I finished putting out flyers in Rosewell this morning. The Lord gave me two encouraging conversations. The first was with a man who is about 70 years old. God directed our conversation and I found out that he is good friends with a man who attends our church. God put that together as He allowed me to find out that information. I had a great opportunity to speak to HIm about the Gospel. I left a copy of John and Romans with him.

I also spoke with a man about the importance of truth. He spoke about respecting other people's beliefs. I said to him, "Let me put it to you this way. If your children thought it was ok for your grandchildren to play in the road, would you say anything?" He said, "I would share with them why they shouldn't do that, but ultimately it is up to them." I told him, "That is what I do as a minister." He gave me a great compliment as we parted by saying, "There is substance in what you say." Please pray that the substance of God's Word would open His eyes and that, God helping me, there would always be substance in my evangelism. God certainly guided in those conversations today.

I went back into Edinburgh this morning. The high pressure has remained in control of our weather and it was another very nice morning. Because of that I thougth it would be good to seek opportunities to witness in Edinburgh. 

The Lord gave me 4 very good divine appointments this morning. The first was with a 17 year old Scot from about 20 miles away. She is an atheist - but I hope she will be someone who was an atheist. She thanked me for our conversation which lasted over 20 minutes.

The second one was with a man who is my age and was on holiday from Ireland. He was hard. He thinks that God exists but doesn't care about knowing him or about Heaven and Hell. Please pray that God will awaken his heart. I told him that I was doing my best to get him interested in something that was vitally important. 

The third was with a couple on Holiday from Italy. I explained the differences between what God's Word teaches and what Catholicism teaches. They were engaged in the conversation but had to leave for an appointment.

The last was with a young man who attends a Baptist church in Dumfermline. Sadly, he is trusting in his goodness. However, I had a great opportunity to share with Him from the Bible why good people don't go to Heaven. (There is no such thing.) He also thanked me for the conversation.

Thanks for praying for these divine appointments. It was encouraging to have so many opportunities to engage people in conversations about the Lord. I also handed out a good number of Gospel flyers.

We had a young man visit our service this morning who is a student at a local Bible college. He is a believer from Northern Ireland. We enjoyed having him over to our house after the service. Please pray for Alex as he seeks God's will for his life. We'd love having him attend our church if God saw fit to join him with us. It was a blessing just to find a young man who has a heart for God and a desire to do God's will.

God gave us beautiful weather for the second day in a row. We enjoyed taking the kids on a walk this afternoon near our home. This is mother's day in the UK. So, Katie made a special boquet of tulips for the mothers of our church family. I preached a mother's day introduction to a message on obedience telling our children that this would be the best gift they could give their mums. The message was from "God's Object Lesson on Obedience" from Jeremiah 35. Everytime I read this story in my Bible, I wonder why I haven't heard it more often and wonder if I have read it before. 

God gave us a good morning. Thank you for praying for our ministry.

Our family and the Hikin family handed out flyers in Edinburgh today. God gave us beautiful weather in the low 60's and sunny. This is by far the best weather of the year so far. We were able to hand out 1,000 flyers in just under 2 hours. The kids are a bit irresistable (almost) and people kindly took the flyers from them. Please pray that those flyers will bear much fruit. 

Nelson is the 6 year old pictured last. He said when we got done, "I bet I handed out over a hundred." My daughter and I looked at each other and I said with her agreement, "I'm sure he did." When he was refused the people after those who refused him would ask to take it. :) Just as a point of interest - David Livingstone's statue holding a Bible was right in the middle of where we were handing out flyers. I'm sure he would have given his approval to that ministry today.

7 years ago today our family left for Scotland. God has been very good to us in the 7 years that we have been here. The verse we claimed in coming was Jeremiah 32:41  "Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul." God has been very good to help us get settled here. We don't get homesick, because we are home. We were homesick for Scotland during our 6 month furlough in the States. 

We love our community and praise the Lord for all of the good relationships He has given to us here. God has also done a good work with our church. We have great expectations for what God is doing and will do with Free Baptist Church. The ministry verse we claimed after arriving is Neh 2:20  "Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build:" We still anticipate His blessing as we do the work of the ministry.

Thank you for your faithful part and interest in Free Baptist Church, Loanhead. Please pray for God's special blessing as we enter year number 8 of ministry in Scotland.

Don and I were able to finish a good part of the village of Rosewell today. The weather wasn't lovely as the temperatures were quite cold and rain was threatening, but the Lord gave one really good divine appointment. Please pray that Ryan (20) will visit our church. He was listening to music but took his headphones off to speak with me. Although he lives a good distance from our church, he is used to cycling near Loanhead to his work. It's refreshing to meet a young person who I believe is open to thinking about God.

I've been putting out flyers now in a village about 5 miles from Loanhead. The weather was a bit rough this morning as we awoke with snow on the ground and some strong snow showers. I didn't stay out too long and just did flyers for about an hour. On the way back I checked on a facility for a football tournament which we hope to organize again this summer. The venue which we used last summer is under construction. So, I'm looking for a football pitch not too far from area which is set up for five a side (like a basketball court with fencing around it) football. The facility I found will work very well. Please pray for wisdom as we seek plans for that tournament.

We're looking forward to our monthly youth activity this Friday. The church has purchased some fun equipment for a nerf war. Nerf has come up with new guns that shoot a foam ball at about 70 mph. (Big smile) I think it will be a big hit with our teens. Please pray for God's blessing on the activity and for wisdom as I prepare to preach to the young people.

We were down in attendance today as twelve regulars were away on holiday. But, we had a first time (on a Sunday) adult visitor attend who came with her two daughters. The daughters have regularly attended our church. Their mom has come for the last two Thursday nights. We're excited and hope she continues to come. 

I preached this morning on the Sheep and Goat Judgment from Matthew 25. It is a sobering judgment as the dividing line is put down the middle and eternal separation takes place. If you haven't studied the passage, it was a good study for me. I believe it is a judgment that takes place at the second coming of Christ and has to do with how God's Jewish preachers (brethren) were treated in the tribulation period by the saved (sheep) and the goats (lost). It's a convicting passage and I trust God used it in our hearts this morning.

Mac and Nelson were my door to door helpers.  (Katie was away at a ladies' prayer breakfast.) I knew the woman who answered the door at the first house and she asked me if I was babysitting. :) Mac doesn't normally do door to door with me - but it would be hard to refuse receiving something from a cute two year old. (I'll have to consider always having him with me!)

Thank you for praying for our family and ministry.

I was over helping Don this morning put out flyers in South Queensferry. It is a beautiful area overlooking the Firth of Forth and the Rail and Road Bridges accross the Firth (A Firth is narrow inlet of the sea where a river flows into it.) 

We had a couple good opportunities to speak with people. A builder whom we spoke with was asked, "Do you have any children?" He replied that he was expecting his first in a couple of months. We were able to encourage him to think about the responsability of teaching that child about God. It was a good wee chat. 

The second was the best opportunity as it seems Francis may likely visit the Dillman's church. She very definitely said that she would come and that she would bring a friend. She used to attend a Baptist church that met at a Hotel. Please pray that she will visit a new church plant that meets currenly in a home.

Please click on the following link to view pics from our holiday on the Isle of Skye. (Link) You can also find them at the bottom of our photo gallery page.

I put flyers out in Rosewell this morning. Rosewell is a village about 5 miles from Loanhead. I had a short conversation with two men but nothing notable. It was a beautiful morning to get out. Please pray for divine appointments.

I also gave tracts to two men who were unloading a beer truck in front of our home. I said as I walked out my door, "That's a sad cargo" and shared with them the grief we have seen because of alcohol in our community.  One of them men agreed and called it demon drink. Please pray that God would work in those two men's hearts. Please also pray that God will close the pub accross the street. We have prayed about this for several years and have told those who run the pub that God is able to shut it down. 

Katie's ladies' meeting is this evening. Please pray for God to bless His Word. The Trust Service went very well yesterday. Two of the ladies who faithfully attend that are going to come down to the house and attend the ladies' meeting. This will be their first time if they are able to come.