Thought for the Week

How’s your memory?

Perhaps, like mine, it’s not as good as it once was, and you forget things you should recall.

Or perhaps it’s too good, and your recall things you should forget.

What about God’s memory? Surely, he doesn’t forget.

No, he doesn’t. Since God is eternal and therefore stands outside of time, it may be that every moment in time is always present with him.

And yet, the Bible often speaks of God not remembering something – people’s sins.

One example is Jeremiah chapter 31 verse 34: ‘For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.’

It is not that God forgets in the way that I forget where I have left my wallet or car keys.

In the Bible, ‘to remember’ is another way of talking about keeping a promise. We use ‘to remember’ in that way too.

‘Don’t forget to phone me when you arrive home,’ shouts Morag, as her daughter heads home after visiting her.

‘Don’t worry, Mum. I’ll remember.’ Sure enough, Morag’s phone rings later, and the voice at the other ends says: ‘It’s me. I’m home.’

God does not forget our sins in the sense of pretending they never happened or ignoring our failure and refusal to do what he wants.

Instead, he remembers his promise to forgive the sins of anyone who asks him to do so.

He is able to do this because Jesus has died on the cross to deal effectively with sin’s penalty.

So, when you trust in Jesus, God refuses to hold your sin against you, but treats you in the way you do not deserve. He forgives you and remembers your sins no more.

Dr Rodger M Crooks, Free Church of Scotland, Tarbert and Lochgilphead.

ARDRISHAIG

A band described as ‘a trio of Scotland’s finest jazzers’ is coming to Ardrishaig this weekend.

The Ugly Bug Ragtime Three, regular visitors to the area in pre-pandemic days, will return to Mid Argyll on Saturday April 9 as guests of Mid Argyll Arts Association.

Describing themselves as ‘the wee band with the big, big sound’, the Ugly Bugs promise a wonderful mix of fine vintage ragtime jazz from the 1920s and 30s delivered with real drive, swing and verve. Romantic ballads rub shoulders with rags and stomps by Jelly Roll Morton and Fats Waller and blues-drenched standards band up against swinging show tunes.

A treat for the heart and feet in equal measure. As for the band members, John Burgess has played on stages and in jazz clubs all over the world and features on more than 100 recordings. Ross Milligan has appeared with, among many others, singer Ute Lemper and the BBCSO and has written music for film and TV. Andy Sharkey toured with the hit show ‘Rat Pack’, appeared regularly with clarsach player Rachel Hair and is a tutor at Strathclyde University.

Swing by Ardrishaig Public Hall on Saturday to catch the Ugly Bugs, with the show starting at 7.30pm.

TARBERT

A charity which offers the chance for people with autism to go sailing has announced a new Tarbert sponsor.

Duggie and Margaret MacNeill of the Corner House pub in Tarbert will be supporting Autism on the Water in this year’s Scottish Series.

The charity owns two boats and now helps around 130 people with autism each year to gain confidence through sailing.

Charity founder, Oban man Murray MacDonald, was delighted with the support and said: ‘Margaret and Duggie have been supporters of the event for many years and have been strong supporters of our charity since its inception.

‘With the event being a Tarbert-based regatta, this is a brilliant opportunity for the community and our charity to promote itself within the community and to promote autism awareness and inclusion within sailing. We are very grateful to Duggie, Margaret and the rest of the team for their generosity.’

LOCHGILPHEAD

One of the most colourful days in the Lochgilphead calendar is to return after a pandemic break.

Lochgilphead Celtic and Pictish Festival, organised by Lochgilphead Community Council and the Lochgilphead Phoenix Project, will take place on the town’s newly-refurbished front green on Saturday August 6 this year. Plans are still being developed for this year’s event indeed the venue is still to be finished - but in the past the festival has seen Vikings rampaging through Lochgilphead, traditional craft stalls, hand-to-hand combat Viking style, Celtic warrior games and the haunting sound of the carnyx, an Iron Age Celtic war horn. Look out for more details about this year’s event soon.