Written by Uilleam Mac Gafraidh
This is a hard article to write as it is for a date on the calendar that changes every year but is so poignant to me and I will let you know why below.
One thing that has never really been discussed by me is that I used to be in the British Army, I signed on to the Territorial Army Royal Engineers (Reserve Forces) in Coatbridge (124 Field Squadron) and that is really where I progressed from boy to man.
One of the first things we are taught as Engineers is a respect for those who have gone before you, the ones who gave their tomorrow so that we could enjoy a free today. This is not about patriotism or holding an ideal of what your country should be like, or simply thrusting your union flag in someone’s face to declare yourself more British than your neighbour. It is simply about giving the men and women who fell defending your country, the respect that you can no longer pay them as they are no longer here.
So spare a thought for those who have seen action, whether it be in the World Wars, whether it be in Vietnam, whether it be in Northern Ireland or in the pursuit of terrorists at both home and abroad, some came home no different, some came home broken and some did not come home at all. The Americans have a flag for all of their personnel that are Missing In Action, I wish the British did likewise.
Please spare a few moments to reflect on the sacrifice that has been given by these people who have gone before you, in the UK every year, I used to buy a poppy, as a piece of symbolism to show my support, not just for the Earl Haig fund or for the Royal British Legion, but for the folks who have done their best (and in some cases gave their all, more than they imagined they would, their life) to preserve British interests and the interests of the commonwealth globally.
I pray for everyone affected currently by the current campaigns that the British Army is engaged in, especially in both Iraq and Afghanistan, let the people who make the decisions make the correct one’s based on the needs of the people of those nations and not due to popular voice back home.
To fill you in, if you are not familiar with Remembrance Sunday, it is the Sunday that is closest to the anniversary of the ending of the 1st World War on 11th November 1918. Below is a video that is common of what happens that day, the main figure being H.M Queen Elizabeth.
I will be wearing a poppy red shirt today at church to pay respect in my own way. I pray that you all make a tribute in whatever fashion is easiest for you. Please remember All gave some and some gave all.
God bless you one and all
Uilleam Mac Gafraidh
Written by Uilleam Mac Gafraidh
Read a story a few days back on BBC, but due to various things happening at Tigh Na Mac Gafraidh I have only been able to pass comment on it now.
The crux of the story in the link is that Bibles have been passed around with “God’s” name replaced with “Allah”. Now for most folks who do not believe in God this might not be an issue.
To me it all sounds a bit “Co-Exist”, in recent times there has been a dumbing down or a blurring of the lines between the world major religions and faiths, saying that we all worship the same God and in more recent times with Tony Blair’s “faith foundation” that we all stem from the same Abrahamic religion.
Now I am not “religious” in the slightest. I am a follower of Jesus Christ who can, at best, be described as a “rotten cowboy”, I am forever falling off the horse and having to mount up again! But I know that I am forgiven and I am sure of my eternal destiny.
Far be it from me in finding a way to reach these people for Christ, but using the word “Allah” is unhelpful, it causes confusion and God is not the author of confusion. I think that if someone is converted thinking that Allah (who had no sons) had a son who died for your sins and they begin to research Allah, it will all unravel and cause the new believer to lose faith.
I am all for the free importing of Bibles, but let us preach the truth to these people. Only the true un-abridged Gospel will save these people. I do not think these people are out to deceive, but to do the work of the LORD and I pray for them.
God bless and as usual I welcome comments
Uilleam Mac Gafraidh
…At least that is what is being proposed in the new play by the Scottish GLBT festival in Glasgow called “GlasGay” This group is holding a play which proposes just that this week Tuesday 3rd Nov through to Saturday 7th November at Glasgow’s Tron theatre.
Where do I start with this one? It is completely unbiblical, completely heretical and even in the widest boundaries of taste wrong on so many levels! To suggest that Jesus, the Son of God was a transsexual crosses so many lines of offensiveness it is well beyond what I would expect.
It is of course fiction, we must not forget that! But we have to ask the question, would they be so bold as to poke fun at other religions who would not take kindly to this? Would Mohammed, Buddah or Allah be next in line? I fear for their safety should they choose to disrespect Islam in this fashion. Just ask a certain Danish cartoonist or Salman Rushdie for verification on that one!
The event was protested by a small number from Jack Bell’s Zion Baptist Church, they are best known for being pastured by that charismatic character Jack Glass for many years. (Famous for his protests of comedian Billy Connolly)
In the following BBC article the festival producer, Steven Thomson is quoted as saying
“Glasgay! supports the right to freedom of expression and offers audiences a diverse view of LGBT life”
Personally, as a follower of Christ, I find this work of theatre to be morally wrong and abhorrent to my belief system, there will be folks out there who will not mind but I most certainly am not one of them.
I am no prude, I know several gay people and I count a few as my friends, but this to me is wrong! These people need to be prayed for and I pray that everyone who prays will do so.
God bless and please feel free to comment on your views on this controversial issue. (Regardless of your views)
Uilleam Mac Gafraidh
Written by Uilleam Mac Gafraidh
This blog is written very much with 1st Corinthians in mind as I have been listening a lot in my spare time to Pastor Matt Mc Goldrick the teacher of Calvary Chapel Glasgow in Scotland. (I love the way he breaks things down) I have been listening to him going through the book of 1st Corinthians and really analysing and seeing where I need to apply it to my life.
One message I heard was pertaining to the title of this article, as I get ready to embark on teaching a Bible study again on Monday evenings, I am reminded of simple truths, not that I did not know, but were stored at the back of my mind. This truth is one of them, to be faithful in the little things.
In case you have no idea what I am talking about then I will explain. In this part of the bible, the Apostle Paul likens the Christian walk to that of a developing child. I really get this at the moment due to Tabitha, in the beginning you are fed milk, but there would be something lacking in your life if at age 3-5 you were still on a diet if milk and not moved onto solid food. This is like the Christian life!
I guess it all goes down to appraising yourself honestly and seeing where you need to look at in your own life. Please do not think that when I wrote this I do not have struggles. I will give you last night as an example:
Myself and another brother from church had decided to do a Pizza night at a local pizza place to increase fellowship among the men of the church and no-one turned up! Not even the co-organiser!!!! I was mega annoyed because I waited outside that place for nearly an hour in case the folks who I thought were coming would actually show up! But you need to let things like that go!
You could also liken it to your career, (assuming you are in a fair workplace that rewards hard work) but if you are faithful and diligent in the things you are given, you will be given more tasks and eventually more responsibility.
God wants to bless us! We need to be faithful and be servants when we have the opportunity! We have to use the gifts we are given and be open to be used by God in whatever way we can. Should we be faithful in the little things, God will bless us with more.
I pray for God’s blessings as I approach this opportunity I have been given, I pray for diligence in studying and I pray for the blessing of God’s Holy Spirit on the folks who come to hear the Word of God.
God bless you one and all
Uilleam Mac Gafraidh
By Uilleam Mac Gafraidh
As most of you know, this is Halloween Eve and as I am not at work tomorrow, my employers gave us three options for Halloween:
• We could dress up as you normally would at Halloween
• We could wear Jeans and be casual
• We could ignore it and dress business like
As I am not completely a party pooper, I went for the first option. I decided that as I wore the full highland dress last year! that was out of the question (especially as I am still employed by the same employer!) I decided to be novel and do a “Shrek”.
Now I decided to wear a Jacobite shirt and green paint on my head, but there was a new issue. Shrek does not have any hair! I had an option, Gillette my head before changing colour or risk looking like the Hulk! So at silly O’clock this morning, I was using the razor on my head and as I type this, I am actually bald!
Now if you want folks from the City of Visalia (or as they prefer to be known “Visalians”) to turn into smart alec’s then just walk down the street dressed as Shrek! I heard all the comments from “The aliens have landed” to “Hulk has hair” and the odd “hey Shrek” as I headed down to Taco Bell on my lunch. Most folks were in good spirits but some were a wee bit weird!
It was worth it at the end of the day as the Kids who visited my work all loved it, including my daughter who came in dressed as a “Tabi-Cat” Below is a wee picture to show her off!
Shrek's happy family
God bless and I pray that your day is great!
Uilleam Mac Gafraidh
