The usefulness of Christians is paramount. It is not enough to listen to sermons and to worship God, but God expects us to be useful. "Faith without works is dead." James 2:20,26 Jesus' Sermon on the Mount – Matthew, Chapter 5 Immediately after the Beatitudes Mat 5:3-11, in which Jesus documents the characteristics of godly …
Old heads on young shoulders
There are many adages from a by-gone era that need to be resurrected for the benefit of today's youth. One is that "you cannot put an old head on young shoulders". The cult of youth and the pandering to youth and their opinions, on the principle that they are the leaders of tomorrow, has a …
Hiding from accountability
Officials in public life are hiding from accountability. How do we improve public accountability? It did not begin with Kwasi Kwarteng's "not-so-mini" budget, which proved to be the biggest tax-cutting budget in a generation, disguised as a mini-budget, for which he did not provide the usual Report on the Economic and Fiscal Outlook from the …
Poor losers
One advantage of teaching sports to young people is so that they may learn that there are winners and losers. Young people need to out-live being "poor losers" and sport is a good playingfield to teach and learn this. It seems that many politicians have still to learn this. Too many behave like spoilt children …
Bankrupt – but why?
Slowly the public is learning that the UK is bankrupt. If you want to hear it explained, listen to Neil Oliver's introduction on GB News tonight about money, where it comes from and how it is created. The Scottish Christian Party told you about it over 10 years ago, but few people listened. Britain is …
This is a new experience
The death of their monarch is a new experience for the majority of people alive in Great Britain today. It is new for me and multitudes like me, who have known no other monarch than Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, who died today. Through our whole life she has been simply "The Queen". Her …
Dealing with the energy crisis
Now that energy costs are leading to hyper-inflation, it is time to contribute to the solution to the energy crisis. First, there is the immediate problem and then there are long-term issues. What is the immediate problem? The important matter is that everyone is able to heat their homes and feed their family, especially through …
How does God speak to us?
God is speaking to us all the time in a variety of ways, but we are not good at listening. The Bible is not the only way God speaks to us. Each morning we awaken to consciousness, noticing the world around us. We have come into a visual reality from an unconscious or dreamlike one. …
100 years on
One hundred years ago today my good mother was born into this world. One-hundred-year-old citizens of the United Kingdom receive acknowledgement and a greeting from the Queen of Great Britain on their 100th birthday. My mother never lived to see this but her family and descendants can remember this centenary as surely as others will …
“Long live the Queen” has been answered
"God save our gracious Queen!Long live our noble Queen!God save the Queen!"The British National Anthem "We have resolved, by the favour and blessing of almighty God, to celebrate the solemnity of our royal coronation upon Tuesday, the second day of June, in the year of grace 1953."Proclamation of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation celebration “I don’t …
The Resurrection and the Last Day
Many books have been written about the future of the world and of the Christian Church. The global panic about climate change, pandemics, famine, warfare and international migration is the secular equivalent of a similar panic among religious people. This panic is not surprising to those who know the Christian Bible. The concept of "moral …
A Christian funeral and burial
Yesterday my wife and I attended a funeral in a small community on the west coast of the Scottish Highlands. The usual practice there is to conduct family worship and then the minister gives a short address at the local cemetery after the burial. The hearty singing of the praises of God from the Scottish …
Disestablishment and the Church of England
This video at the New Culture Forum's spring conference 2022 shows some of the current problems in the Church of England. Some of us have known a much longer list for a much longer time. However, one proposed 'solution' was to disestablish the Church of England, which was compared to privatising a national institution. The …
Milestones and summaries
Today I have reached my 67th birthday. It is a palindromic date 22/2/22 or 22/02/2022. This time last year I celebrated my State Pension at 66 years. My older brother never reached 67 years old so, after following behind him all his life, in this one respect I have overtaken him. I wondered how to …
A Royal Platinum Jubilee
Tomorrow will mark the remarkable Platinum Jubilee of the accession of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. Peaceful transitions Queen Elizabeth acceded to the British throne on 6th February 1952, 70 years ago, when her father George VI died, the last Emperor of India and thereby the last ruler of the largest …
Another anniversary
Today, if he had lived to see it, my only brother Andrew would have been 70 years old. I cannot let it pass without a few moments of reflection. He died four calendar years ago, aged 66 years old. I have not yet reached the 70-year milestone, being three years younger all his lifetime, upon …
The usefulness of Bible exegesis
This is the second blogpost in my current series on Bible exegesis for beginners. You may want to begin at the beginning. The first blogpost was to help you load an essential Bible tool on to your computer, which you can consult at anytime even when you are not on the internet. I plan to …
Bible Exegesis for Beginners
A Happy New Year to all my readers. Last New Year I posted Do you know the Doorman? This is a very important question and your answer is even more important. January is the door to the New Year and Jesus Christ is the Door to heaven and a new life. We learn from Him …
Matthew 24v24
A Canadian friend asked me how Matthew 24:4 applies in our day. "For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and they shall give great signs and miracles, and in this manner to deceive if it was possible even the elect." Jesus Christ: Matthew 24:24 This follows Jesus' command: "Jesus answered and said to …
COP26 and all that
The world has focused its attention this week on the UN Climate Change Conference UK 2021. The 26th conference COP26 is being held in the UK for the first time – in Glasgow, Scotland, my native city, and so I suppose that I should make some comment on what is frightening so many people. Panic …
Religion on display
Religious symbols have been on display in public for many years, whereas secularists are trying to remove them. However, religious speech is not so common in UK public affairs unless a muslim refers to Muhammad. So-called Christian comment is almost always wide of the biblical and Christian mark. How often do you hear Jesus Christ …
RNA vaccines
Covid-19 vaccines are using new technology that has a wide application and is now being applied to vaccines. This has led to concern among many people because of the fear of the unknown. Some considerations RNA vaccines alter the immune system, in some cases for better, in others for worse. All vaccines aim at altering …
God is not mocked
"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap"Gal 6:7 The silence of God There are those who do not believe in God and His silence is misunderstood by them as indifference towards human affairs. "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily by God, …
The origin of cancel culture
People are now generally aware of cancel culture, but where and when did it begin? Cancel culture The essence of cancel culture is to inhibit free speech. It came to prominence during the US Presidency of Donald Trump. The removal of the President of the United States from social media demonstrates the pitch to which …
A Summary of the Old Testament in the Christian Bible
Today is the 50th anniversary of my completing the reading of the Christian Bible for the first time as a 16 year old. I have re-read it daily ever since. Wondering how best to commemorate this day, I decided about a month ago to complete my brief online summary of the Bible. It is fitting …
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All Lives Matter
It is time to correct the narrative. The Black Lives Matter (BLM) slogan had spread from America to the UK. It is directed at racists and aims to inform and influence governments towards inclusive policies. However, the topic is wider than black and white. This is only one way to highlight the prejudice of the …
Narcissism and colour in modern debate
Identity debate goes beyond identity politics. It begins with the bathroom mirror. Each morning young teenagers look at themselves in the mirror and grimace that they are not as beautiful as the celebrities they follow on social media. Mental health This narcissism is leading to mental health issues that cost the tax payer as well …
Don’t preach to me
Very many people object to being preached at. Indeed! Good training should teach preachers not to preach at people, nor beyond people, nor above people's heads, nor beating around the bush, but to people in a manner designed to engage their attention. However, many people do not want even this. So they cannot complain if …
The cowardice of human shields
Human shields refer to fighters who use a defenceless human being to protect them from their opponents. This is forbidden by the Geneva Conventions and it is classified as a war crime. The most recent and public example of human shields is in Gaza, where its Hamas leadership uses civilians as human shields for its …
Latin coming to the rescue of English discussion
Seven-year-old Winston Churchill was amazed in his first Latin lesson to hear his Latin teacher expecting him to speak to a table! It reminds me of the folly of the much older Dean of Windsor speaking to a dead body, at the funeral of the aged Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip. Churchill's experience was popularised …
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Christian blessings, with more to come
"Godliness with contentment is great gain." 1Tim 6:6 Many people are missing out on these three blessings – 1. godliness, 2. contentment and 3. great gain. The world is full of discontentment. The noisy expression of their discontent does not make people happy and it even intimidates others, contravening the Golden Rule: "Do unto others …
Failed leadership in Scottish politics
The failure of Scottish political leadership is sad to behold. The consequences of the failure to unite against the SNP has dawned too late upon the main unionist political parties, and there will be reprisals. I have already heard Tories trying to make out that the All For Unity party has spoiled the collective vote …
Some people are untouchable – Jesus is not
Some people are unapproachable. They keep their distance. Some people are untouchable – Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom wears gloves for handshakes. Jesus was not like that – and He is still not like that. He is as close as the air you breathe. You can pray to Him at any time and …
Impoverished conversation and free speech
Misunderstanding is common in conversation, but what really impoverishes speech nowadays is the subjects that are off-limits. Political correctness has made everyone aware that some topics are off-limits and even particular words have now been banned. Free speech is under attack but let us notice that it began long ago with the supposed rule for …
95 years – Happy Birthday, Your Majesty
Today is the 95th birthday of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, only days after the death and burial of her husband of 73 years. She has served her country well and overseen a period of tremendous change in the life of Britain and the British …
Critique of the Church of England ‘at its best’
One may assume that the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh was the Church of England putting on its best display. The splendour and pageantry of the day, organised by the Duke while alive, easily eclipsed the offerings from the official ecclesiastics. Since I have often said that the national churches are failing the UK …
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Failings in the Christian church
Thankfully, the Christian church acts as salt and light throughout the world but it could be more effective. The primary failure is in its leadership Eph 4:11-16, which fails primarily because of the lack of exegetical preaching. Nationally: the failure to witness to the nation Isa 56:10. The national churches have failed the UK nations. …
The end of a Royal Chapter
His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, died this morning at Windsor Castle, a few months short of his 100th birthday. As Consort to Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, he was the longest-serving Royal Consort in British history. The Scottish Christian Party "Proclaiming Christ's Lordship" expresses its Christian condolences …
Why truth and lies matter in Government
Lies will ruin any Government. Let me illustrate. It is well-known that liars need to have a good memory to recall all the lies they have made. Eventually they are caught out by their lies. Similarly, when Government proceeds on promises that are not or cannot be fulfilled or are plain lies, eventually the chickens …
Foolish government according to wise king Solomon
Wise king Solomon's book of Ecclesiastes gives much wisdom for daily life, just as his book of Proverbs gives wise advice particularly to the young. A summary of Ecclesiastes chapter 10 runs as follows: Working conditions The damaging effect of a little folly upon one's reputation v1, and the more so when it becomes endemic …
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Choosing wisely for public office
"Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroys much good."The wise king Solomon's Book of Ecclesiastes 9:18 The context is public life Ecc 9:14-17 and the wise is contrasted with the fool Ecc 9:17. One fool in public life can destroy much good. A whole city can ignore the wise Ecc 9:15-16. …
Bribing the electorate
This Holyrood election is an existential threat to Scotland remaining in the United Kingdom. Unionists must act in concert against the separatists. Electioneering has swung into action. The BBC said that with no crowds at campaign rallies "the focus is on content". Should it not always be about content? Nicola Sturgeon has said that "it …
Alex Salmond and his new political party
Alex Salmond always was astute. He has done it again and launched a new political party called Alba to supercharge the separatist vote. His new Alba Party will stand only on Regional Lists to capitalise on the SNP's inability to gain further List seats where the SNP wins first-past-the-post constituency seats. The idea is not …
Some significant SNP misjudgments
The Court of Session has judged that the SNP Scottish administration did not have the authority to close churches for public worship in Scotland during the coronavirus pandemic. The judgment has been published on the last day of the current Scottish Parliamentary session but it is as significant as any of the other judgments in …
Whither the First Minister?
James Hamilton's commissioned report on whether the Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon broke the ministerial code was published this afternoon. It clears the First Minister of four charges of breaching the ministerial code but states that she had given MSPs an "incomplete narrative of events" by failing to tell them about a key meeting. This …
Controlling the population
There are many subtle ways of controlling people. One of the most powerful is through money. This is seen in various ways. Employment The most obvious way is one's employment. People are being controlled through fear of losing their job. Diversity training is used to produce a secular conformity among the working population. Finance Another …
False doctrine and the need to expose it
The concept of false doctrine has been lost in this age when everyone is allowed to have their own opinion as if each opinion is equally valid. This so-called liberal position is, however, simply a transitional phase during which our society moves into a new paradigm where secular opinion will impose its false doctrines upon …
Self-examination
"Self-examination is asking oneself the right questions and following them through until one arrives at the right answers." Bias We are biassed in our own favour, so we must call in the help of heaven by prayer and ask God "Examine me, O Lord, and test me; purify the motives of my conscience and my …
Donald's Thoughts 