Today the Scottish justice secretary announced that Al Megrahi' the man found guilty of the murders of 270 people in Lockerbie in 1988 would be released on compassionate grounds.

I have watched this develop over the last few weeks with great interest.Mr macAskill has come under great pressure during this process from those in the USA and some in the UK to keep Al Megrahi' in prison.This was a complicated legal matter but I want to mention the compassionate angle.

It seems to me that the need for compassion must be weighed with the need for justice.Justice is just as high on Gods agenda as compassion.This man was found guilty by a court and sentenced to life in prison.He is now dying from cancer and has asked for compassion to be shown.The Scottish minister has decided to show compassion based on medical advice the he has less than 3 months to live which i think is the usual grounds for this type of release.

During the announcement Mr MacAskill sought to lay blame for this mess at the door of the UK government which I thought was a cheap shot under the circumstances.He spoke of the victims families grief and he also laid on thick the christian reasoning behind his decision.Which some commentators said would be aimed at an American audience.

He also laid claim to speak on behalf of the Scottish people on this matter which I thought was a bit of a stretch.He spoke of our humanity and principles.There is no don't this was a very difficult decision and on balance one I think he got right.Compassion and mercy are the friends of God and it looks like the way of the kingdom has won the day here .This same compassion must be extended to the families left with the feeling of injustice they need to know that if there is a need for a new inquiry then it will be undertaken so that no stone is left unturned and the UK government should have gotten promises from the Libyan government before they went ahead with this .

As we see the the slow lingering death of Christendom in Scotland what will we see take its place.?How will our nation be effected by this?and will it be a good thing for the church?



I guess Christendom was on its last legs as I entered this world 45 years ago what we have now is that slow lingering death brought about by the use of modern medicine .Drugs to kill the pain and life support machines to keep it going .But nothing can stave of the inevitable.Christendom has tried in vain to keep any hold it has on our society for years now .From trying to be trendy and hip with the young team .To getting all righteous about the evils of this world .The charismatics gave us Godly entertainment while to proddies just said yes to everything .The RC church stuck to its guns on most things like the fundamentals eg abortion ,marriage.And nobody but nobody could prevent the death that will surely come.



Sometimes we have to admit that death has won and rejoice and give thanks for what was good.What was good about Christendom in Scotland was the reform to our society that we gained from it .Reform to the way we treated the poor the reform that set free the slaves not only literal but the slaves in the mines and mills.Reform that demanded care or those in most need which led to a social care system and health care system.I know that not all of these things came about directly because of Christendom but it does take some credit.Christendom sent out mission people all over the world with the good news but on that one we have to take the good with the bad.



So where do we go now?I believe its a chance for new wine skins and when I say new I mean new .Not refurbished wine skins but brand new ones.Church can once again become church .A body a community that puts Jesus at its centre and mission as its goal.Church where the value of "one another" replaces the value of me.A community of people able to be honest about there victories as well as there defeats.A community that could not care less about church growth a community that is passionate about healing and the poor.A place where those crazy dreams and visions are welcomed and a community where power is exposed for what it is.



This is a place that will take great courage to be part of it.It s shape will be unknown its ways will be fluid and its people will need to be brave.This is the church the community of the post-modern world and its coming to Scotland like it or not.Gods new thing will I believe shock those of us familiar with the old but excite those who have no knowledge of it.And for me that's the generation that is now coming through.I don't mourn the passing of Christendom I rejoice in it.Being in bed with the enemy made us compromise to much lets stay free from that and see what God can do.This new community must have at its core the kingdom of god no other way will work for us.The modern world was not fluid enough for the kingdom it struggled with the great generosity that the kingdom demands.I believe the post-modern emergent world is much better placed to see what God has in store for us and to be willing to take the risks needed to make it happen.

So the football season started again on Saturday.It was good to be back in the old routine wake up late get some breakfast watch some footie on the box including the return of Soccer AM and then head of to the match with my dad and a new recruit for this year my mate John bought a season ticket on Friday .

The game was a 4-1 win for rangers against Falkirk who are a good team with some good football players.They pass the ball well but just lack the cutting edge to score more goals.Rangers were sluggish and having made no signing this season the place was a little flat.The punters want a few new faces but the accountants wont let Smith spend and money.Maybe if Celtic don't make the champions league groups the extra money we get will be spent on a few new faces.In typical Rangers supporters way there was some complaing about a 4-1 win some people are never happy.

Swine flu has finally arrived in our house.
My youngest boy (14) looks like he has swine flu.We cant say for sure because the doctors only diagnose over the phone but they have prescribed Tami flu for him.I feel unsure about giving him the Tami flu as it has some horrible side effects.Now we have to wait and see if anybody else catches it.
Its funny how these things always make you pray a bit different .I found myself walking around the house last night at 2 am praying that God would drive the fever out of my son and keep the rest of us healthy.So far so good he doesn't seem to serious and the rest of us are still standing.