Heaven's Highway

Local Pastor's Waterfall Art: Paradise Falls

noreply@blogger.com (Stushie) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:28:00 +0000

Rev. John Stuart of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville has created some unique and inexpensive Waterfall prints, just in time for Christmas.

The prints are 8x10 inches surrounded by an 11x14 navy colored matte. Each print is signed and numbered. The cost is $20 for each print. If you would like one as a gift, contact Pastor John at traqair@aol.com. If the prints require to be mailed, there will also be a $5 shipping & handling charge for mainland US.

River of Life

Mountain Stream

Paradise Falls

Wild Water

4 Minute Daily Devotions: Everlasting Words Acts 6 v 10

noreply@blogger.com (Stushie) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:20:00 +0000

Acts 6: 10 But they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.

Some people believe that we are living in a post-Christian world where Christ’s ways and words are losing their effectiveness in society and throughout the globe. In places like Britain and all over Europe, secularism is increasing and churches are emptying. People believe more in themselves and get what they want out of life, rather than taking guidance from God or experiencing Christ’s grace.

One thing that I have noticed is that when people become more secular they also become more selfish. The law of the jungle and survival of the fittest take the place of God’s laws and faith in Christ. Greed overrides need; vanity replaces charity; and the love of money overtakes love of God.

Some churches cave in and surrender to secularism and become community centers with small chapels. Some Christians give up on God and follow the maddening crowd. Others become spiritually paralyzed and don’t know what to believe in or do.

Those churches and Christians who remain are the ones who seek God’s wisdom and look to the Holy Spirit to inspire and lead them. They do not stand still nor do they stop growing faithfully and spiritually. They know that Christ’s words are everlasting and no matter how hard the secularists try to kill off Christ, they will not succeed. Christ’s mission and ministries have faced this all before, and once again the Church will reform, revive and be resurrected. The world, society, and the devil may attempt to inflict wounds upon the Church, but they cannot prevail against God’s wisdom, Christ’s ways, or the works of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, the world may try to ignore You, but it cannot eradicate Your Presence. Society may seek to diminish Your disciples, but it cannot halt Your mission. The devil may even try to cause havoc throughout the Church, but Your ministry will always prevail. Thank You for Your power and we give glory to Your Everlasting Name. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Stushie Art: Shady Grove

noreply@blogger.com (Stushie) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 02:56:00 +0000

An Autumn drawing, based upon a photograph from one of my favorite Bloggers, Gannet Girl.

Her beautiful photograph can be seen at http://searchthesea.blogspot.com/2009/11/little-retreat-8-fall-color.html

4 Minute Daily Devotions: Project Being There

noreply@blogger.com (Stushie) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:45:00 +0000

Matthew 10: 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."

There’s a married couple in our church who have adopted three great kids from Viet Nam. They did this because they wanted to care for children who were orphaned and needed a good beginning and solid foundation in their lives. It’s cost them a lot of time, energy, and resources to do this, but it’s a wonderful and priceless gift for each child. Those little ones were saved because an American couple cared deeply for them.

But it didn’t stop there. They knew that there were more kids in Viet Nam who needed to be provided for, so they set up a charity called “Project Being There.” They did this to raise awareness and money for an orphanage in Viet Nam. Last week, the group was involved in a Chili Cook Out in downtown Knoxville to let more people know about their organization.

I’m glad that our church has such people in its midst. I’m glad that we can help this new charity become effective in this crucial area. I believe that this is what Christ would call living an abundant life, where the blessings that we have can be generously shared with those in need. If giving a cup of cold water to a thirsty child is a divine gift in Christ’s eyes, then giving orphaned Vietnamese children a good start and a new hope must be holy and sacred to God.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, there are so many good things that are being done throughout our world by people of faith and people who care. Thank You for the gift of compassion and love which can be shared, nurtured, and grown across the entire globe. Bless the work of organizations like Project Being There and enable them to embrace the poor, encourage the orphan, and empower the rest of us to do what we can to make the world a better place. In Your Holy Name, we cheerfully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Unique and Inexpensive Christmas Gifts: Local Pastor’s Waterfall Prints

noreply@blogger.com (Stushie) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:44:00 +0000

Rev. John Stuart of Erin Presbyterian in Knoxville, whose Psalms project has been highlighted in the Knoxville News Sentinel, has recently created two new prints that are part of his Waterfall Series.

The prints are 8x10 inches, surrounded by an 11 x 14 navy colored matte. John signs and numbers each unique print.

His work is currently being exhibited at the Bear Creek Coffee House on Middlebrook Pike, just about a mile west of the Cedar Bluff Junction.

The matted prints cost $20 each. Framed prints cost $40.

Anyone who is interested in purchasing one of these unique prints can contact John by sending an email to Traqair@aol.com.

John’s work can also be seen online at www.stushieart.wordpress.com.

4 Minute Daily Devotion: A Great Christian - Acts 11 v 26

noreply@blogger.com (Stushie) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:45:00 +0000

Acts 11:26b So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

Barnabas is one of my favorite people in the Bible. He always seemed to do the right thing at the right time. When his Christian community needed money to survive, he sold his property and helped to sustain them. When no one else would trust Saul, Barnabas befriended him and taught with him. Barnabas was a great encourager, so it’s no surprise to me that he happened to be teaching in the very place where followers of Jesus were called Christians for the first time. Barnabas was and still is a great example of what it means to be a Christian.

Encouragement is something that we call can use each day, but it’s also a gift that we in the church could do better at sharing. As a pastor, I have seen people come and go to church as they please and I wish for their sake they could be more regular worshippers. I guess they are just waiting for the right word of invitation and encouragement, acceptance and love.

Perhaps today our mission is to be a Barnabas amongst our families and friends. An encouraging word goes a long way, even amongst Christians.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help us to reach out to those who find it difficult to be in church on Sunday mornings. Enable us to encourage and embrace them, and not treat them as outsiders or backsliders. Let us see and accept them as God’s children and Your followers. Remind us also that we are far from being perfect ourselves. In Your Holy Name, we sincerely pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

4 Minute Daily Devotions: We Will Remember Them

noreply@blogger.com (Stushie) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:49:00 +0000

Psalm 39:4 Show me, O LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life.

2 Corinthians 8:5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.

November 11^th has always been a very special and solemn day for me as far back as I can remember. As a child I watched Remembrance Day parades and wondered why all of the pipers, soldiers, and people were marching in the street. Later on in life, I would attend solemn church services and school programs where everyone kept a minute’s silence at the 11^th hour. The silence had a profound affect upon me and I have annually tried to keep it sacred.

A lot of people think about the older men and women at today’s Veterans’ Day marches, parades, and services. I don’t see them as old, frail, and grey haired. In my mind’s eye I picture them all as young twenty-something people whose hopes and dreams were set aside by two terrifying World Wars.

When I hear or read the names of those who died, I see them as young people who should have been at college, but who were called up for service of their country. Their lives were fleeting because they gave absolutely everything.

I feel sad and deeply humbled by their holy sacrifice. I hope that I have lived my life in ways that would not belittle their giving. I may never go to war or serve my country on a foreign battleground, but I will remember, respect, and honor those who have done that in the past, and who are still doing it today.

In Britain and across the many nations of what was once the British Commonwealth, the following beautiful statement is expressed after the sacred time of silence:

“They shall not grow old as we who are left grow old. Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them. We will remember them.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we are thankful for Your sacrifice that has guaranteed us salvation. Today we also remember those young people who have given of their lives to secure the freedoms, liberties, and rights of our people. Help us to honor their sacrifice by living our lives freely and faithfully. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

4 Minute Daily Devotions: One of Us - Habakkuk 2 v 13

noreply@blogger.com (Stushie) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:50:00 +0000

Habakkuk 2:13 Has not the LORD Almighty determined that the people's labor is only fuel for the fire, that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing?

Our Monday night study group at the church is looking at J B Phillips wonderful book, “Your God is Too Small.” It was written just more than half a century ago, but it is still relevant for Christians today. Phillips discusses the various conceptions that people have about God and how those conceptions are inadequate for modern people. Our group is enjoying the study because we all get to share our individual ideas about God and see how these relate to Phillips’ book.

At one point in the book, Phillips suggests that sometimes people conceive God as a Supreme Distant Being, with no opportunity of establishing a worshipful, prayerful, and personal relationship. Such deists end up feeling spiritually empty, and so they intensely devote themselves to do good deeds and make the world a better place. In the end, their purpose is futile and their mission does not last beyond their years on Earth. In other words, they exhaust themselves for nothing in trying to please the world and a Supreme Being, who is remotely not interested in anything they accomplish.

As Christians, we are thankful for the nearness of God and His intense interest in each of our lives. Jesus came down to be with us, to fully experience human life, to know of its pains and joys, and to recognize our weaknesses and strengths. We live for the Lord and the good that we do is not to bolster ourselves or better the world. We do it to glorify Christ and to continue His mission on Earth, even until the end of time.

Our God in Christ is not too small or remote at all. And our lives are His forever.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank You for becoming one of us and connecting our lives to God’s Kingdom. We praise for truly experiencing the human condition and for granting us the glorious opportunity of restoring us to God forever. Thank You for being one of us and for being with us. In Your Holy Name, we gratefully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org. He enjoys reading your comments.

4 Minute Daily Devotions: The King's Business

noreply@blogger.com (Stushie) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:39:00 +0000

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

A friend of mine was writing on the web the other day that it’s only just more than fifty days to Christmas. My first reaction was: WOW! Where did the rest of the year go? I’ve been extremely busy all 2009 and here I am heading into the ‘busiest time for the church.’ I don’t feel like I’m ready for it. I’m wondering if the Lord will slip in another month before Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas, just to let me catch my breath.

And then I read this beautiful verse from Isaiah again and calmly exhale. Christmas isn’t about what we do, or what the church does; it’s all about what God has done and will do again. The busy-ness of the holiday season is all about the King’s business.

If we’re under pressure and stressed out, God provides a Wonderful Counselor.

If we’re weak or feeling weary, we are given a Mighty God.

If we’re bewildered or fearful, we are guided by our Everlasting Father.

If we’re troubled or unsettled, in Christ we have the Prince of Peace.

With all of these marvelous qualities and attributes of God, I am really looking forward to spending Christmas with Christ.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are all that we need, especially at this time of year. Prepare our hearts and minds to receive You gladly, cheerfully, and faithfully in our churches, our homes, and our hearts. In Your Wonderful Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Appalachian Art: Dora's Waterfalls

noreply@blogger.com (Stushie) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 08:05:00 +0000

A crayon drawing based on a photograph that a friend sent me.

Psalms Project: Psalm 94 Stushie Art

noreply@blogger.com (Stushie) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:56:00 +0000

Christmas Gifts: I Heart My Kindle

noreply@blogger.com (Stushie) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:34:00 +0000

After thinking about it for months, I decided to purchase a Kindle from Amazon.com about six weeks ago. It has revolutionized my reading and become one of the delights of my life.

The Kindle is a portable electronic reading devoice which downloads books, magazines, and pdfs. Instead of paying $20 for a best seller and looking for a place to store the book, I download the same book on Kindle for $10. I read about 30-40 books per year, so after 12 months the Kindle will have paid for itself.

Currently I'm reading several books on my Kindle: Craig Ferguson's "American on Purpose;" Stephen Covey's "The Speed of Trust"; and Max Lucado's "Fearless." I also subscribe to Time and Fortune magazines, as well as this blog!

My NIV Bible is also on my Kindle, so it helps me with my daily readings.

Honestly folks, this is a great investment and a wonderful gift for Christmas...for yourself!

A Call to Stop Using the 'H' Word

noreply@blogger.com (Stushie) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 21:55:00 +0000

I think that its time for people on either side of the gay debate to stop using the “H” word. It’s very easy for some people to intolerantly call other ‘homophobes’ as a means to diminish their views, make them feel guilty, and silence their opinions.

It’s used in the same intolerant and bigoted way that the ‘n’ word was expressed to subdue a whole race of people, to make them feel inferior, and to silence their protests.

‘Homophobe’ is used to destroy dialogue and people in just the same way that ‘fag’ and ‘queer’ have been expressed to label people with different lifestyles and ideas. Those words should also be eliminated in the interests of having a constructive dialogue.

I have been called a ‘Homophobe’ because I am not convinced about the ordination of actively gay people. I struggle with that issue on theological and biblical grounds, and not because I fear homosexuals. In fact, I very dearly love my younger brother and also one of my nephews in Scotland. Both of them are gay.

I have also sat, prayed, and held hands with gay men who were dying of HIV-AIDS.

I have annually supported WORLD AIDS DAY each year for many years and have been deeply moved by testimonies of gay Christian people.

I have done all this and yet when I express my struggle over gay ordination, I am labeled, quite unfairly and bigotedly, as a homophobe.

If we are going to get anywhere in this dialogue, then we all need to stop using the ‘H’ word.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee.

4 Minute Daily Devotions: Saying "No."

noreply@blogger.com (Stushie) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:36:00 +0000

Titus 2:12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.

I wonder what the Christians in Paul’s time would have made of our society. Would they have applauded our freedoms and approved of our liberties? Would they have accepted our standards and applied our syncretism? Would they have allowed our culture to shape our churches? I suspect that the answer to those questions would be a resounding “No.”

There are so many boundaries and barriers that we have crossed that it is sometimes very unclear to see any difference between Christians and other people. And yet, there has to be a difference. There has to be something which sets us apart from the world.

I also wonder if we substituted our type of Christianity with that of Paul’s time, would the Christian faith and church have emerged from the heart of the Roman Empire? Sadly, I think that the answer to that question would also be “No.”

We need to take a step back from the cultural abyss that we’re about to jump into as Christians. We need to honestly ask ourselves if we are being guided by the Holy Spirit or engulfed by worldly ways. We need to ask these questions because the salvation of our souls and those of our children depend upon us taking the right choices and making the right moves. If we fail to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, then we fail as a generation that claims to be Christian. We may fool and delude ourselves, but we can never fool and deceive God.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, there are so many pressures laid upon our society that would steal our souls away from You. We delight in our distractions and take pleasure in pleasing ourselves. Help us to truly realize what it means and costs to be Christian people. Save us from ourselves and bring us to our senses. In Your Holy Name, we fervently pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

4 Minute Daily Devotions: Prolonging Our Lives

noreply@blogger.com (Stushie) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:20:00 +0000

Proverbs 3:1-2 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.

A lot of my time lately has been taken up with our church’s Capital Campaign. Every day I am dealing with a new item on what I call the Campaign Trail. It’s a fascinating process, but it also can get very burdensome at times.

The purpose of the Campaign is to prolong the life of the church. We are renewing ourselves for the missions and ministries that are yet to come. Our church has constantly grown because we try to apply God’s teaching to our community. Every week, people come to church to hear more about God’s Word, to seek guidance for their lives, and to be challenged by Christ in ways that will make our world a better place.

We grow because God gives us this blessing. We increase because Christ inspires us. We add to our numbers because the Holy Spirit activates our faith.

When the Campaign is over, the true work will begin. I look forward to what lies ahead for our church because we will have more opportunities to glorify God, praise Jesus Christ, and be led by the Holy Spirit.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank You for the privilege and blessing of serving You. You take imperfect and unholy people and shape them into a church. You work in our midst and inspire us through Your wonderful words and glorious ways. Thank You for such gracious blessings. In Your Holy Name, we praise and pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Sunday Lectionary Devotions: Psalm 104 Pitching Tents

noreply@blogger.com (Stushie) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 03:03:00 +0000

Psalm 104:2 He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent. (NIV)

I learned how to pitch a tent with my Scout troop at a camp in Scotland called Auchengillan. Our scout patrol was full of tenderfoots like myself who knew practically nothing about camping, but we watched the older scouts put up their tents and tried to copy them.

The tents were nothing like the light nylon ones that we have today. They were made of old heavy canvas and we used thick ropes with wooden spars to set them up. It took most of the morning to construct the tent, but once it was up, our rookie patrol was thrilled. The older scouts, however, were not impressed and later that night we discovered why.

Firstly, we had chosen the roughest piece of ground to pitch the tent. This meant that no matter where we positioned our sleeping bags, the hard contours of the ground dug deeply and painfully into our backs. Secondly, it began to rain in the middle of the night, causing the canvas and ropes to shrink. Eventually, our tent collapsed, so we had to re-pitch it during the darkest, coldest and wettest part of the night. By the time morning came, we were absolutely worn out.

After breakfast, the older scouts helped us re-pitch our tent properly. They found smoother ground and showed us how to storm-rig the ropes. When it rained the following night, we didn’t even notice. Our patrol was sound asleep because our tent was comfortable and secure.

I like the old passages about tents in the Bible. They remind me that the people of God were once nomads, wandering the wilderness and camping in different places. But no matter where they went, they believed that they were secure under the canopy that God had pitched in the sky. I guess their simplistic view of the world was not scientific, but it did offer them comfort and strength, faith and hope that God was watching over them.

Perhaps God doesn’t pitch His tent in the sky any longer, but He does place His presence in our hearts and minds. And whatever the rough passages in our lives or the storms that we endure, His promises keep us secure and His love continues to strengthen our spirits.

Prayer: Lord God, build Your tent in our hearts and pitch Your canopy in our spirits. Grant us sufficient strength for our daily tasks, and restful sleep during the night. May we always know of Your abiding love and holy presence each moment of our days. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. He writes the Presbyterian devotional blog “Heaven’s Highway.”

Today's image is taken from John's Fall Series Drawings, which are on exhibit in Knoxville. It is called "Autumn Wall"

4 Minute Daily Devotions: In God We Trust - Luke 16 v 31

noreply@blogger.com (Stushie) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:07:00 +0000

Luke 16:31 "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"

Over the years, I’ve been fascinated with the story of the Turin Shroud. It’s the famous medieval cloth that purportedly is meant to be the cloth that Christ’s Body was wrapped up in when He was placed in the tomb. The image found on the cloth is centuries old and it looks like the outline of a crucified man, especially after photographs of the Shroud were looked at in their negative prints.

I’ve never been convinced that this is the true shroud. To me, it’s a discarded canvas that Da Vinci, Michelangelo, or their artistic associates worked on and never finished. The local church in Turin capitalized on their community’s fascination with venerated objects. I guess if the shroud had been recently discovered in someone’s attic, it would end up being sold on Ebay, along with slices of toast that have Christ’s face on them.

Some people need tangible proof of Christ’s Resurrection before they will begin to believe that it actually happened. They want factual evidence, not faith. They want someone to prove that it occurred before they will place all of their lives, hearts, and souls into Christ’s keeping.

But that’s always been the important issue with God: are we willing to trust Him simply on His Word? Are we willing to trust the truth of the Gospels without question, or will we wait until the end of Time to discover it, when all will be revealed? To coin an old Southern preacher: if we wait, it will be too late.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, faith is a hard burden to carry, especially when we try to pin it down and rationalize it. God has set us this test in order to see if we really trust Him. If we fail, we let go of any eternal hope. If we have faith, we win everlasting life. Keep us from complicating this simple challenge. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you have any comment s about today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

4 Minute Devotions: Awareness

noreply@blogger.com (Stushie) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:48:00 +0000

1 Timothy 6:18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

Like most congregations, we have a number of women who are breast cancer survivors, or who have known someone in their family with it. At this time of year, they get ready to gather together for the annual 5k Susan G Komen Race that takes place in our town. They plan everything cheerfully and encourage our church families to participate in organizing, donating, and even the running. It’s a wonderful cause to support and I greatly admire the work that they do.

There’s a lot of good that emerges from their efforts. They form family support groups; they educate their children. They encourage other women to take heart. They even help the men in their lives understand how important they are to this cause. In fact, one of our church families has even printed T-shirts for their team which reads: DUDES for BOOBS. I’ve even seen photographs of their young sons proudly and cheerfully wearing them. It’s a great cause and a wonderful event. People are so generous and willing to share their experiences, their encouragement, and their enthusiasm.

I see the whole campaign not only as a community gathering, but also as a beautiful opportunity for church people to give of themselves to something important outside of the church. We are so blessed as Christians; it’s also a blessing to be generous and willing to share our faith, our fellowship, and our finances with such a valuable cause.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the many different people who make up our churches. We especially thank You for the courageous women who have faced breast cancer and survived. We praise You for their continuing work amongst us and we ask that You will bless their efforts to make more people aware of this important issue, and to enable us one day soon to find its cure. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbtyerian.org.

Stushie Art: Moon Tree

noreply@blogger.com (Stushie) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:43:00 +0000

I think the moon is becoming my trademark....

Love Poems: Yearning

noreply@blogger.com (Stushie) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:20:00 +0000

I miss the taste

Of your tantalizing wine,

And I long for

The warmth of your touch.

Years ago, I sipped from

Your well of tenderness,

And drank contentedly

From your heart.

But I consumed more

Than you could give,

And quenched more

Than we could tolerate.

I staggered from

Our supine embrace

And reeled with

The rancor of my lust.

I lost it all.

So now,

I miss the taste

Of your tantalizing wine,

And I long for

The warmth of your touch.

Celtic Poetry: Shekinah

noreply@blogger.com (Stushie) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 07:54:00 +0000

I stepped out

From the shadows

And into the sun,

Only to find

It was a moon

Of my own making.

The lilting light,

That I thought was sacredly solar,

Was only a torch

Of my own burning.

Then I looked

Beyond both lights

And was instantly blinded

By a divine eclipse.

I scrambled in the darkness

And sought to hide myself

From the blaze of heaven,

Which was fiercely imminent.

My moon melted away;

My torch flickered out;

My burning was consumed

And I stood naked

In God’s inexorable Light.

Instantaneously,

Eternity emblazoned,

And totally engulfed

All

That once

Was

me.

Daily Devotions: Unopened Door

noreply@blogger.com (Stushie) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:34:00 +0000

Revelation 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

Yesterday, I was teaching one of our young people about sin and salvation during his confirmation class. I made the point that we all sin and separate ourselves from God, so we need Christ as our Savior to heal the breach. I also reminded him that Christ can do nothing for us until we ask Him to be our Savior. We are not restored to God’s Kingdom until we invite Christ into our hearts and lives.

It’s just like the image from this verse in Revelation. Christ is knocking at the door from the outside. Only when the door is opened, can He enter in. Without that personal invitation, all that Jesus can do is wait outside and knock.

So, the question for all of us is this: have we invited Christ into our hearts, or is He still waiting outside?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help us to open the door of our hearts and invite Your Holy Spirit to mingle with ours. In Your Sacred Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Daily Devotions: Greater & Grander

noreply@blogger.com (Stushie) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 19:11:00 +0000

2 Chronicles 6:18 "But will God really dwell on earth with men? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!”

As some of you know, I write several blogs on the internet. I do this to widen the message that I feel that God has laid in my heart. Sometimes I get emails from Christians around the globe who write to say how much a particular message has truly meant something to them. Sometimes the message is years old, but through the wonders of the Internet and more especially the work of the Holy Spirit, they latch on to a phrase or prayer that has really touched their hearts.

At other times, I get emails from people who don’t believe in God and who strongly oppose the message. A couple of days ago, I received such an email from a confirmed atheist. He wrote that he was looking forward to the day when Science would explain everything and that the human need for God would come to an end. I thanked him for the email, but also wrote that the more we learn about the universe, the greater God becomes.

King Solomon in 2 Chronicles put it even better: "But will God really dwell on earth with men? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!”

God is too big to fit into the religious, philosophical, scientific, and theological boxes that we have made. The more we know about God, the even grander He becomes.

Prayer: Lord God, You are Almighty and Infinite, All present and All Knowing. As we explore and make new discoveries about the universe, we extend the boundaries of Your power, Your presence, and Your Passion for Creation. Thank You for the fact that these wonders will never cease, both in this world and the next. In Christ’s Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Scottish Kids Busking in Edinburgh

noreply@blogger.com (Stushie) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:25:00 +0000

Best ten minutes of my week...:)

Stushie Art: Fall Series: Autumn Wall

noreply@blogger.com (Stushie) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:14:00 +0000

Part of my Fall series collection on exhibit at the Bear Creek Coffee House on Middlebrook Pike, just across from Food City.