Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
Edinburgh is capital of the constituent country Scotland

Date
30-Nov-07

Sunrise
8:17 AM

Sunset
3:45 PM

Please pray for energy and cheer over short dark days!

An Historic Event

I was blessed and honored to be present at the first time, since opening the Scottish parliament 8 years ago, that the chamber and all elected leaders present were lead in the Lord's prayer.

Shivers as Anne McIntyre, invited to preside over the chamber for only 4 minutes that day, encouraged our leaders and turned to honor Our Father through the words of His Son Jesus Christ, and seek whole-heartedly for His will to be done on Earth as it is in Heaven!

In the delegated authority of the land, on behalf of the nation, standing for God in the seat of government. Our Lord reigns!

Praising God and thanking Him for VICTORY in Jesus name!

Thanksgiving (Thanks!)

We had a great dinner here introducing Thanksgiving to our new family in Alva.

They heard the legend of Squanto and we reminded ourselves that God causes all things to work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. We remembered Cori Tinboom and the story of her losing faith while her sister was thanking God for fleas in their barracks (which they later learned kept the guards from raping them). Our time here lately has been deepening roots and growing healthy in loving relationships.

Its cold in Scotland! But that drove in like 10+ teenagers last night to our kids club at Alva Baptist Church (on top of the 12 or so kids who already come). And they didn’t ruin it for kids AND they stayed for the preachy bit to hear about how the righteous live by faith and a part about Sheep & Goats where Jesus describes the righteous as those who love one another well in action.

AND this one evil scoffer kid actually stepped into the main sanctuary, into the pulpit and began to read my sermon from last week about abiding in Christ’s word, knowing the truth and being made free! He stopped at each line and asked “now what the #@!$#$% does that mean?” And I patiently explained, loving beyond my offended heart!

I could have insisted on appropriate language, I could have insisted on a sterile place untouched by the hands of unbelievers, but instead I watched as God tugs on the heart of a sinner. Ministry is a messy business. (sheep smell) I can see how God chooses the least and the lost and calls them to serve Him. (In the mirror!)

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

Dave & Liz

PS Your prayers and support are how God got us here. Thanks!

Local weather

Rejoice always, I say again rejoice!

Please zoom in for local weather information.

		Min	Max
Wednesday		5°C 41°F	9°C 48°F
Thursday		1°C 34°F	5°C 41°F
Friday		-3°C 27°F	3°C 37°F
Saturday		7°C 45°F	3°C 37°F
Sunday		-1°C 30°F	5°C 41°F

It's Simple

God is moving in this wee church

This land aches for a change in the way we see God
from

‘Religious Maintenance’

to

‘Heroic, Historic, Life-defining relationship'.

Baby Fraser! (15 weeks)

-9 degrees Celsius

At 7am this morning.
Thats 16 degrees Fahrenheit folks!

...and then there were three

Fraser children, that is.
Liz is +/- 12 weeks pregnant!
So we will be raising a Scottish National.
Liz is fine (meaning: weary, but no longer too sick)
She has emerged into that ‘glowing pregnancy’ stage.
Daniel wants a sister and Josiah wants a “bruddewr”.
They both predict twins (:P
The things some folks are willing to do to see church growth!

more in weeks to come!

Finances

Somebody asked how we are doing financially and after I composed an email, I realized I should post it. See below:

Metro has supported us corporately with $600/month since April, to be revised after December 2007.

We haven't really asked people directly to support us, as much as presented the opportunity to support us and asked God for the resources. There have been about 5 families/individuals that have supported us regularly. 10 all together (including one-time contributions). We may average about $1500/month over July-September, which covers rent.

Jehovah Jira = God Provides

We have been called to serve this church family in Alva. They sold a Manse a few years ago and are 'spending the family silver' to pay us the minimum stipend available to a minister in the Scottish Baptist Union.

Sounds good but taxed 25% off the top and then 17% in value added (sales) tax makes the cost of living pretty high here. So, the exchange rate is $1= £0.50 but the expenses aren't much lower. Example: Gas is over $8 a gallon; the psychological price of $9.95 in the US for a shirt or something is £8.99 in the UK not £4.99. Milk and meat are pretty subsidized. Health care is free (paid by payroll deductions actually, but cheaper than US).

Our budget was for about 2,500 pounds/month and we are at about 1,500. Not the high life and not saving for retirement right now, so that’s not good (should the Lord tarry). We spent about $15,000 of our saved money to move over here and make it through to August when a paycheck kicked in.

But it’s all God’s money anyway. And we did get to sell a home in LA and move out of market! We may be able to flip from our 2 bed condo to a 3 bedroom house with a garage and small yard. No complaints there.

Of course, we did have to become Baptists. ;)
(Which, in Scotland, is not very different from Calvary; we are loving it and Jesus hasn't changed)

Really, we just answered the call to be a pastor somewhere else that happens to be a foreign country, for a church that couldn’t afford a minister. They got a guy with great heart and some experience and we got a chance to make a difference. AND be closer to family that we enjoy. It will all work out. I don’t know how, but it will.

God is good! (We are not poor in His economy)

Our family at Metro has seen us off with a gift and encouraged us, as we answer God's call. We are blessed and pray that God richly bless you!

God is providing from His resources and we have learned from this experience that it is He who provides, not our institutions or networks. No one man can boast in how He has provided for us.

Alleluia, Jehovah Jira!

(If you want to be part of how God helps, see "Partners" on the right margin.)