“That’s it! I’m out of here!!!” screamed Doris stomping out of the coffee time after our service. People gaped, gobsmacked at this out-of-character behaviour.
A line manager spoils the chances of someone getting promotion, threatened by her underling excelling; a political leader votes against a decision for the better common good, worried about the opposition getting their own way; a parent forces an offspring into a career choice thinking they know what’s best for their (over 18) child; a neighbour flies off the handle for no apparent reason; a church leader spreads half-truths about someone to halt their growing popularity in the congregation. Countless scenarios of insecurity, which lead to dissension, division and the breakdown of relationships, families, communities, churches, work-places, even nations.
Jesus said life is all about learning “to love God with your all and your neighbour as yourself” The Living that Jesus comes to gift and grow in and through us.
Yesterday, Callum Henderson of Comfort Rwanda shared on their excellent work with orphans and communities wrecked by the genocide of 1994, when over 800,000 people were murdered throughout Rwanda. The vast majority were Tribe Tutsi, but moderate Hutu, and others were also targeted. Within each of us lies both the potential for great evil and innate ability to understand, love, forgive and be reconciled. Tragically, tribal and individual insecurities can sink people to terrible depths of depravity in an attempt to protect supposed self-interest. Yet here is a widow embracing, in forgiveness, the man who murdered her husband!
David’s Kingdom of Israel was torn in two by kings Reheboam and Jereboam. Insecurities of identity and possessiveness of land (northern Israel and southern Judah) set them against each other and apart from God. Predecessor King Solomon’s lackadaisical, ‘hot tub’, comfort hugging complacency sowed the seeds of division, giving rise to brother pitted against brother and tribe against tribe. Such devastation cries out for Servant King Jesus Christ, coming centuries later to restore our human dignity and identity as ‘beloved daughters and sons of God Almighty’.
Jesus, “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage, something to cling to or be grasped, stepped down from his throne and took the nature of a servant!” (Philippians 2)
Secure in who we are, as beloved children, we learn to love God with our all and our neighbour as self. Till then we can be so tied up by inner issues and crises that there isn’t time nor energy to consider others before self. Such Confidence in Christ can be torpedoed by bereavement, illness, work-loss, world events, rabid attacks, etc. Then it’s critical to have boundaries and disciplines to protect and boost soul security (e.g. prayer, weekly worship, fellowship, Bible input, etc.). For God’s Peace to prosper in our families, congregations, communities, nations and world we need leaders sure of who and whose they are, and free ‘to love as their loved’.
Fortunately, when Doris stomped out, we worked out it was a year since her husband died. We didn’t take offense, rather reached out to support. But without ‘Soul Security’ and ‘Soul Care’, misunderstandings and divisions will multiply. The Secure Servant King Jesus shows us the way of bridge-building forgiveness.
Sadly, my wonderful 96year old Wee Maw, Mrs Brenda Urquhart (nee Young), died on 15th January after 2 weeks asleep in Crosshouse Hospital’s Stroke Unit receiving exceptional loving ‘end of life care’. It gave our family time to say our ‘au revoirs’ & assure her 
(Top Picture – Mount Florida)
Jonathan Ross’s exit speech on the BBC’s Traitors was momentous, “I am and always have been faithful … to the Traitors!” and off he skipped, banished from Ardross Castle leaving behind a mixture of excitement, joy, & faithfuls kicking themselves that they hadn’t managed to 
Do you want God to prove himself to you with fireworks & something dramatic, to speak clearly to you? But, what if God’s main speech is to whisper into your ear, head & heart?
“Honk, Honk!” Have you noticed the wild geese flying overhead in V-formations? “Honk, Honk!” you hear them before seeing them, such is the din of their in-flight entertainment. What is going on up there and why such a racket? Apparently, it’s not the latest gossip, 
On Retreat with our United Irvine ministry team at Kilmalieu, near Ft William, in the middle of that recent glorious spell of sunny weather, I sat for hours in a dry riverbed. Rivulets trickled by me to unite in a small stream which meandered its 
Pope Francis! There is a certain sacred symmetry to Pope Francis’s death from double pneumonia on Easter Monday. His last official act as head of the Roman Catholic Church, on Easter Sunday on the balcony of St Peter’s 
Sunday’s sermon was ‘Repent or Repaint?’ Across our United Irvine worship centres, were in Luke Chapter 13:1-9, prejudiced people pointing fingers at some northern neighbours (these Galileans!) killed in a political tragedy. But for every pointing finger Jesus shows 3 fingers pointing back at themselves. 
On Sunday we brought our 4 worship centres together in ConneXions to celebrate God alive among us. We were well short of the aggregate of our 4 usual Sunday morning services, but had a tremendous buzz as 230 souls belted out God’s praise, hushed in prayer,