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 culturehere. 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.
Red letter day last Sunday. We were in Aberystwyth for the baprism of my oldest grandson, Gwilym. It was a joy to hear is brief testimony and to see him baptised. He has been wanting this for some time but as he is only 11 the church has moved slowly. Lovely to see various realtivs along too. Great to hear a clear baptistic sermon from Matthew 3 from my son and then also to be there in the evening when he preached well on John 3:1-15 and there was a student tea to follow. Nice to meet several students old and new and others. Great Lord's Day.
Alex It was a blessing this afternoon to be among just over fifty gathered at the Angel Grace Baptist Church for a goodbye and hello meeting in connection with the church Hope, West End. Long serving pastor Andrew Murray and his wife Joy are retiring back to Suffolk and Keith Holmes, who, with his wife Ruth, has been working for the church for the last nine years is also stepping down. In their place, Brazilian Alex Brito and the association evangelist Tim Gardiner, with their families, are together going to lead the church, now perhaps larger than it has ever been but still small. It was good to hear the new and old men and their testimonies and to hear Andrew King preach a brief but excellent sermon from Acts 20 (Paul's manner of life, method of teaching and message an example).
Six people, one dog and one online it was this week. As usual, first we sang a hymn then read the Bible and considered, this week, Romans 10:1-13. We then chatted and after that prayed. All over before 9.30 pm (8 pm start).
There was the usual reading and walking and coffee last Tuesday but things were alittle different in that I had to be at a meeting in Ashford in the morning. I went by train and had a McDonalds there for lunch before getting back. By the time I was home I was not quite relaxed and rather wasted the evening indulging in Milton Jones and Tim Vine videos (all clean which is a blessing).
We were not a large number last Lord's Day (about 40 am and 13 pm). A lady returned in the evening, having been with us in the morning two weeks back, a Ugandan lady. We pressed on with Ephesians 6:16 and 2 Chronicles 29 (the first chapter on Hezekiah).
Five of us in the room and one online last night for midweek meeting. We looked at the closing verses of Romans 9 (30-33) a reminder of salvation by faith not by works. We also prayed. Our dog Alffi joined us and was well behaved.
t was back to the more traditional day off on Tuesday as my wife had to work. In the evening I had a church officers meeting so the length of the day was truncated. I sill had time to read a little book o the fascinating Josiah Wedgwood, most of an art book on Seascapes and a little book on Lust by Flavel. I also did some work on this blog and my sermon blog and had a coffee out.
It was a privilege to be among the few who joined the executive committee online on Monday for the annual meeting of Affinity chaired by Graham Nicholls.
Graham has now served as Director for approximately nine years. He shared highlights of his work, noting that he dedicates about one day a week (or more when needed) to Affinity while serving as a pastor of a local church during the remainder of his time. He expressed deep gratitude to the Advisory Council, trustees, and key supporters, including
Joel Upton (for administration, creative input and organisational advancements). Joel will be laving his post soon.
Adam May (for media and political connections).
Fran Kirby (for social media and content support).
Paul Yeulett (for chairing and leading the Theological Study Conference).
Tom Brand (as chair of the Council and for his pastoral guidance and involvement).
Graham outlined a wide range of activities he undertakes, including
Managing decisions for publications and planning events like the Theological Study Conference and mini-conferences.
Attending member events, such as the Grace Baptist Assembly Association Day, EMW Ministers' Conference in Bala, and EFCC Prayer Conference.
Recording podcasts with co-host Lizzie Harewood from the Association of Christian Teachers.
Engaging in media appearances, including interviews on topics like Generation Z, immigration, the Pope, and the resignation of Justin Welby (with 14 interviews in 24 hours, reaching outlets like the Australian Broadcasting Company). These opportunities allow for gospel proclamation, modelling winsome apologetics, and potentially opening doors for local churches.
Hosting partnerships meetings to connect agencies and share prayer needs.
Leading monthly Council prayer meetings and termly in-person Social Issues group meetings.
Campaigning on key issues, such as supporting marriage declarations, opposing the conversion therapy ban (including a seminar with the Christian Institute in Newcastle), resisting changes to abortion laws, and attending the Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast.
Contributing to Christian publications, engaging in debates (e.g., on concupiscence), speaking at conferences (e.g., London School of Theology on spiritual abuse), and supporting agencies like Release International (e.g., publicising Petr Jašek's story).
Political engagement, including a planned meeting with the new faith minister.
In response to a question about changes over the past nine years, Graham noted a shift toward more online engagement (post-COVID), the launch of the podcast, evolved publications, and more efficient use of time (e.g., remote media interviews reducing travel).
Among other things, we also heard about the Theological Study Conference for 2027. The 2025 event drew many first-timers and fostered stimulating discussions. The next conference will be themed Kingdom: The Church in a Fractured World.
Speakers and topics include
Michael Haykin: Salt and Light in a Time of Decay
Matthew Mason: Speaking the Truth in Love
Collin Hansen: The People of God in the Nations of the World
Phil Swann: Authority and Accountability
Kenneth Harrod: Lessons from the Persecuted Church
The date: Wednesday 10 March to Friday 12 March 2027
Mark Randall Volman (19 April, 1947 – September 5, 2025) was an American vocalist, guitarist and songwriter best known as a founding member of the 1960s rock band the Turtles, and, along with his bandmate and friend Howard Kaylan, a member of the 1970s rock duo Flo & Eddie, where he used the pseudonym Flo (The Phlorescent Leech). Volman also became a stand-out figure upon joining Frank Zappa's band, The Mothers of Invention. I knew of him through his work with T Rex.
Richard "Rick" Davies (22 July 1944 – September 6, 2025) was an English musician best known as founder, vocalist and keyboardist of the rock band Supertramp. Davies was the band's only constant member and wrote or co-wrote songs including "Goodbye Stranger", "My Kind of Lady", "Cannonball", and "I'm Beggin' You". He was known for his rhythmic blues piano solos, jazz-tinged progressive rock compositions and cynical lyrics. I was not abig Supertramp fan but Breakfast in America, Dreaming, Logical Song, etc, wormed their way into my psyche.
Nicholas "Nicky" Dominick Ryan (14 July 1946 – September 10 2025) was an Irish music producer, recording engineer and manager best known as the longtime business and recording partner for the singer, songwriter and musician Enya alongside his wife, poet and lyricist Roma Ryan. Born and raised in Dublin, Ryan gained initial recognition in the 1970s and 1980s for his work with several artists including Gary Moore, Planxty, Christy Moore and Clannad.
Bobby Hart (born Robert Luke Harshman; 18 February 1939 – September 10, 2025) and Sidney Thomas Boyce (1939 – 1994) were an American duo of singer-songwriters. In addition to three top-40 hits as artists, the duo is well known for its songwriting for the Monkees.
We had a fellowship lunch together yesterday in Childs Hill. As last time numbers were fairly small and we were in the parlour. Typically, there was a new Iranian. This one has asylum and has moved into the area recently. The Iranian lady who first came a few weeks ago was back plus six or seven other Iranians, even though two couples are currently travelling. Lot away as ever. I preached on the gospel shoes in the morning (and also spoke to five children present) and on wicked king Ahaz in the evening. A series of errors meant we had no notiice sheets, which we usually have, as below.
Some of you may be interested in this article I came across by Stephanie Martin that includes a short clip of the late John Macarthur talking to the recently assassinated Charlie Kirk in 2022.
Readers will be interested to learn that we have arranged a new set of zoom lectures for this Autumn in connection with the Evangelical Library. All lectures are on Mondays and will began at 1 pm and be over by 2 pm.
Logon details can be obtained from the Library near the time.
The lectures will be as follows
September 29 Gary Brady on Pastor, theologian and hymnwriter, John Fawcett 1739-1817
October 27 Fergus Pearson on Bible commentator, Thomas Scott 1747-1821
November 24 Dr Ian Densham on Swiss Reformer, Theodore Beza 1519-1605
Our small meeting on Wednesday (with two online too) was led by my assistant Eddie. He took us to the Song of Solomon and gave us a brief devotional. We then responded to the passage in prayer and then after discussing matters for prayer we again prayed, mainly intercession.
This week was a bit different as my wife, Eleri, has a new regime where she doesn't usually work on Tuesdays and so the first half of the day I was with her. We drove over to Highgate but were unable to park there at first and so we went to Kenwood House for a cuppa and them went to see the current art exhibition called double vision. Kenwood has a Vermeer, the Guitar Player. It turns out there is a copy of this in Philadelphia and they are currently showing the two together. Quite interesting. In Highgate later we had a little look at the shops and I left a pile of books at Oxfam, which I was also able to do last week in West Hampstead. The rest of the day was mopstly reading (a book on Landscapes, a short biography of James Brindley, a travelogue by Shackleton, a book on the Irish famine and a little book onanger byRichard Baxter) and TV and some episodes of the Likely Lads. Good day.
Last Lord's Day was a bit different. We began with communion and then at 11 we had Sajida Iqbal from Noor Miisties speak. We then had a slightly truncated surface with only three hymns, I preached from Ephesians 6:14b on the breastplate of righteousness. We seemed to be packed out even with at least 16 away. There was a new lady but I didn't get to speak to her. In the evening we were very few. I preched from 2 Chronicles 27 on good king Jotham.
The Westminster Conference papers for 2024, impressively handled by Ettrick Press, are now available. Some 180 odd pages Creeds, councils and contoversies contains six papers, including one by myself on The Salter's Hall Debates.
Little known fact - my coffee machine has been bust for some time and I have been relying on the aeropresse. However, my third son had the vision to get a repair organised and rallied the troops to sort it. We found a place in Bridgend (Cortile) who dealt with it (at a price it must be said) and yesterday my wife brought it back from there. Good to have it back.
Five of us there yesterday and one online (finding it too difficult to get through the traffic at the moment). We returned to Romans 9, to verses 22-29, and spent time in prayer.
I haven't had a formal day off in a while as I've been holidaying and spending time with family and so it hasn't been necessary. OnTuesday, however, I put in my jeans and trainers and had a typical day off reading, buying cheese (Normandy Tomme) and drinking coffee. Should have done more walking. Had lunch in Pret a manger. There were one or two othe things too. I read most of John Mark Comer's disappointing book Practicing the way as that is the book chosen for the next Pastors Academy Reading Group. More on that some other time.
There are things to be learned by sitting in the congregation and I had an opportunity this last Lord's Day. Eddie preached for me - challenging in the morning from Revelation 3 on Laodicea and then encouraging us in the evening from Daniel 2. Typical numbers morning (30-40) and evening (about 17). Good to have my oldest sonand his family wiht us.
The brochure for the Carey Conference 2026 is out. The main speaker is Peter Williams from Tyndale House. Elly Achok Olare from Kenya is also speaking and others. January 6-8 in Northampton.
Last Saturday I sat down with some of my grand children to watch the film K Pop Demon Hunters. I was interested to watch as the film is quite popular at present. It was a coherent good v evil story with nice pop songs and one or two twists that it is easy to see winning young hearts and minds.
