My co-hosts on the Something Beautiful Podcast, Jonathan and Thomas, asked Avril and I to share some reflections on our recent trip to the Holy Land for this week’s episode of the podcast.  So, if you want to hear more about what we were up to and our thoughts on our trip then listen here.

I feel sorry for Thomas.  He gets some bad press, mostly so John can make a point to his readers I think.  I’m not even sure Thomas had doubts.  I think he had questions, so that’s where this week’s sermon focuses… on questions.

I was at Lanark Greyfriars and the readings were John 20: 19-31, 1 John 1:1 – 2:2 and Acts 4: 32-35

As always, your comments, suggestions and most of all questions are very welcome.

This week on the Something Beautiful Podcast we chat with BWG* Eric Bryant, author of the book Peppermint-Filled Piatas: Breaking Through Tolerance and Embracing Love, stand-up comedian, speaker, and a pastor on staff with Mosaic in Los Angeles.

from his blog ::

We live in a diverse world filled with unprecedented opportunity. There is a call to move past the barriers that stand between us and those who may be different. Eric Michael Bryant has seen tolerance shown to those who are different than us — racially, religiously, sexually, politically, economically — and believes there must be more. After all, Jesus didn’t just tolerate people; he embraced them all with love.

Using lighthearted humor, engaging personal stories, and a “party theology,” Bryant shows us how to love our neighbors and fulfill the vision Jesus had for the church from the beginning.

Whether that is through building relationships with the help of bounce houses, stand up comedy, or piñatas, followers of Christ will be inspired to actively engage the world around them.

Eric shares about his time growing up in the buckle of the Bible belt, some of his ministry experiences in Seattle and LA as well as the lessons he’s learned about tolerance and love along the way.

(*see the book for more info)

Adele Sakler (part 2)

If you missed part 2 of Adele Sakler’s (Existential Punk) story then have a listen!

Tall Skinny Kiwi, Andrew Jones, chats with Jonathan in this week’s episode of the Something Beautiful Podcast.

As you would expect, he raises some challenging issues.  One that struck me was his thoughts about starting new churches.  Go somewhere else and plant a church there.  Don’t plant it in your house.  And don’t let people who are fed up with other churches join.

I loved the idea that people new to church and to faith shouldn’t have to put up with people who have fallen out with their own congregation.

It’s Friday so the latest Something Beautiful Podcast is out.  This week we chat with aaron aiken and discuss ideas on how we can rethink our finances to live simpler, be a better steward of your money and break the bondage of debt. aaron and his wife lindsay, run the where you are now website which features a blog, videos and a weekly podcast all focused on helping people make better decisions related to their money and finances.

Have a listen on the Something Beautiful site or use the widget in the sidebar on the right, and let us know what you think!

1 Samuel 3:1-10 is one of my favourite passages in the Bible.  I love the story of Eli and Samuel and all its imagery and drama.

Let me know what you think of the sermon.  Thoughts, comment and criticism (constructive preferred) all welcome.

I’ve been promoted.  Have I mentioned this already?  Sorry if I have, but I’m now an official co-host of the fabulous international podcasting sensation that is the Something Beautiful Podcast along with Jonathan and Thomas.

Some of the students on the Youth Work and Applied Theology course at ICC feature on this week’s Something Beautiful Podcast (episode 2.3). Laura, Jay and Justin talk about their work in Youth Ministry and how they make sense of their faith in their work with young people.

If you stick with it to the bitter end and make it through me babbling you get a wee treat.  My youngest son Jack makes his second appearance in podcasting land doing the drop-in at the end.  He was struggling with ‘emergent’, but then who isn’t!

You might also have noticed I’ve added a Something Beautiful widget in the sidebar for your listening convenience.

I was leading worship at St Andrew’s in Blantyre this morning while their minister Peter is off at a conference.  It was great to be there again, although we had a bit of a hymn tune issue which I thought was kinda funny.  It always amuses me when people don’t know a tune how quiet they get, usually with a kind of stunned ‘Help! That’s not the tune we know!’ look on their faces.  The audio of the sermon is above.  Our text for today was Mark 1: 1-11, the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

St Andrew's Blantyre

It’s almost Christmas.  For many churches that means nativity plays and carol services.  For Dunfermline URC those will come later so this morning presented a bit of a challenge.  How to preach on Christmas… before it’s Christmas.

This is what I came up with.  Your thoughts and comments are very welcome.

Sermon Text (for those who like to read)

When the world was dark
And the city was quiet,
You came.

This week’s sermon, Waiting.  As usual your thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

The sermon includes some words at the end which are not mine, but Jonny Baker’s from his book Alternative Worship.