The most significant thing that took place this weekend for me was the announcement that J. Craig Venter has been attributed with creating the first artifical cell,Mycoplasma Mycoides. This is an amazing piece of scientific discovery and indeed has already divided the scientific community as to how far science can go in its pursuit of new things. Ian Bell’s article in Saturday’s Heral said this: ‘science’s latest sensation forces us to ask what it is we do with the world we inhabit, for what purpose and by what right?’ It is clear that Ventor is not just concerned with the science but the possibility and the prospect of creating new opportunities to cure the sick, feed the hungry, basically create a brave new world.

Of course we have heard it all before and no doubt we will hear it all again but the issue always comes back to this, when we use our intellect to it’s fullest capacity, then are left with the outcomes and the responsibility of acting on that knowledge and information, we are always left with a moral question, what is our motivation? Is it self interest? Is it pride in our abilities and our achievements or do we seek the greater good and the welfare of all?

It will be interesting to see in a few years time where this discovery leads. One thing is for sure, we cannot ‘unknow’ what we know, unlearn what we have learnt, uncreate what has been created but we will certainly be held accountable for how we use our knowledge as humanbeings. Perhaps for myself and my own thinking, something to be discussed I hope in the canteens and the staff lounges, is that instead of being filled with a sense of pride at what man has been enabled to achieve, it would be far better if he promoted his humility in recognising that with these great opportunities come tremendous responsibilities.

Something has to be said I think, on the aftermath of the General Election, with the dust now settling and what with the proverbial volcanic ash dust causing havoc in the skies and now the financial realities beginning to bite, there is a degree of uncertainty abroad on different fronts.

It is hard to maintain a buoyant attitude towards life, at every turn something else comes along to either knock your confidence or undermine any kind of joy or pleasantness you have experienced or are experiencing.

I can’t help but think that in countries where they have even more to complain about and less to encourage them, you often find a much more cheerful disposition towards life and the prospects and possibilities that it contains. A salutory lesson perhaps to those of us who are of a more morbid and mournful disposition.

So the challenge for me today on this beautiful, bright, late spring sunny morning is to be cheerful, sometimes it is all to do with an act of will, just as it it true that sometimes to love someone you have to be deliberative about it.

My encouragement to you today is to take some heart in the warmth of the sunshine and be grateful even for the simple things like that which make the day just that little bit brighter.

Following on from the recent survey exploring connections between work and spirituality, one of the key words that repeatedly came up was “busy”.

What about an opportunity to find a quiet space in the busyness of life and work, just to be? Sounds good doesn’t it? Interested?

Do email Gayle if you would like a slot.

Our week of prayer, starting on Sunday 16 May will cover 168 one hour prayer slots, split:

84 @ the Prayer Room, Renfield St Stephens, Glasgow 8 a.m -10 p.m
84 @ home slots or wherever you are at 10 p.m – 8 a.m

I very much look forward to hearing from you.

It is easy to have a go at politicians and at times I suppose some of them have left themselves open to huge criticism but would you aspire to what they have to do? I have been thinking about that quite a lot during the election campaign. Would I ever consider being a politician? The public servant aspect appeals but the wheeling and dealing would leave me feeling uneasy. The question around the Engage dinner table this Tuesday will be reflecting on “Do we need a better political system?” Come and join us if you can from 5.30pm until 7pm’

One person’s gift of time is often another person’s deficit in time, but one thing is for sure, no one get’s any more of a day or a week than anyone else. So is time your helper or your taskmaster? What does the time you have mean to you?

Engage this Tuesday will be reflecting on ‘Time’ and how we feel about how it affects us aS people. You will  be welcome to join the discussion at 5.30pm Tuesday 4th May 2010.

A first both for Scotland and BiG, 24/7/365 is a gathering of over 70 Church ministers and leaders from across Scotland who will be praying 24/7 for the year of 2010 for our nation.

Are you interested? If so then do join with us by taking a one hour slot and join in our week of prayer from 16th-23rd May. At BiG we have discovered the difference that praying can make to people, both in their working life and home life. We would also be delighted to pray with or for you at anytime.

If you are interested in a slot, please contact Gayle Cattanach on 07740 467235.

We have had a world wide financial implosion that challenged the view that our money held in the  bank is always secure. That trust has been severely challenged.

With respect to our Politicians and  their honesty in dealing with expenses, it probably did not come as a surprise to us that there were those who misused their responsibility in claiming expenses but perhaps not on the scale at which it has become evident. It makes us wonder whether we can have confidence in our elected representatives. Once again trust has been challenged.

In the last few weeks the very fact that people are now seriously considering whether they should travel by train or travel by plane, not knowing whether to book their holidays because they can’t be sure whether the volcano with the unpronouncable name in Iceland will erupt again or the volcanic ash will once again compromise air space. Confidence once again is challenged and our trust is weakened as we step on board our next plane.

The need for trust is what makes this world function well. Around the table at Engage this coming Tuesday we will be thinking about the issue of trust. How do we create it? How do we sustain it? Has it had an impact on us when our ntrust has been broken? What  impact that has  that had on our lives and indeed when has trust made such a huge postive difference that  has changed our lives.

Looking forward to discussing this topic when we meet on Tuesday 27th April at 5.30pm.

It prompted me to think about what it means to have your journey disrupted. You will
possibly even know someone who is struggling just now, trying to get back home as I
do. It led  me to think about the journeys we have made in life, some which have
been most eventful, some we would rather forget…

It would be good to share some of those journeys and reflect on the implications of
them, good and bad and perhaps be mindful of those who at this moment are experiencing
the adventure of their lives, or their worst nightmare ever! We will make this the
starting point of our Table Talk on Tuesday 20th April.