The timing of this individual’s outburst against the SFA can only be to cause problems in the team. What can only be described as a bunch of immature whining does little for him except confirm the action of the suits.
He admits his actions were wrong…. big of him. They were reprehensible. Anyone who treats their country with such contempt should NEVER wear the jersey again.
He should accept his punishment like the man he pretends to be and focus on his team playing career. If he put up and shut up, he may find himself on the long walk back to forgiveness, but like many players these days, they think they are above criticism and they think that they can tell people when they can play for their country instead of treating it like the honour and privilege that it is.

I return to the UK with my family on Wednesday having packed a great deal into our trip to Florida.
It was brilliant keeping a birthday secret from my eldest. Her joy at realising she was not only going to look at some dolphins but to actually swim with them was worth the cost of the whole holiday.
Seeing Shamu do his thing at Sea World brings makes real a story told by Garrison Keillor – Pastor Inqvist’s trip to Orlando Florida (worth listening to on many levels). The ‘Shamu Rocks’ show was terrific, and has been rated a highlight by all the kids (of ALL ages).
Disney figured highly in our visit, and a two week for the price of one meant that a strategy had to be found so that we didn’t over mouse ourselves. It ended with the ‘wishes; fireworks at the Magic Kingdom. It was magic, and I had a wee emotional moment as I realised that I had been able to bring my kids over to experience something I could only have dreamed of in my youth. I have nothing to regret about my days growing up in St. Andrews where all holidays were spent on the golf course. Finance didn’t allow anything else. It’s good to share hopes and dreams with my kids now.
We visited Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Centre. The Saturn V rocket reconstruction is massive and to have the chance to literally touch the moon was fun.
We’ve found toys to take home… a sat nav for the golf course (yes, really), a sat nav for the USA (saving loads on what would have been the hire cost and saving in angst while driving, and a Harry Potter Cluedo game which we hope to pack away somehow in the luggage.
Two of the family are currently out shopping in a store that has massive reductions on quality goods and, more importantly, can be used by Dale as a teacher back home.
I’ve even had a game of golf at the Harmony Golf Club. Was well stuffed by a colleague, but on a course he knew with his own clubs while I had to play with a borrowed set. Good excuses, eh ? A great day though.
But, it all comes to an end and the credit card bill will have to be accounted for on our return, and work has to be resumed.
It’s been good to keep a check on emails but to do minimal responding to them, to hear of possible weddings and of a church nearing the conclusion of its search for a new minister. All good things. Except the early European exit of Falkirk, the local football team. Beaten by a team from Liechtenstein……
Hopefully I’ll put up some pics from our holiday on our return when I find out just how to do that.

I’ve just finished watching the Open Championship in Florida, and I’m drained.
Tom Watson almost created a bit of history that would have been hard to surpass. His dignity and humility with all the pressure he was under is a lesson to all wannabe champions.
Almost unnoticed was a little incident when he hit someone with an errant tee shot. He took the time to sign a ball and give it to her in amongst all the emotions of the day.
Some have dared to argue that the likes of Watson at nearly 60 shouldn’t be taking up places for younger golfers. He proved that he was more than their equal this past few says and a lot of people would do well to learn from his attitude.
As a life long Nicklaus supporter, he proved to be the thorn in the side of my hero on too many occasions. But today, it’s hats off to a truly great champion.
Not forgetting the winner, well done to Stewart Cink, who’s been close before and felt the agony of failure. He was gracious in victory.

The death of Michael Jackson is a tragedy, especially when he was setting up a world tour.
But when will the hangers on let go ?
The regrettable fact is that his estate will go into hyperdrive now he’s gone and I really get narked with all the press coverage which is only serving to hype things up even more.
There is no doubting the musical genius of the man, but there is also no doubting his wacky nature and his lunatic moments. Remember the baby over the balcony ? And what was all the surgery about ?
It was curious to hear the recent awards ceremony reclaiming him as a ‘black’ when he spent most of his life either disguising the fact or even attempting to become ‘white’.
Before anyone makes the point, I am NOT making a racist point here, simply observing the reality of the situation.
At the end of the day, his death is just one more. The celebrity seeking nature of our society makes it into an international disaster.
As someone who deals with funerals on a very regular basis, each one is a tragedy and we need to get some sense of proportionality here.

I was asked to do exactly that by a member who is fascinated by all the intrigue and gore of the Old Testament stories.
As it happened, the Lectionary threw up the David and Goliath incident, so he was a happy bunny (although he quipped that sick bags should be handed round !!)
I didn’t overdo the violence of the story, rather to allegorise it a little by considering what giants are around today. The physical individuals who make our lives hell, through to the ‘things’ like illness and bereavement.
I author suggested naming the stones we pick to help us defeat our giants, from courage, faith, hope through to friendship, prayer and Scripture.
I had the feeling that there were many aching hearts in the congregation today and that we all needed to think about such things.
Giants can be faced and defeated.

The annual golf meatch between the Church of Scotland and the Church of England took place on Tuesday 9th June at Kilspindie, near Edinburgh. The result was a win for Scotland, and, although the scoreline was 14-4 this tells nothing of the day.
The morning foursomes were tied at 3-3 and the singles were keenly contested, with many games, including my own, going to the last hole.
As last year, my opponent was Tom Honey from Exeter and, as last year, the match was keenly fought and great fun to be part of. Tom’s graciousness was evident once again and it was a joy to play against him.
The result, although important, was not as important as the friendly banter and the fellowship that proceeded during the match and at the meal afterwards. A great day. Thanks to all the CofE team for making their way north and contributing massively to a fantastic event !

I wonder how many commissioners reported back to their congregations ? Were they in awe of the ‘encouragement’ not to speak of certain events ? Or were they honest in theirnreporting to include some of the angst ?
On other blogs I have dared to suggest that the bottom line of the revisionist thinking that seemed to win the day is ‘anything goes’. I accept that I have overstated my case by saying that, however, I maintain that revisionist thinking seems to be driven by the thought that we are wanting to be more acceptable in the world’s eyes. Have I got that right ?
If I have, then where does that leave Jesus’s remarks about being in the world but not of it, about being salt and light ?
I hear a lot about principles of love (which are good) but there is a real tension between that and the holy God who loves justice. One speaker at the GA told those gathered that charity exists because justice has failed. Worth thinking that through on ALL sides on the debate in the Kirk. I am not saying that the truth rests with the tradititionalists/evangelicals, but I have a great sympathy with their position. No one has yet come up with a holistic Biblical view on the great ‘issue’ of the GA. Maybe I have to wait for the special commission to report back.

What to make of a tense week ?
The temsion between the various factions of the church was easily seen in the debates this week. There was a good deal of thoughtful and considerate debate on all issues. And yes, the Kirk has kicked things into the long grass yet again !
Not talking about issues is a dangerous thing for the Kirk to do, although we’re allowed to mutter among ourselves. That’s not true, it’ll be meanigful dialogue.
The worry for me in all this is the way in which broad general principles, which need not be found in Scripture (they could apply to most faiths) have been dominant over Scripture. For me that’s a very uncomforable place to be. For me there has to be standards that allow the church to offer a prophetic voice to secular society. If we say that anything goes (and I exaggerate with that statement) then we lose that authority. We lose the distinctive nature of the Christian faith if we adopt what is acceptable in society. We become indistinguishable from any other philosophy, and I don’t think that’s what Jesus meant by being the salt of the earth, being in it but not of it.
I’m busy putting together thoughts for my next sermon trying to reflect on what has been a turbulent week as a church and as an individual. More thinking and prayer required !

It would be a great pity for the Assembly to be remembered as a one issue meeting of the Kirk. Saturday will come soon enough, but before that comes some of the pageantry the makes it a great gathering. The Lord High Commissioner (George Reid) will deliver the Queen’s message to the Assembly and it will be interesting to see what that contains. I suspect that the first couple of days may well be quite tame, but there are a lot of matters to be considered, not least of which is the Israel/Palestine issue, Zimbabwe, how ministers stipends are worked out (ie who actually does this) and loads of other stuff. Looks to be a tremendous week, providing the grace of God is evidenced in the debating.

Not sure what’s annoyed me most. The 11,000 petition or the OneKirk newsletter.
Online petitioning is not the way to go in the Kirk. It gets the subject noticed, but will never be allowed as evidence in the case.
And as for the totally biased OneKirk diatribe…. Every commissioner got one, and it is clearly an attempt to skew the vote come Saturday night.
Not sure which is more outrageous.
I mentioned the whole matter to the congregation on Sunday last and was surprised by the passion from both sides of the argument. It is clear that there will be a lot of reconciliation and healing required whichever way the vote goes.