think there is something in all this. Too often we forget that worship can be a struggle as well as a delight. Part of the worship is the struggle. Jacob was in the midst of a spiritual experience that was described as a wrestling match with an angel. Did Jesus not demonstrate this idea when he faced the temptations in the wilderness. He turns to the devil and says, “Your yesterday’s news I’m moving on I’m not listening to you “,quoting Deuternonomy, he reminds us that we are called to serve the Lord our God with all our heart. The suggestion is that we see ourselves working for the Lord and not the employer. We do what we do as “unto the Lord”

Back to the elders talking, one of them said to me, looking around the church, “its easier for you, your working in this Christian environment all the time.” The question is am I ? The truth is that every work place environment has its challenges. I think its all about what we as Christian people bring to the environment that we work in.

Many years ago, I guess it was in another life, I worked for a number of years in a bank. I hated my work. I wasn’t all that good at being a banker. I found the experience too boring. I used to divise strategies to make the experience more worthwhile. I remember one particular day praying over thousands of bank notes. I started to think about what these notes could buy, what they had bought. the trouble they had brought the debts they had paid, and the debts people owed. I asked God to use the bank note for his glory – for me that was one of the most productive days in my banking career.

Lucado points out that the painter Jean-Francois Millet, when painting the pastoral scene of the two workers at prayer highlights the produce in the barrow rather than the workers in the field. Perhaps we all need to see that the greatest question to ask about our work is “What am I producing?” and ” What is the effect of my work on the lives of others?” I have no doubt this post must raise some question for all of us. So please give me so comments.

Interesting to see how the new film Amazing Grace has caught the headlines. There are a number of interesting clips on the above web site worth looking at. The whole issue of slavery is something we should all be concerned about. Its not so much that we apologise for the deeds of past generations, its more important that we all do something about the situation today. All over the world people are being bought and sold into slavery. The Church Times has an interesting article. I know from the stories I’ve heard in peru the trade is literally worldwide. Its always the children who come off worst.

Anyway I thought some of you might be interested to know that our studio team have just completed our latest commission from Learning Teaching Scotland. The film is to be used as part of the teaching materials to be used to show Scotland’s roll in the whole slavery issue. It’s the story of ‘Indian Peter’ a fascinating tale that gives a new insight into the whole issue of slavery here in Scotland. It wasn’t just Africans that were sold into slavery. Did you know that thanks to the persistence of one called Peter Williamson, a group of traders were convicted and jailed.

Williamson who was sold as a slave himself in 1728, and eventually found his way back to Scotland after a life of dangerous adventure and mishap in the colonies. It was Williamson who eventually uncovered in 1743 that over 600 children had been sold into slavery from the Port of Aberdeen including himself. Its a great story.Williamson ended up suing the the men who had kidnapped him, and became wealthy as a result.

We hope to have a premier of our 12 minute movie within the next few weeks. I must say that we are indebited to Alec Shuttleworth who wrote the script and plays Peter and to young Jack his son for his part as young Peter. I also must say that Iain and Colin Jamieson have once again made a great soundtrack. Rae Manger our film editor has made a great wee movie. I’m not sure if I’m allowed to put a trailer up. If I am, I’ll do it one night next week.