MAC KIRK

Friendship---a topical message on ALL SAINTS 2015 Friendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world together. – Woodrow T. Wilson Don’t walk behind me; I may not lead. Don’t walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend. — Albert Camus Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one. ― C.S. Lewis A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow. – William Shakespeare A personal illustration as I begin after these thoughts. I was new to active duty Army, and my first unit was a light infantry hard-charging combat battalion called the "Wolfhounds". I had no conception of what I was supposed to be doing ( even though I had been in the National Guard for 18 months from North Dakota, and was a graduate of the Chaplain Officer Basic Course!) My Chaplain sponsor in the brig

"What about that devotional life with God?" October 25, 2015 DR Alexander Mac Claren was a well known English non-conformist clergyman in England in the 1800's. I was fortunate to inherit almost the entire series of his commentaries from my great-grandfather's library passed on to my grandfather. One quote that has stuck with me is this that I heard, " As you read the Bible, keep an eye on the newspaper." Because of that DR Mac Claren used to have all the books in his library interspersed with Biblical studies, and so to speak many books of/about the world. He was saying we have to bring " God to man and man to God" by connecting. He was right. Our meditations on Holy Scripture must be true, relevant and timely or they will be largely ignored and unapplied. Unfortunately many priests, preachers, homilists , men of the cloth get it wrong. They themselves are not in the Word enough to know it , and so their congregations are fed milk a

ST Luke Day; 2 Timothy 4:5--- " Watch thou in all things , endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist..I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing....Only Luke is with me..." " Let us resolutely drive out all unbelief, and endeavor to get rid of doubts and fears.....there is no excuse for fear where God is the foundation of our trust." Charles Spurgeon A final refusal to recant her beliefs landed Anne a conviction of heresy for denying the doctrine of transubstantiation and she was sentenced to death. Unable to stand, she was carried on a chair to Smithfield just outside the London Wall. She was fastened to the stake by a chain wrapped around her waist to hold her up and then burned alive alongside three fellow martyrs. These men