In the Sunshine

The sun is shining in Glasgow.

As much as an oxymoron that may sound like it is actually true. As the students hustle and bustle between their homes, the library and university to prepare for exams, it is still true. As people begin to pine after some amazing holiday they planned in the next two months or so, it is still true. And as the world slowly finds those shorts that have been collecting dust for the past six months, it still remains true.

And with the sunshine comes positive dispositions. While Glasgow's summer seems to be a few months early, everyone is photosynthesizing a good mood into their systems and even your local pub goer is strolling the streets with bright coloured clothing and a grin on their face. 

Kelvingrove Park littering service

Nicely in between all the jolly banter and general wellbeing there is this overriding issue that this weather is not here to stay. As miserable and sour as it sounds, it's going to rain again. And this is going to determine my wardrobe and my lifestyle for the next few days, because as long as it's sunny I'm going to dress and live like it is, because I need to make use of it. And when the rain returns Glasgow will look it's usual self and resemble a city that's run by two football shirts, and if you wear the wrong one you'll have a bomb parcel sent to your front door, with love.

So, as much as everyone is nice and cheery I'm afraid it's not really going to change the way this city is. Interestingly enough though, there is a place where people are getting healed from lifelong illnesses, not needing hearing aids anymore, get to dance without support for the first time in their lives, cease to be allergic to cats and many other bizarre things.

As contrasting as having your hearing return to you and not being allergic to something anymore sounds quite substantial they are all for the same purpose. They are all there to let people know that whether in sunshine or in rain, there is something that can change this city. There is a family that wants to adopt people into promises of being healed from bodily suffering, being freed from nightmares that have haunted someone their whole lives, being loved and appreciated for the first time and having a chat with the actual God of the universe. 

Not an organisation. Not a circumstance. Not a religion. A family. One whose answer to issues in all the world is not just some romanticized notion of love or a better strategy plan or more hard work. But simply give sight to the blind, have the lame walk, lepers cleansed, deaf hear, dead raised, and have the poor the good news preached to them. And who ever isn't offended by that, well, let them come.

The Son is shining in Glasgow.

The Ups and Downs of Sheffield

Did you know that you are elected as one of God's saved ones? But that's a point of contention. Did you know that when you are saved you can't be un-saved? But that's a point of contention. Did you know that when you are justified by faith in Christ, you are also being sanctified by the Holy Spirit? But that (you guessed it) is a point of contention.

So, I managed to make it to Sheffield in the end. It was a tight one though, since I only had it confirmed from work about an hour before I was due to leave. Been trying to get the Friday off that I was due to be down there for, for nearly a month now. But whenever a new option opened up, that was shut. So, my supervisor asked the rock immovable that is the local manager and lo and behold! she said yes. Woop Woop.

Speaker...um, can't remember his name...

And I hear you ask how it was? Very interesting. Learning that there is pretty much no street in Sheffield that doesn't either go down or up hill. Along with that we went over the Doctrine of Salvation and all it's ramifications. Talked about the monoliths that are Free-will and Predestination (the capitals are intentional and not just a off-shot of the fact that I still write like a German...) which pretty much made me convinced of the fact that I have a pretty small brain. Chatted about the role the Holy Spirit plays in Salvation and sanctification and now that's been contended throughout history.

Basically, I couldn't help but think that every single aspect of Christianity that I've pretty much held as unshakeable fact can be argued against. Or so I would think if I hadn't had a bit of revelation! Most of the really dodgy doctrines are pretty much based on the fact that people would add their own cultural baggage or societal concepts into whatever the bible says. All the sound ones simply go by what the Bible says, which makes it a bit easier to sieve the crap from truth. So, really I've left Sheffield with lots of theological lingo, a bit of the history of the Church and a greater love for and a greater conviction of the inerrancy of God's word. Score.

McAdam with some dreads and a smile

Alongside that I stayed at a place, with the locks of the dreads that belong to Mr. McAdam, with a fantastic family. The place to be for some amazing food! Oh, those wraps - heavenly. Comfortable beds, nice showers, green garden: what more could you ask for?!

Had some good chats with the other people there too and came home with the mother of all tomes "Systematic Theology" by Wayne Grudem. The dude had a lot to say on the topic.

I've not written this bad boy yet because I thought I'd wait until I'd have a cool little testimony about how things at work are going, so for those of you who don't know I'll leave a little cliffhanger for the next ramble. And once that's sorted Sheffield won't be the only aspect of the internship worth reporting on but will have a good few things happen in good ol' Glasgow. Come on!