darobertson's blog

Songs,Sermons and Servants for February 2010

We are looking forward to some great days of worship and encouragement. No baptism this month but we hope to be ordaining two new elders. Look forward to seeing you with us.

God and Haiti - why both Pat Robertson and Richard Dawkins are wrong.

Plus cc change, plus c'est la meme chose. The Haitian earthquake has been a dreadful start to the New Year - just as the Asian Tsunami was in 2004. Whilst most human beings have a reaction of compassion and want to start giving and helping as soon as possible, others see an opportunity to pontificate their pet theories. So as in the Asian Tsunami Pat Robertson writes his blasphemous and dumb nonsense about God judging Haiti (apparently for rebelling against the French) and Richard Dawkins write his blasphemous and dumb nonsense about how Pat Robertson is the only true Christian and therefore this proves God does not exist (The Times - Friday the 29th). It is tragic to see how people will use human tragedy to further their own ends. Of course there are real questions and issues to be faced - although one suspects that the victims right now are more concerned about food than philosophy - so I attach an article I wrote six years ago about the Asian Tsunami. It got me in a lot of trouble then, and it has often been quoted back at me, but, although there are one or two things I would change, I stand by it. I am thankful that in the midst of death and destruction, the Christian, unlike the atheist, still has hope of a renewed heavens and a renewed earth. So read on for the original article. But first here is a copy of the letter I sent to The Times about Dawkins blasphemous and irrational rant.

How (not) to be an American Missionary in Scotland

This is an updated version of an article I wrote a number of years ago on the Free Church website. It received a lot of comment, especially from some Southern Baptists friends, whose website was critiqued in the article. They were very gracious and said it had helped them. I am very thankful for those Americans who have come to help us in Scotland. I want to see more - which is why the comments below still apply. Feel free to make your own comments.

Songs, Sermons and Servants for January 2010

Songs, Sermons and Servants – January 2010 - This month we have three baptisms (two infant and one adult) and communion on the last Sunday evening. We will begin a new series on 1 John on the morning of the 17th and then on the 24th we start a series on Song of Songs. Before then we finish off the first section of the catechism - questions 37 and 38 - the benefits of death and resurrection for the Christian. We hope you will be able to join us but if not we will try to put up the teaching on these the week after they are done. The orders of service for the whole month are below:

A Special Pre-Christmas Sunday - Praise Live from St Peters! - 20th December 2009!

Last Sunday, the 20th of December 2009, was quite a special one for us as a congregation and I thought I would let you share in a little of what that was like.

All Things new

All Things New - this is a preview of the January editorial for The Record, which I post here because of its relevance to St Peters.

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:5

Miracle at Twin Lakes

This is an old article that has been on the Free Church website for some time, buried in the archives. Listening to Rahmat last Sunday, marrying Bev (who features in this story) and Tim, and for several other personal reasons I have been reflecting on the events described in this article today. I have revised and rewritten some of it and would like to share it with you. I don't really talk about the events described here, which I will never forget, mainly because it is impossible for me to do so without breaking down.

Natural Born Sinners

Natural Born Sinners

Here we go again. The BBC has once again tried to come to terms with Scotland’s Calvinist past. Natural Born Sinners was broadcast in September of this year and, whilst there were some nods in the direction of the positive side of Calvinism, education and egalitarianism apparently being the good offspring of Scots Calvinism, the programme continued to perpetuate and feed the ignorance that our populace in general and our ‘educated’ sophisticates in particular seem to thrive on.

Fife – the bastion of Calvinism

Songs, Sermons and Servants for October 2009

Songs, Sermons and Servants - October 2009

This should give you some idea of what we hope to be doing in October. There are some gaps but will fill these in as I get the information. Please pray for all the services. You can get the sermons online usually within a week.

NAPs, COPs and APPLEs - When Fundamentalisms Collide

NAPs, COPs and APPLES
When Fundamentalisms Collide.

A couple of months ago we recorded two programmes for Premier Radio in London, together with Ed Turner an atheist apologist and Richard Morgan. These programmes have been broadcast over the past couple of weeks, the first we have already mentioned; the second can be heard here http://www.premierradio.org.uk/shows/saturday/unbelievable.aspx