BACK TO BASICS

 The Gospel is a call from God to get back to basics. It is a call for us to disentangle ourselves from the red tape of our home made religions. It is simple. We are to ‘repent and believe in the Gospel’ (Mark 1:15). If this is how we get right with God why would we want to complicate things? Well, as human beings we believe that a labourer is worthy of his hire (Luke 10:7; 1 Tim. 5:18). Instinctively we seek payment for work done. Hold that thought. Now read the following, ‘The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord’ (Rom. 6:23). 

Me back in the black & white days

We see, then, that each of us has earned death already. However, the Gospel (i.e., the Good News) is that God has a gift for all who will receive it. Here is the hard part, the bit where we need to get back to basics. It is a very humbling thing to receive a gift, especially when that gift is the greatest gift anyone can receive. What is God’s gift? It is everlasting life now and in the future, i.e., on the renewed earth which is Heaven instead of what our life’s work deserves, i.e., death which includes everlasting torments in prison which is Hell (John 3:16; 5:28-29).

God’s call to His people to get back to basics runs throughout Scripture. In the Old Testament there was a period involving the ‘sacrificial system’ in which the work of Christ was prefigured. ‘According to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.’ (Heb. 9:22). Some trusted their salvation in sacrificial act itself rather than in who and what the act depicted. There is a refrain in Scripture in which God says, ‘I desire mercy not sacrifice’ (See e.g., Psa. 51:16; Hos. 6:6; Matt. 12:7). A group of Pharisees did not like the fact that Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners. So He said to them, ‘Go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice.”’ (Matt. 9:13). 

His call to get back to basics is illustrated in the following, ‘He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:  “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.’ (Luke 18:9-14). 

To be justified is to be declared right (i.e., righteous) with God by God. It is not the one trusting in his sacrifices or works that is declared right with God but rather the one who recognises himself a sinner and as such seeks mercy from God. This is true Christianity, the religion of Abraham the father of believers (Rom. 4:11). ‘He believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness’ (Gen. 15:6; cf. Gal. 3:5-6). ‘Know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham’ (Gal.3:7-9.

Get back to basics and be blessed with Abraham!

THE NEXUS

The Nexus: The True Nature of Nature

This book is about a tale of two worldviews. It’s about a fight between Darwinism and Calvinism. It is about the survival of the fittest. Will the bespectacled John Calvin be able to go the distance with the 'all red in tooth and claw' Charles Darwin? Choose your side. Goats to the left. Sheep to the right.

Calvin views his opponent through the lens of Scripture. His sponsor is the Triune God. Jesus Christ is in his corner. He has a strategy. He knows his opponent. Darwin has no plan. He makes it up as he goes along, trusting the blind forces of nature to give him the knockout punch.

Who will win? Hint: “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are one earth, visible and invisible … All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist” Colossians 1:16-17.

Paperback or eBook: THE NEXUS - The True Nature of Nature : McKinlay, Neil Cullan: Amazon.com.au: Books

HORSE

Horse

King Richard’s famous last words after he had lost his horse on the battlefield were, ‘A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!’ (Shakespeare, Richard III, Act V, Scene 4). ‘No king is saved by the multitude of an army; a mighty man is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a vain hope for safety; neither shall it deliver any by its great strength’ (God, via His psalmist, Psalm 33:16-17). Yes, no doubt a bit of hyperbole was at play in Richard’s plea to save his life. However, in the direness of his dire situation he could very well have meant it at that moment. It is reminiscent of what Satan said regarding Job, 'So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life’ (Job 2:4).

Jesus shifts it from the temporal to the eternal when He asks, ‘For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?’ (Mark 8:36-37). In the hope of saving his terrestrial life, Richard offered his kingdom to anyone who would bring him a horse. What could any of us offer to God for everlasting salvation? A perfect life? Where would you find one of those? And who could afford to buy one? Even a whole kingdom would not be enough to purchase a perfectly sinless life from someone.

All of us are sitting on our high horse so to speak. We need to dismount before God will listen to us. We need to humble ourselves before Him. There is a famous and iconic painting that depicts this humility. It is of a dismounted George Washington kneeling in the snow at Valley Forge, the training ground for the Continental Army during the war for independence as it prepared to fight against the British Army. Hands clasped, head bowed, Washington is in prayer. There is life in the painting. It is depicted by the warmth of his horse’s breath as it crystallizes in the crisp cold air. The horse is waiting on its master while Washington talks to his Master. Who is Washington’s Master? ‘Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS’ (Rev. 19:11-16).

Jesus Christ alone is the perfect One. He is faithful and true, The Word of God. The sharp sword that goes out of His mouth is His gospel. The robe dipped in blood is the blood He shed on the cross for all who believe in Him for salvation, individuals, and, yes, even nations. ‘And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.’ (Matt. 28:18-20).

So, come down off your high horse. Kneel in the snow as it were and swear allegiance to Him to receive His kingdom.  

VALE NEIL YEAMAN

                                    INJURY AT THE HEALING CHURCH’S DOOR

The following are a few (condensed) exchanges mainly between Stuart and me (and Fergie) as we tried to make sense of the news that our little sister Catriona’s husband, Neil, had had a heart attack outside St Fillan’s Church, Houston (Scotland) on Sunday 18^th September. 

Vale James Neil Yeaman who died on Thursday 22^nd September 2022 aged 66.

            Funeral Thursday 6^th October 2022.

Neil & Catriona

Stuart: Yes, Neil fell when he had the attack, and received a head injury. There is great concern about bleeding on the brain. His heart was treated in an operation involving a stent. It is his brain that is greatly worrying now. It’s a dangerous crisis. He was fine yesterday and at a big juniors match with Hamish [his son who was] playing for the Bankies against the Spartans at Holm Park… We had a wee dinner at our place in a couple of weeks ago. He had regular tests for this’n’that last week and was told he was in good shape…

Neil: I take it that Neil was walking home from his wee local in Houston? It’s only a few minutes walk from his house.

Stuart: Yes, a couple of pints and a five-minute stroll from the Riverside (Crosslee). Never overdoes it. Sensible stuff… Neil had been in Houston after the Bankies match, after five o’clock and had a pint at the Houston Inn, in the village. He was asked (by phone, I’m not clear) if he wanted a lift home, but it was cheerfully agreed “a walk would do him good…”
He had the attack just outside the chapel, St Fillan’s, near the junction leaving the village, not far from home. He was found lying on the pavement, a man in a pink jumper (unless I misheard — I didn’t press for details, but Catriona, hearing a man had been found, asked about the colour of his pullover and knew it was Neil. Had she been worried about his return?)
Neil was helped by passers-by, one of them a nurse applying CPR. He was taken to the Royal Alexandra in Paisley and then to the Golden Jubilee…
More clearly: Neil had a heart operation yesterday which included the insertion (if that’s the term) of a stent. He is in a drug-induced coma to assist recovery from brain injury sustained by, and/or as a result of, the fall.

Neil: Hopefully Neil will pull through this without any permanent damage. I was Google-earthing St Fillan’s in Houston. I used to pass it every morning as I ran from Catriona’s up to the Fox & Hounds where I’d turn right, and then run across and down through the park and all the way back to Cat’s house. I miss my wee sis!

Stuart: Yeh! I had no idea (or maybe forgotten) you stayed there, but I like to give key points of reference in a narrative to assist visualisation of the character of an area. St Fillan has so much resonance in history (his armbone, as a relic, led the troops at Bannockburn, says Tranter), plus his Highland distinction in Celtic Christianity, and to me a little irony in this context of injury at the healing church’s door, I instinctively had to include it. You’ve given the reference life.

Neil: Is Tranter’s arm bone reference in one of the Bruce trilogy? I must revisit Tranter… Yes, it was the “little irony”, as you say, “injury at the healing church’s door” that piqued my interest. Everything has meaning (even if we have to make up its meaning!). Sorry, we shouldn’t be making up meaning but only observe what meaning is already there. I believe in a sovereign God, which is a comfort to me. As the old hymn goes,

“God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform

He plants his footsteps in the sea, And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines Of never failing skill;

He treasures up his bright designs, And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints fresh courage take, The clouds ye so much dread

Are big with mercy, and shall break In blessings on your head.” (William Cowper)

Stuart: Yes — “injury at the healing church’s door” — I think the flow of words, if allowed to go without interference from oneself can shake the truth out of a tree. Or at best be assembled from elsewhere. And yes, the Dewars of St Fillan have a strong, if eccentric, role in the Bruce trilogy.
 

Neil: I was doing the Wikipedia version of Fillan’s story. Fascinating stuff! Here’re a couple of quotes also mentioning the Houston connection:

“Fillan is the patron saint of the mentally ill. In Strathfillan are the ruins of Saint Fillan’s chapel, and hard by is the Holy Pool, in which the insane were, as late as the 19th century, bathed to obtain a cure by the saint’s intercession. Scott refers to it in Marmion (Cant. I. xxix).”
“Near the ruins of the old church, situated near Houston, is a stone called Fillan’s Seat, and a spring called Fillan’s Well existed there until it was filled up, as a remnant of superstition, by a parish minister in the eighteenth century.”
Aye, fascinating stuff indeed. Makes me want to visit Houston again to wander around… Yes, your headline, “Injury at the Healing Church’s Door” does need a (true) story to follow. Let’s hope Neil is healed both body and soul and recovers with his mind fully intact.

St Fillan's, Main St, Houston, Renfrewshire

Stuart: Marmion is my favourite Scott poem — his too. He says it practically wrote itself as he galloped through the spray on the shore at Portobello. But, Fillan…
Sung to the billows’ sound;
Thence to Saint Fillan's blessed well, Whose springs can frenzied dreams dispel,
And the crazed brain restore:
Saint Mary grant that cave or spring Could back to peace my bosom bring,
Or bid it throb no more!”

Neil: I must dig out Scott’s Marmion… Aye, Saint Fillan. I saw that Killin was named for him, and other places around Scotland and Ireland. We don’t pray to saints, but there must be more to this “little irony” than meets the naked eye. We call nurses angels because their work resembles that of the spirit beings. God, in His sovereignty, sent an “angel” to assist Neil in his state of demise. If only we could put on special glasses that would enable us to see what’s really going on in all of this. Calvin calls the Bible “spectacles”, i.e., the spectacles of Scripture. I put them on daily. This morning I prayed with tears for Neil’s (total) healing. Elizabeth mentioned this verse to me earlier regarding Neil, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16.

Stuart: I admit, as thirled (try getting that word past predictive censorship) as thirled tho amur to Walter, and esp this A Tale of Flodden Field, I’ve never managed to read the thing in one go. Whit!? No, nae, never. Here, I inadvertently captured an extra line in slicing a bit from canto XXIX. Here’s the whole stanza:
“Lord Marmion then his boon did ask; The Palmer took on him the task,
So he would march with morning tide, To Scottish court to be his guide.
But I have solemn vows to pay, And may not linger by the way,
To fair St. Andrews bound, Within the ocean-cave to pray,
Where good Saint Rule his holy lay, From midnight to the dawn of day,
Sung to the billows’ sound;
Thence to Saint Fillan’s blessed well, Whose springs can frenzied dreams dispel,
And the crazed brain restore:
Saint Mary grant that cave or spring Could back to peace my bosom bring,
Or bid it throb no more!”

James Neil Yeaman

Fergie: [After Stuart had shared with him what we’d written thus far.] Thanks Stuart. Glad to read it. Shared with Mary. Fillan you probably already know is from Scottish Faolan / Irish Faolán.
Faol is one of the older terms for Wolf in both Gaelics. The “an” is a diminutive. So one is typically informed by online searches that Fillan means Little Wolf. Pedantically correct perhaps, but I wonder if in the era of Celtic monks and their adherents the “an” could as well be “heard” as an affectionate suffix. Maybe that familiarity would be better captured by a rendering into English such as “Wolfie” perhaps? I have no-one more clued up than me around to ask😄…

Never heard the name spoken, but approximate pronunciation would be in Scottish something like FOOLan (high oo - as in glue - and with a thick L), and in Irish perhaps more akin to FEELan. 
Here is a link to an Irish online dictionary with the Ulster, Munster, and Connacht pronunciations (audio) of the word Daol (beetle). Faol is in the dictionary but no sound files for it unfortunately. https://www.teanglann.ie/en/fuaim/Daol

Stuart: We all share a depth of concern that keeps running and rerunning through the mind. Our conversation (between Neil and me) seems symptomatic of a desperation for a positive resolution, an intellectual displacement activity, marking time. Yet it is clear, running beneath it, beside it and all around it, is a great regard, liking, respect, a brotherly love for Neil Y we’d never think to articulate, but resonates now. We want him back, whole and sound: Yes, it is midnight in Scotland and it is our hope the new day brings Neil another step back towards us. So much is clear in the darkness of the hour. Thank you all for sharing it.

Elizabeth: [My sister-in-law after receiving a copy thus far.] Hi Neil & Stuart, Thanks for the insightful conversations. I also do tend to rightfully or wrongly look into things, looking for answers and understandings. Midnight in Scotland just now, I hope Catriona is sleeping resting her mind and body. Love, Liz

Neil & Catriona, Fergie,
front Neil & Stuart

Postscript

Neil: It’s so difficult to lose a loved one. We hoped and prayed that God would return Neil to us intact, that he’d awaken Neil from his coma, restored body, mind, and soul. However, it was not to be. I’ve fallen out with God before for less, far, far less. Should we forsake Him now, now that He didn’t do what we wanted Him to? God forbid! As the one who suffered tragic and terrible loss said, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15a).

Why should we trust God even when we don’t understand Him or what He is doing? “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28). And where is He going with “all things”, (yes, and even those really painful things!), as He works them together for our good? “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” (Rev. 21:4-5). I know all this, yet I am so like Martha, I needed to keep on being reminded.

“Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ Martha said to him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world” (John 11:21-27).

I wanted my brother-in-law Neil to live, we all did. If only God had come to him when he was in that coma but was still alive. But God had other plans, greater plans – as He works all things together for good. As we look for meaning, we must trust Him alone to give all things meaning. Otherwise, everything will become meaningless to us.