The Justice Secretary clearly had an impossible choice to make. Opinions this morning are sharply divided. Personally, I was profoundly moved by the statement made by Mr MacAskill yesterday. To exercise that kind of compassion to a man guilty of such an atrocity.
Our justice system demands that judgment be imposed but compassion be available.
"Our beliefs dictate that justice be served, but mercy be shown.
"Compassion and mercy are about upholding the beliefs that we seek to live by, remaining true to our values as a people. No matter the severity of the provocation or the atrocity perpetrated.
I'm sure much will be written about this act of mercy.Last night, it was being said that it would define the Scotish Governments term of office. An act of almost outragesous mercy and compassion wouldn't be a bad way to be remembered.More of the statement appears below.
"Having met the criteria, it therefore falls to me to decide whether Mr Al Megrahi should be released on compassionate grounds.
"I am conscious that there are deeply held feelings, and that many will disagree whatever my decision. However a decision has to be made.
"Scotland will forever remember the crime that has been perpetrated against our people and those from many other lands. The pain and suffering will remain forever. Some hurt can never heal. Some scars can never fade.
"Those who have been bereaved cannot be expected to forget, let alone forgive. Their pain runs deep and the wounds remain.
"However, Mr Al Megrahi now faces a sentence imposed by a higher power. It is one that no court, in any jurisdiction, in any land, could revoke or overrule. It is terminal, final and irrevocable. He is going to die.
"In Scotland, we are a people who pride ourselves on our humanity.
"It is viewed as a defining characteristic of Scotland and the Scottish people.
"The perpetration of an atrocity and outrage cannot and should not be a basis for losing sight of who we are, the values we seek to uphold, and the faith and beliefs by which we seek to live.
"Mr Al Megrahi did not show his victims any comfort or compassion. They were not allowed to return to the bosom of their families to see out their lives, let alone their dying days. No compassion was shown by him to them.
"But that alone is not a reason for us to deny compassion to him and his family in his final days.
"Our justice system demands that judgment be imposed but compassion be available.
"Our beliefs dictate that justice be served, but mercy be shown.
"Compassion and mercy are about upholding the beliefs that we seek to live by, remaining true to our values as a people. No matter the severity of the provocation or the atrocity perpetrated.
"For these reasons - and these reasons alone - it is my decision that Mr Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi, convicted in 2001 for the Lockerbie bombing, now terminally ill with prostate cancer, be released on compassionate grounds and allowed to return to Libya to die."
For many years I have wanted to go to Greenbelt, but for a variety of reasons I have never quite made it. This afternoon I am catching the Easy Jet flight to Bristol and then a bus to Cheltenham. Iwona Grant's brother is driving with a group all the way from Poland, so in comparison my journey is very short! Greenbelt takes place on Cheltenham race course with the majority of the participants camping. Let's hope the weather is better down there than it is here!
The 6th anual Hilton golf challenge took place this evening at Torvean Golf Club. The course was in outstanding condition and over 30 players took on the course and the elements. There was some rain, but it could have been a lot worse! The best junior was Ross Martin, in the ladies section, Shona MacPherson, Mairi Ross and Aileen Thomson all shared the same top score, but the overall top scorer and winner of the Quiach was Ronnie Archer. It was a great evening. The golf played at Torvean followed by a bbq in the Light house is an ideal combination. We hope to hold the 7th golf challenge in June 2010. A big thank you to Iain and Mairi Ross for their outstanding organisation and to Gwen and Michelle for outstanding post match hospitality in the Light house. 
As a very infrequent visitor to the City Centre, I have had my fair share of being caught out by the changes taking place. Last year I encountered problems in M&S when I couldn't find the escalators! They had been moved during the previous year. This week it was Waterstones in the High Street. I went there to get a book, only to discover that the shop is now a Bank! Waterstones has moved to the Eastgate Centre.
Compassion is a charity which many people in Hilton Church support. Each year in September there is a specific Sunday when the opportunity to radically change a child's life propects is highlighted. Why not take a look at the website and learn a little about this wonderful work.
Here are the latest photos received from Robyn. This is what the Bana Trust is all about! How wonderful to see these smiling faces.
Steve has been steadily working away in the Light house garden. It is really beginning to take shape, after all the upheaval caused by the redevelopment. It was good to see Morag macritchie there too yesterday, helping to plant some shrubs.
Congratulations to David and Jan Budge who are today celebrating their Golden Wedding Anniversary.
Last summer , Martin and Michelle were baptised at Dores Beach. This Sunday, Ronnie and Martin are being baptised at 2.30pm. The baptisms will go ahead whatever the weather, but if it's a good day, we hope folk will take along a picnic and make an afternoon of it. Hope to see you there.
Due to a combination of staff illness and holidays, it has been a challenge to keep the Light house cafe running efficiently over the past few weeks. Through this blog, I wanted to highlight the sterling work done by some of our teenage volunteers. Becki, Keri, Eilidh and Fiona (sorry if I have forgotten anybody else)together with a Canadian team were all fantastic, but the stand out volunteer was Tom Barlow who has been helping nearly every day for the last 3 weeks. What a great job he has done along with Gwen. Thank you Tom! The Light house is always on the look out for willing volunteers. If you can help, please drop in and have a word with Gwen. 
At the end of each Olympic Games (with the exception of Atlanta 1996), The President of the IOC would declare that this has been the best ever Olympics.
In 2007, a significant number of folk in Hilton Church followed Maggi Dawn's Beginnings and Endings. In November 2009, Giving it Up, a series of Readings and reflections for Lent is being published. I intend to follow it through Lent 2010.
On a wet and dismal day, its good to remember the days when the sun was shining this summer. . I had such a day climbing Ben Loyal, near Tongue in Sutherland.
I am currently re-reading "LEADERSHIP NEXT - changing leaders in a changing culture" by Eddie Gibbs. The following question by Eddie is worth reflecting on:
Day 3 of the Holiday Club. Over 70 kids every day. Chris has a great team leading the Club. The atmosphere across the church this morning was superb.
Yesterday morning, The Showstoppers Holiday Club for P1-7 children began in the Church. Chris Watt has a great team of volunteers working with him and over 70 children have registered for the week. Hopefully, Chris will post some pictures from the Holiday Club as the week goes on.
Congratulations to Bill and Margaret Lamond who are celebrating their ruby wedding anniversary today.
