The similar phrase 'Worldly Christianity' is one used by Bonhoeffer. It's J Gresham Machen that I want to line up most closely with. See his Christianity and culture here. Having done commentaries on Proverbs (Heavenly Wisdom) and Song of Songs (Heavenly Love), a matching title for Ecclesiastes would be Heavenly Worldliness. For my stance on worldliness, see 3 posts here.

Day Off Week 21 2021


Last Tuesday there was time for some TV and a coffee out but most of the time went on reading. I had several books for my birthday and made a big dent in several of them. I have now finished the book onf Focus which is full of interest for fans. As so often with this sort of book the proof reading (if any was done at all) is appalling. Mr Lambe if there is going to be a second edition, please please let me proof read it. I'm happy to do it for free. I enjoyed the Gavin Peacock in the main. It is a football book really but with a few twists. As I read, I realised I had seen Gavin play for QPR back in 2001. I'd taken the older boys there on some sort of cheap tickets deal in connection with the local school. The Richard Osman is lovely and undemanding. So that is

Decades – Focus in the 1970s Stephen Lambe
A Greater Glory: My Journey from the Pitch to the Pulpit Gavin Peacock h/b
The Thursday Murder Club Richard Osman
John and Betty Stam: Missionary Martyrs Vance Christie
Captive to the Word of God: A Particular Baptist Perspective Stuart Brogden

Means of Transport Wheelbarrow

 


Lord's Day May 23 2021


I preached last Lord's Day on texts again. In the morning, in person, it was Romans 4:4, 5 and justification by faith and then in the evening we went to Isaiah 57:15. In the morning our Korean friends did not return but our missing Eritrean lady was back. She had been ill and will be being moved on to East Ham. Just on Zoom in the evening. We had a video about the CCM work in Manila.

Midweek Meeting May 19 2021

 

We looked at another psalm last Wednesday. Psalm 111. My main points were
1. Wholeheartedly praise God for his great and glorious works and his righteousness
2. Praise him for his unforgettable wonders
3. Praise him for his just works and his trustworthy precepts
4. Eternally praise and fear the holy and awesome God for redemption and for his covenant
The turn out was fine and several prayed, though I think we must be a little less than we were at one time.

Means of Transport Van

 


Means of Transport Unicycle

 


10 People who died at the age of 62


No shortage of these

1. Martin Luther
2. D L Moody
3. Aristotle
4. Ludwig Wittgenstein
5. G K Chesterton
6. Peter Paul Rubens
7. Aneurin Bevan
8. Evelyn Waugh
9. Adam Faith
10. Henry Havelock

Means of Transport Tricycle

 


Means of Transport Scooter

 


10 Scoring Goalkeepers


Goalkeepers do not normally score in a football game but it can happen. Sometimes freak kick from their own goal may, by fluke or design, catch the opposing goalkeeper out and go in. Sometimes a goalkeeper will score a penalty. At times a goalkeeper may come up the pitch for a corner or free kick and score. Goalkeepers who for some reason become outfield players for one match or more are no loner goalkeepers strictly speaking.

1. Pat Jennings. Arguably the most famous goal of all time by a keeper is Jennings' effort in the 1967 Charity Shield while playing for Spurs against Manchester United. His goal clearance flew past Alex Stepney in the opposite goal after being caught by a gust of wind.

2. Alex Stepney. Stepney later discovered what it was like to score when, in 1973, he was appointed penalty taker by manager Tommy Docherty. There were only to of these before things moved on but Stepney netted both and at one moment was the club's top scorer.

3. Peter Shilton. Shilton scored the only goal of his long career during a game between Leicester City and Southampton in October, 1967. Southampton goalkeeper, Campbell Forsyth, misjudged Shilton's long punt upfield and, instead of splashing harmlessly in the mud, it spun off the pitch and flew over Forsyth's head into the goal. Leicester won 5-1.

4. Peter Schmeichel. Schmeichel scored 13 goals in his long career, including a headed equaliser for Manchester United from a corner in an UEFA Cup tie against Rotor Volgograd in 1996. His last effort was for Aston Villa when they lost to Everton 3-2 in the Premier League in October 2001.

5. Kaspar Schmeichel. Like father, like son, Peter Schmeichel's son scored while keeping goal in March, 2014, a stoppage time equaliser for Leicester City against Yeovil Town.

6. Brad Friedel. When Blackburn took on Charlton in February 2004, the American scored with his foot in the aftermath of a corner in the 89th minute to equalise. Some of the shine was taken off that goal as Charlton still found time to score again and won 3-2.

7. Paul Robinson. In March 2007 Spurs hosted Watford. Robinson lined up a free-kick not too far from his own box, just after the hour mark. He appeared to be hoping to connect with a Spurs striker in the Watford penalty area, but his long ball bounced just inside the edge of the visitors’ box before looping over the head of Watford keeper Ben Foster to score Spurs’ second goal. They won 3-1.

8. Tim Howard. In January 2012 there was another fluke. The ball rolled to the Everton goalkeeper inside his own box and the American’s long ball went up high and long and bounced just outside Bolton’s box. It gained great height off the bounce and went over Adam Bogdan's head into the opposite goal.

9. Asmir Begovic. Yet another fluke. A back pass rolled to Begovic’s feet inside the Stoke box. His long clearance travelled the length of the pitch before bouncing about 10 yards outside the Southampton penalty area. It looped over the head of Artur Boruc and found the net. Stoke went on to draw the game 1-1. This was in November 2013. Boruc's positioning was no doubt at fault. Begovic’s strike for Stoke was the longest-range goal in Premier League history.

10. Alisson Becker. This list was prompted by Brazilian Alisson Becker's recent goal for Liverpool against West Brom, when he came up for a late corner. It means Liverpool are still in contention for a place in Europe next season. 

Recent Deaths of Christian Leaders


It was a privilege to be last week at the funeral Michael Keen a long serving elder at Alfred Place Baptist Church alongside my father-in-law Geoff Thomas who read and prayed at the funeral. The service was led by my son, the present pastor, Rhodri Brady. Michael's son Andrew gave a helpful tribute. Keith Underhill read and prayed at the graveside. It was good to sing there. Thankfully we missed the rain. Among Michael Keen's many achievements was the establishment and continuation of one of the finest Christian Bookshops in the country. His Finder index was also a great help. He was one of those quiet, anonymous heroes of the faith (like his wife Norma). A recording of the funeral is available here.

Then shortly after we heard of the death of the evangelist John Blanchard. Proper  obituaries do not appear to have been produced yet but they ought to be and surely will. An interview with him from just a few weeks ago can be found here.

In Writing 137


The latest issue of the Evangelical Library Magazine In Writing is now available from the Library. It features an excellent article article by Dr Robert Strivens on Stephen Charnock and the doctrine of God.

Lord's Day May 16 2021


Miles behind once again We looked at texts again last Lord's Day. Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25 There is way that seems right but in the end it leads to death. A new Korean couple appeared and one or two others. Only on zoom in the evening when we looked at 1 Thessalonians 2:3, 4 again covering some basic matters. There is a lot to be said for textual preaching.

Midweek Meeting May 12 2021


We took a break from 1 Chronicles this week and looked at Psalm 12. (It's one of several psalms that I have no record of preaching on before). We also had a good time of prayer. All on Zoom, of course.

Lord's Day May 9 2021


I decided to go with texts last Lord's Day. For some reason I was quite gripped with Proverbs 25:25 and so went with that in chapel in the morning and felt I handled it okay. In the evening, only on zoom, it was Philippians 3:20,21 - that book is so full of good things. In the evening we were also able to hear from an old friend in Madagascar Henikaja. He spoke to us last in 2014. See here.

Midweek Meeting May 5 2021


We were in 1 Chronicles once again, Chapter 26 this time, considering the work of being watchful. We also had a good time of prayer even though a number of key people were absent. All on zoom as ever, of course.

Lord's Day May 2 2021


Lots of people away today though the numbers were not too bad. Only four or five for communion, however. We were in chapel again in the morning and on zoom only in the evening. After last week's success with the subject of hope I was expecting to do well with love from 1 Corinthians 13. However, the sermon was overlong and ended wit a long and difficult point. I now see that I should have done the whole thing backwards, starting with the long difficult point and moving to the easier and more obvious material. My problems began with having an abundance of material available. Still learning. In the evening we looked at the closing words of Luke 6 and that went better. Lower umbers again.

10 Songs with Latin lyrics


These pop songs all have Latin words
  1. Gaudete (Steeleye Span)
  2. Gloria (U2)
  3. Benedictus (Simon & Garfunkel)
  4. O Caritas (Cat Stevens)
  5. Pie Jesu (Sarah Brightman)
  6. Ave Maria (Leslie Garret, Amanda Thomson)
  7. Round goes the gossip (Focus)
  8. Pax Deorum and Tempus Vernum (Enya)
  9. Afer Ventus and Cursum perficio (Enya)
  10. Regina caeli, O filii et filiae (Sinéad O'Connor)

Means of Transport Rickshaw

 


Means of Transport Quad Bike

 


Midweek Meeting April 28 2021


Once again last Wednesday we had a good prayer meeting on zoom. We also carried on in 1 Chronicles with Chapter 25 which led us into a look at the matter of the music element in Christian worship. Hopefully it was useful. These were my eight heads:
1. Music is a normal part of the worship of God and should have its place
2. When we sing, the words should be the main thing (Verse 1 prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals)
3. Singing to God is a ministry or service
4. There ought to be an order and authority in our singing (human and divine [choirmaster and king])
5. Our singing ought to be varied but straight forward
6. Our singing ought to be characterised by thanksgiving and praise
7. Our singing should be as well thought out and skilled as we can make it
8. We should all sing whether we are good at it or only learning

Day Off Week 17 2021

Much like last week, I spent the day reading and TV watching in the main. I read mostly again from one of the volumes in the series on Particular Baptists and one or two other thingsI also popped out for a coffee and did a bit of blogging again.