Presbyterian Devotions: The Value of VBS - Acts 8:26-31

Acts 8:30-31    Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. "Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked.

"How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

Some of the most important work in the church’s year is taking place this week. It’s our annual Vacation Bible School and this year’s theme is all about pirates, Paul and shipwrecks. The kids love the singing, story-telling, crafts and games, and our church is so blessed with many faithful volunteers.

Those volunteers are crucial to passing on our faith to the next generation. Their week-long commitment is a life-long investment in the spirits of our children. Years after the VBS program is over, some of the kids will remember their friends, families, and church workers enjoying the whole experience. Hopefully, it will keep them positively connected to God and the lessons that they learn will give them the godly guidance to help them make good decisions in their lives.

In today’s passage (Acts 8:26-31), the apostle Philip is urged by the Holy Spirit to walk alongside a fellow traveler. The man on horseback is reading a passage from the prophet Isaiah but he does not understand what is written. Philip has been placed there beside him to interpret the writings and tell the Ethiopian about Jesus. The consequences of this conversation will have a profound effect on the travelers and will introduce the Gospel to Africa.

As Christians, we are all called to share our faith and help other people understand who Jesus is. Philip did this for the Ethiopian; our VBS team is doing it for the children. The question we should all be asking ourselves today is this: where will the Spirit place me today to share Christ?

Prayer:                        Holy Spirit, thank You for the inspiration that You have given to Christ’s followers throughout the centuries. Thank You for the work of evangelists like Philip and faithful people like Vacation Bible School volunteers. May their ministries plant seeds of faith, which will bear much fruit in the generations to come. In Christ’s Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest moonlight drawings of Maybole Castle in Scotland. If you would like to view a larger version online, please visit the following link: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4135/4735805847_8513427a20_b.jpg

Presbyterian devotions: Hoots Mon - Psalm 61

Psalm 60:4      I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. 

Things didn’t go according to plan at a wedding in Scotland yesterday. A tame owl had been specially trained to carry the wedding rings and land on a perch beside the outside altar. It was supposed to be a wonderfully synchronized event. However, the piper began playing just as the owl was signaled to fly. A scared lapwing shot out of the bushes and the owl chased its prey up into a tree. The lapwing escaped but the owl remained perched on a branch. The wedding rings were still attached to its legs!

As one of my Scottish friends wrote: what a hoot! Eventually the owl was coaxed down from the tree and the ceremony continued. If Robert Burns had been around, I guess he could have penned the immortal lines: “the best laid schemes of owls and pipers gang aft agley.”

When the psalmist wrote about taking refuge in the shelter of God’s wings, he wasn’t literally saying that God had wings. He was using a metaphor to describe his absolute confidence in God’s protection. In the midst of his personal troubles and crisis, he had the utmost faith in God’s guidance and deliverance. Even if all of the psalmist’s plans went haywire, he would be still be assured of God’s grace and love.

To me, this is what makes faith so important –it gives us a hope in God that He will not abandon us, and a love from God that can never be extinguished.

Prayer:                        Lord God, thank You for allowing us to take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Thank You for granting us unlimited grace and everlasting love. In the midst of our problems and worries, we constantly rely upon Your Presence and Guidance. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is John’s drawing of Dunure Castle in the West of Scotland parish where he used to minister. You can view a larger version of the drawing at the following link: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4718989531_b55884b457_b.jpg

Presbyterian Devotions: Bannockburn Day - Psalm 60

Psalm 60:12    With God we will gain the victory, and He will trample down our enemies.

Today is Bannockburn Day in Scotland. On the 24^th June, 1314, the Scots defeated the invading English army at a place called Bannockburn and firmly established their independence. Robert the Bruce was the King of Scots and his fearless leadership won the battle for the outnumbered Scots. Bruce was the military leader who followed in the footsteps of William Wallace (Braveheart).

For ten years after the execution of William Wallace, Robert the Bruce labored hard at getting the Scots ready to win their independence. Just like George Washington centuries later, Bruce lost minor skirmishes but when it came to the one crucial battle of the War for Scottish Independence, he outwitted the English forces at Bannockburn and won the day. Ever since then, the Scots have celebrated the battle and their independence.

On the deciding day of the two day battle, the outnumbered Scots advanced on the English but before they commenced fighting, the whole army knelt in prayer. Edward II, the English king, was reported to have been surprised by this and mockingly said, "They pray for mercy!"

"For mercy, yes," one of his attendants replied, "But from God, not you. These men will conquer or die."

It seems strange to ask God for providence and mercy on the battlefield, and yet when men are faced with the prospect of death in war, prayer is what they often resort to. In Western history, the winning of battles actually helped to expand Christianity. A victory was often interpreted as God’s favor through Christ, no matter how bloodthirsty or gory the battle might have been.

These days, we pray for the safety of our troops and still ask for God’s blessing and guidance in the midst of our wars. We look for justice and peace more than overwhelming victory and the complete annihilation of our enemies. We want Christ’s peace to be truly promoted, as opposed to that militaristic religious righteousness which only festers future divisions and engenders wasteful wars.

Prayer:                        Lord God, we thank You for the liberty and independence that we experience in our lives today. Sadly, we recognize that much of our freedoms were given to us through the battles that our people fought in the past and by the lives that were laid down in defense of our nation. Help us not to take our liberties for granted and remind us to pray for wisdom for our leaders and safety for our troops. In Christ’s Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on John’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is of a statue of Robert the Bruce on the field of Bannockburn. You can read more about the battle at the following link: http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Battle_of_Bannockburn

Presbyterian Devotions: Stephen's Sacrifice - Acts 7

Acts 7:60         Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “LORD, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

Stephen was the first martyr of the Christian Church. Initially, he was chosen to be a deacon who looked after the widows and orphans in the faith community. The Holy Spirit inspired Stephen to become a street preacher, which in turn, led to his death by stoning. He was an incredible young man and a zealous servant for Christ. He knew what had to be done and what needed to be preached. He didn’t balk against peer pressure or the religious authorities. Christ’s message had to be broadcast in brave and dauntless ways. If it meant being unpopular, harassed, or persecuted, Stephen didn’t flinch. He was both faithful and fearless at the same time. To him, to live was Christ, and to die was gain.

Sometimes I’ve had to preach an unpopular message which has upset people in church. From time to time, I’ve endured criticism for preaching the Gospel. It would be far easier to give in to cultural pressures and say what people want to hear, but then I would be pandering to my own narcissism and become guilty of leading the people astray.

I’m not perfect and I make mistakes, but I don’t believe that Christ made any mistakes and that the young Christian Church, along with its martyrs like Stephen, was more in tune with Christ’s message than we are today. The world is busy telling us that we need to change or we will die. Christ’s Gospel states that people need to change or they will perish. The two messages are poles apart. If we ever forget that the Church is Christ’s Bride and is not the World’s Partner, we will be in danger of discrediting Christ’s ministry and dishonoring His Way.

So what’s it going to be folks? Will we become so enamored by the world that we will embrace its ways, or will we remain loyal to Christ and preach His message with our lives, no matter how unpopular, unworldly, and unacceptable that might be to our present culture?

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, we are fallible people and imperfect followers. We want to be Your servants and devoted disciples. Challenge us today and change those things in our lives that hinder the impact of Your message upon our choices and deeds. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest drawings called “Poppy Dawn.” If you would like to view a larger image, you can see it online at http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/4713447758_ce72edb0f3_b.jpg

Presbyterian Devotions: Family Gathering

Acts 7:16         Their bodies were brought back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a certain sum of money.

The wee stillborn baby that I baptized last week was buried in his family’s cemetery. Generations of his relatives have been laid to rest in that hallowed place. It was very touching to see his wee white coffin being given its sacred place in such beautiful surroundings. His precious life within his young mother’s womb was both valued and honored by the whole family. At some future point, a little white cross or a stone angel will probably mark where he is resting.

Graves are witnessing sites to previous generations. I know of many families who reunite once a year at family graveyards to honor the past lives of their loved ones. I think that this is a wonderful thing to do, because it keeps the continuity of past, present, and future generations linked together.

When the bodies of Jacob, Joseph, and his brothers were taken back to Shechem, they were identifying themselves as true descendants of Abraham. They were also laying a perpetual claim to the land and fulfilling God’s promises. This is why Moses and the Hebrew children headed back there four hundred years later. This is also why the Jews laid claim to the land and re-inhabited it in 1948. Israel exists as a nation today simply because God’s promises are always fulfilled. Abraham’s foresight in purchasing the land thousands of years ago validates the existence of the Israeli nation today, not just according to the scriptures, but also through Middle East inheritance customs.

In years to come, when Old Mortality catches me, I’ll either be buried or cremated depending upon what my family decides. It would be nice to be laid to rest somewhere that future generations could gather together and say that this is where the Stuarts in America began. However, for me the real reunion and final family gathering that will mean so much more will be that glorious day when Christ gathers His followers to Himself and we become part of that great Christian family of faith, hope, and love in His Kingdom forever. Now that’s a family gathering  I am really looking forward to!

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, thank You for the sacred resting places of our people and loved ones. Thank You for the family reunions that take place each year at churches and graveyards all over the world. And we praise You for that coming glorious day when we will be gathered together in the Heavenly realms to be with You and all our loved ones forever. In Your Holy Name, we cheerfully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is John’s latest drawing of an old Dutch Windmill in winter. If you would like to view a larger version, please click the following link: http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1300/4705518404_6b5427a32f_b.jpg

Presbyterian Devotions: Constructive Worship - Psalm 57

Psalm 57:7      My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. 

Yesterday, a loud bang occurred that shook the entire church building. It wasn’t an earthquake or an explosion. It was the demolishing of the concrete entranceway to our sanctuary. We’re building a new carport that will allow our people to drive their cars to the front door. Our church rests upon a steep incline which makes it difficult for some of our seniors and families to walk from their cars to the sanctuary, especially when it is wet. Over the years, several people have fallen in slippery conditions, so we’re hoping to put an end to that by building the new entranceway with a car port.

The downside is that this demolition and construction is going to affect us for about four months. Our people will have to come into the sanctuary from a different set of doors. It will be inconvenient for a while, but the hope is that our people will still faithfully attend church each Sunday because they want to worship together in the sanctuary. Our hearts will be steadfast and we will sing and make music to the glory of the Lord.

This will also give us an opportunity to see what kind of priority our people give to worship. Churches exist purely to glorify Christ and praise the Name of God. Everything else that we do as a church is merely temporal and peripheral. Worship takes place in Heaven and on Earth. Worship goes beyond this world and on into the next. Worship is infinite; all else that we do is finite and limited to this one life. If we choose to be active in our faith community, but do not make worship a priority, then we are only serving ourselves and dishonoring God by robbing Him of the glory and praise due to Him for His work amongst us.

For the next four months, it will be interesting to see what happens to our worship numbers. I hope that the Holy Spirit will bless each of our people with perseverance and patience, enthusiasm and endurance so that by the end of summer, our worshipping community will actually be stronger, more faithful, and closer to God.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, thank You for the blessing of worship in our lives, churches, and communities. We praise You for such a divine privilege and we pray that we will never take it for granted. Throughout times of change and challenge, keep us consistently seeking to praise, glorify, and worship You. Both now and forever, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is of John’s latest drawing called Sunsphere Celebration which depicts the Knoxville Sunsphere on Independence Day. If you would like to view a larger version online, please click the following link: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4698147293_f49d8d39a6_b.jpg

presbyterian Devotions: Spirit Wisdom - Acts 6

Acts 6:10 …but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke. 

Eric Alexander was the most wise and spiritually gifted pastor that I have ever known. He used to preach at the St. George’s Tron Church which is situated right in the heart of my old hometown of Glasgow in Scotland. The church is located at one of the busiest junctions in the city and when Eric was preaching there, it was hard to find a parking space within walking distance of the church.

He was a powerful preacher and I can remember being in his church one lunchtime on Good Friday. My wife Evelyn was with me and we were both reduced to tears as Rev. Alexander graphically portrayed the agony and loneliness of Christ on the Cross. He was truly inspired by the Holy Spirit and the doleful tones of his Scottish accent just added to the power of his sermon. It was a life-changing experience for the both of us, as well as many others who had given up their business lunch to hear the preacher.

I also firmly believe that Stephen from the Book of Acts must have been a powerful and Spirit inspired preacher in his day. From today’s scripture we read that no one could ‘stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.’ It must have been both remarkable and challenging to hear him preach. He was utterly devoted to Christ and fully open to the Spirit’s bidding. Stephen must have known that the religious authorities would try to shut him down, but he still persevered; he still valiantly preached the truth.

In today’s highly sophisticated and technologically driven world, preaching might seem outdated and redundant to some people. However, whenever and wherever a preacher is truly inspired and empowered by the Holy Spirit, lives are still challenged and changed.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, today we thank You for the preachers that have impacted our spirits and changed our lives through their wisdom and the presence of the Holy Spirit within them. Keep raising new preachers among us who will grow in wisdom and be truly touched by God’s powerful presence in their lives. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is currently the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest drawings of Tybee Island Lighthouse near Savannah, Georgia, USA. You can view a larger version of the drawing at the following link: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4014/4698463366_0495982384_b.jpg

Presbyterian Devotions: The Call - Acts 6 v 2

Acts 6:2           So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.”

On the 30th April of next year, I will have been an ordained minister of word and sacrament for 25 years. I cannot believe how quickly those years have come and gone. Sometimes I wonder if my faith would have been more influential had I taken another path. At one point in seminary, I thought about becoming a teacher of religious studies in a Scottish High School. I even entertained a notion of lecturing at college level, but the call to be a parish minister was strong and I happily ended up in a yoked/linked West of Scotland parish.

Over the last 25 years, I’ve noticed a decline in biblical knowledge and scriptural literacy across society and in the communities that I have served. That’s sad because with the invention of the internet, there has never been a time when more biblical material, lessons, and studies have been widely and freely available to the general population. It’s almost as if we’ve taken the Bible for granted and don’t feel the need to add it to our daily schedules.

I’ve also seen a movement away from professional clergy. Seminaries are experiencing a large fall in student numbers and they’re also producing fewer parish or congregational ministers. The outcome of this is two-fold: the people begin to scatter without a shepherd, and society begins to believe in anything but Christianity.

In the future, we’re going to need more ministers, not less. We need to seriously raise up a new generation of young people who are willing to commit their lives as shepherd-servants in parish churches and local congregations. Without such a solid base, our faith communities will fracture and decline, leaving our people without hope in Christ. If and when that happens, then I believe that a new Dark Age era will evolve where only the fittest and strongest will survive. It is one of my most heartfelt prayers that this will never happen.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, right from the very start of Your Church, Your Holy Spirit set apart ministers of word and sacrament to help people grow in knowledge about the scriptures and You. Without them, our faith would never have flourished and the world would never have known Your everlasting hope. We pray for the next generation and fervently ask that You will raise up new shepherds amongst us to lead the coming generations on Your Way, Truth, and Life. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is currently the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Scottish prints. It is called “The Beast of Stalker Castle” and depicts a Highland cow grazing beside one of the ancient Stewart castles. If you would like to see a larger version of the print, please click on the following link: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4039/4689401461_5d1c18680b_b.jpg

Presbyterian Devotions: New Life - Acts 5 v 20

Acts 5:20         "Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people the full message of this new life." 

Yesterday I watched parts of the live concert that was taking place in South Africa to celebrate the World Cup. It was wonderful to see so many people of different cultures and colors coming together to party. Twenty years ago, this would not have been possible. New life has come to the South African people and it was evident in their music, dancing, and celebrations.

When I see joyful and energetic events like that, I wonder if Christ’s Church will ever get together across the world by ridding ourselves of our historical divisions and theological barriers. It would be wonderful to experience a global Christian event where Christ’s people all gathered at the one time to celebrate His Victory over sin and death. If we could have an international festival of faith, the whole world would see that Christ does indeed breathe new life across the globe. I know that one day this will happen when Christ returns, but wouldn’t it be tremendous if we could organize such an event here and now?

Perhaps we can begin this process by making worship on Sunday mornings a priority in each of our lives. If we could all focus our energy into praising God enthusiastically, then we could turn those hollow services on Sunday mornings into holy celebrations. That would be a new life worth preaching and presenting!

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, You brought new life into a deeply divided and dead world. Your message has touched millions of lives across the centuries and we are blessed with Your Spirit in the Church. Empower and encourage us to enthusiastically worship and praise You, especially on Sunday mornings when we meet with our faith communities. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is a drawing called “African Cross” which John created for his daughter Lauren’s mission trip to Tanzania. Since then, it has been used by several African seminaries, conferences and congregations throughout Africa. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3079/2554574595_18e55d4243_b.jpg

Presbyterian Devotions: Finding Forgiveness - Acts 3

Acts 3:19         Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the LORD.

We all make mistakes and need to forgive ourselves of past foolishness. Not one of us is perfect and, if you’re anything like me, sometimes the guilty burden of past events is hard to live with.

We’ve all said or did wrong things that have hurt or disappointed other people. We’ve all made selfish choices that we later regret. And we’ve all taken sinful paths that leave us empty and disillusioned, unfulfilled and dissatisfied with life. Failing is a part of being human and falling into sin is a daily event.

Forgiveness, on the other hand, is an important part of God’s daily grace. We can be liberated from our unloving ways through the presence of Jesus in our lives. When Peter urges his people to repent, he’s offering them a divine opportunity to be forgiven of what they collectively did to Jesus. He’s inviting them to confess their mistakes and seek God’s grace. If they choose to do this, they will be restored to God’s favor and given the glorious opportunity of beginning again.

That’s the kind of message that I need to hear each day. If I had to carry the burden of past mistakes, I would never be able to get through another day. Christ’s sacrifice allows me to come to Him to ask for, seek, and find forgiveness. Jesus restores my soul and refreshes my spirit each day. I can even forgive myself because He forgives me first.

I don’t know what kinds of heavy burdens you carry in your heart and mind, but this I do know: repentance works. If you truly ask Jesus today to forgive your past mistakes, He will completely pardon you and you will be renewed. This is one of God’s greatest promises. This is how Godly grace works.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, we all have sinful secrets and have committed shameful choices in our lives. The past burdens us and we are made miserable by our own stupidity. Help us this day to turn to God, to repent of our ways and seek Your forgiveness. Restore us to God’s favor and refresh our lives from this time forth. In Your Holy Name, we sincerely pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Presbyterian Devotions: God Help the Gulf - Psalm 50

Psalm 50:11    I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine. 

I am deeply dismayed by the oil spill in the Gulf. As well as lamenting the loss of human life, I am completely saddened by the fact that the wildlife and marshes along the coastline are being destroyed by our glut and greed. As Christians, we are called to be faithful stewards in the world and of the world. This man-made catastrophe just highlights our self-destructive capacity for folly and waste, greed and selfishness.

Each day I hope that the spill will be capped and the oil leak ended; but instead of getting better, things seem to have worsened. The impact on the environment may mean that our children will never live to see the Gulf at its best. That is too high a price to pay for our commuting convenience and oil dependency.

We really need to get serious about alternative energies and our lifestyle choices. I can remember the oil crisis way back in the 1970’s when Western Society was brought to its knees by insufficient resources and high energy demands. We vowed then to change our ways, but forty years later we’re even more dependent on oil than we ever have been. And with India and China beginning to pay exorbitant costs for fuel, we’re going to be faced with another shortage in the next decade.

We cannot keep living for today and giving no thought to what we’re leaving for tomorrow. Our children and their children deserve to grow up into a better world, not a bitter one.

God knows every bird in the marshes and every creature in the Gulf. The challenge that faces us is this: will He still know of them tomorrow or will we have tragically killed them off with our greed?

Prayer:                        Lord God, we are sinfully aware of our selfish society and the excruciating costs that we exact on our environment. Challenge us to use our hearts and minds into finding alternative ways to energize our lifestyles. Grant us the wisdom to change our fossil fuel dependency and enable us to look after the world’s wildlife. Simplify our lives and enable us to live according to our need, and not our greed. In Christ’s Holy Name, we respectfully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send John an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s drawing is one from John’s Bird series. It is of a Scottish heron. A larger version can be viewed online here: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4549011780_35d441be81_b.jpg

You can also view a slideshow of John’s bird drawings here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/traqair57/sets/72157623366524553/show/