Heavenly Worldliness

Reading the Bible B

2012-02-02T09:22:00.001Z

God's book of 'grace' is just like his book of nature; it is his thoughts written out. This great book, the Bible, this most precious volume is the heart of God made legible; it is the gold of God's love, beaten out into gold leaf, so that therewith our thoughts might be plated, and we also might have golden, good, and holy thoughts concerning Him.

John Bunyan

Dewi ar y teledu

2012-01-31T08:46:00.000Z

Spotted my son Dewi on Channel 4 news with his friends Cameron and Lukman on Channel 4 News yesterday. They were at the school asking about university tuition fees.

A Brakel on Self-denial

2012-01-27T12:23:00.000Z

This summary is found here.See 73ff.

Chapter 65: Self-Denial

Self-denialDefined

Self-denial is aChristian virtue, granted by God to His children, whereby they - outof love for God's will - neither give heed to nor yield to theirintellect, will, and inclinations insofar as they are in oppositionto the will of God - and oppose and suppress them instead. They do soby a voluntary forsaking and rejection of all that pertains to theirnatural well-being, if God's cause demands such from them - this tothe honor of God and the welfare of their neighbours (III: 397).

Self-denial is, first ofall, a

Christianvirtue.Pagans have observed that their inner peace has been disturbed bytheir lusts. Some therefore sought to extinguish them by way ofreason and appeared to practice self-denial in regard to some things.However, it did not issue forth from the right motive--love for thewill of God. They did not have the right objective in view, butrather it was a seeking of self (be it in a different manner thanothers), resting in this as their peace and seeking to be honoured bymen. Their self-denial was thus a splendid sin which had acounterfeit lustre, and was not accompanied by deeds (III: 397-398).

Secondly,the movingcause ofself-denial is the Lord and not man himself. Man is too deeplyimmersed in self-love to be able to rid himself there from. And evenif he could divorce himself from this, he would then not be able tobring himself into the opposite virtuous disposition. Self-denialdoes not consist in a negation, but is rather a propensity (III:398).

Thirdly,thesubjects ofself denial are thechildren of God.The unconverted are void of all spiritual life and therefore themotions and operation of life cannot come forth from them. Rather, itis a gift to God's children as presently being in a converted andbelieving state. They are those who are Christ's disciples and followHim (Mat. 16:24). Self-denial does not consist in a few deeds, but israther a propensity and disposition of the heart. Their heart hasbeen turned away from self-love and a seeking of self--albeitimperfectly (III: 398).

What Self-DenialIs NOT

Onemust not deny his spiritualself,that is, one's regenerated self, which Paul refers to as IinRomans 7:20. This is the sin of many true - but nevertheless weak -believers: Upon falling into a sin, upon the arising of a sinfulthought, and upon an assault by the devil, they immediately rejecttheir spiritual state and think, "I have no grace; I havedeceived myself and it has been nothing more than imagination."To do this is to deny received benefits and in some measure agrieving of the Holy Ghost. This is a manifestation of pride, for itsuggests that we are naturally much more virtuous than others, aswell as that the former good spiritual frames, motions, and deeds hadcome about by our own strength. Therefore, refrain from rejectingyour spiritual state; preserve what you have, and render honour toGod (III: 399).

Wemust also not deny the desire for thewell-being of our soul,the fear of hell, the desire for faith, hope, and love, and a desirefor communion with God and felicity. This was one of the erroneousarguments of the Labbadistswhoseactivities the Lord has overturned (III: 399-400).

The SpecificAspects of Self-Denial

Insteadone must deny his sinfulself,that is, the old Adam, in a general sense, with all his motions anddesires - whatever the nature and contrary to whatever commandmentthese motions may be, and whatever the faculty of the soul and of thebody may be by which such motions are executed.

Specifically,one must, first of all, deny his naturaland darkened intellect;that is, to refuse to make this a rule of doctrine and life.

Secondly,we must deny ourown will.

Thirdly,we must deny ourinclinations.

Fourthly,we must deny ourown honour.There is no sin more common to man and is more deeply rooted in theheart than a desire to be honoured.

Fifthly,we must deny our desire for possessions.Man's corrupt nature focuses on the physical. He desires to possesmuch, puts his trust in it, and determines to live from it.

Sixthly,we must deny our friends.

Seventhly,we must deny our life(III:400-402).

The Motivation forSelf-Denial: Love for the Will of God

The essence ofself-denial is that its acts ensue out of love for the will of God.It is the believer's desire neither to give heed to nor yield to hisdesires concerning the aforementioned matters, insofar as they arecontrary to the will of God, but rather to oppose and purge himselfof them (III: 402).

The Objective ofSelf-Denial: The Glory of God and the Welfare of the Neighbour

The objective ofself-denial is to glorify God and to promote the welfare of theneighbour (III: 403).

The Unconvertedand Unconverted Distinguished

A person who doesnot deny self

(1) is a slave of hislusts, makes that which is of the world his portion, and insists thathis lusts be satisfied at any cost.

(2) entertains greatthoughts about himself.

(3) has this prouddisposition of the heart engendering a desire to be honoured andperceived as such.

(4) has himself in mindwhen he is or intends to be in presence of people.

(5) takes careful noticeof what everyone says of him.

(6) will immediately bedispleased at heart if, in his estimation, he is not loved, served,and revered according to his wishes.

(7) is envious of othersif they receive more love and honour, and do more business than hedoes.

(8) becomes sorrowfuland despondent if others do not fulfil his desires.

(9) will be a zealousChristian in the realm of religion, as long as he can gain love,honour, and profit--yes, he even wants to be counted among the mostorthodox (III: 404-405).

Over against this weshall present a person who practices a great measure of self-denial -as is generally true for a godly person - so that everyone mayperceive how it ought to be, may be enamoured with that condition,and endeavour to increase in it.

(1) A person who deniesself desires no honour of men.

(2)The person who denies self does not desire love.

(3)The person who denies self also does not desire tobe revered.

(4)A person who denies self also does not wish tobe served.

(5)The person who denies self also does not desire riches(III:406-408).

The Need forSelf-Examination

The godly can alsoperceive hereby how much or how little of such self-denial they have.How much their heart still yearns for honour, love, respect, service,and the possessions of this world! Here their ulterior motivesoriginate which at times pollute their very best works, cause themmuch grief, and rob them of all joy in their work (III: 409).

Oh, you who are godly,examine yourself closely. Seek to ascertain what it is that yourheart still cleaves to and consider the abominableness of beingself-focused and of such seeking of self (III: 409).

Exhortation toSelf-Denial

It is thus necessarythat we courageously resist our sinful self and endeavour to arriveat a disposition and propensity of inward self-denial, as well as themanifestation of self-denial in all circumstances which occur. Takethe following to heart:

First, consider your ownstate. Who are you that you would pride yourself in anything and seekanything for yourself?

Secondly, what is itthat you desire and cleave to?

Thirdly, believers, hasnot the Lord granted and laid away better things for you? The Lordhas granted you that steadfast and durable benefit, consisting in theenjoyment of God, communion with Christ, the experience of peace andjoy, and eternal glory.

Fourthly, it is arighteous thing to deny self as far as the things of the world areconcerned, for all honor, reverence, service, and possessions are theLord's; you are not entitled to them.

Fifthly, self-denialengenders great peace. All your restlessness is the result of aseeking of yourself.

Sixthly, a person whodenies self has freedom, for he has nothing to lose. He fears neithershame, hatred, nor damage to his possessions, for he has renouncedall this - and whatever the Lord has loaned to him he will readilyreturn to Him if He requires this.

Seventhly, continuallyhold before you the example of the Lord Jesus and His saints. TheLord Jesus has denied Himself for your sake. Would you then notrenounce self for His sake?

Eighthly, even thoughall that we possess is not ours, and even though all that pertains tothe body is not worthy of attention, God nevertheless wants to rewardabundantly for whatever one has renounced and relinquished upon Hiscommand out of loving obedience toward Him, and for His Name or forHis cause (III: 409-412).

Final Advice forThose who Desire to Deny Self

Ifyou are desirous to be in such a holy condition and have suchliberty, and to be weaned from all and whatever the Lord wants us tobe weaned from, then…do not imagine, however, that all has beenaccomplished if you have lively desires for that condition andactivity, and now fully want to commit yourself to this, for yourown "I"is strong. It was the first to reside in you and it does not readilywant to depart. It is not so easy to deny self. Therefore, be awareof the strength of the old man and the weakness of the new man, andcall upon the Lord for help and strength (III:412).

TTROMG 06 Devon Toffees

2012-01-27T11:54:00.000Z

My granddad was a big one for Devon toffees. On occasions he would share them with us grandchildren. He got them from Woolworths I guess. He also liked Mint Imperials I was told but I never saw him eating those.

Reading the Bible A

2012-01-27T11:39:00.004Z

Augustine of Hippo says in his City of God

"Scripture, which proves the truth of its historical statements by the accomplishment of its prophecies, gives no false information". The rest of the paragraohis embarrassingly unhelpful but he got this right.

He is also supposed to have said

"If you believe what you like in the Gospel, and reject what you don't like, it is not the Gospel you believe, but yourself."

Pray for Asia

2012-01-27T08:55:00.000Z

Operation World urges us to pray today for Asia

Answer to Prayer

China is in the midst of amazing changes. Beyond the economic shift that has lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty, beyond the positive changes that the further opening of the country has brought, the Church in China is signalling a massive change in this, the world’s largest population. Christians in China now almost certainly exceed 100 million. They are present in all regions of the country and come from all walks of life. They love their country and have ambitious visions to see it transformed by the power of the gospel. The government, traditionally a ruthless persecutor of the Church, now recognizes the positive social impact Christians can make and increasingly accepts the reality that the Church in China is there to stay – and will play a major role in shaping the country’s future.
For an additional 8 Answers to Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.

Challenge for Prayer

The Himalayas region simmers with tension. The conflict over Kashmir is the most intractable of problems, with Pakistan and India (and China) holding conflicting claims over territory. The Kashmir dispute has profoundly shaped Pakistan’s domestic and foreign policies, has provoked an arms race between Pakistan and India and has already resulted in four wars. China and India are in dispute over territorial claims not just in Kashmir but also in Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh. Strife also exists over India’s hosting of the Tibetan government-in-exile and in Tibet itself. Add to this the Nepal Civil War of 1996-2006 (and continuing tensions), and you have a region filled with potential flashpoints.
For an additional 8 Challenges for Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.

War Horse Illustration

2012-01-25T16:02:00.002Z

One part of the War Horse film provides a good illustration which I have outlined over on the Sola Scriptura Blog here.

Why a Bible College training?

2012-01-25T12:47:00.001Z

This article is in the February Evangelical Timnes just out. It is the Guest Column and is by John D Brand.

There is, I believe, an identity crisis in theological training in the UK today. I became aware of it during my time on the home staff of an international mission agency and now see it from a different angle, as principal of a Bible college.

The question is: "What's the point of a Bible College training?" I fear we are in danger of losing sight of the true answer these days.

Do Bible colleges exist to provide a Christian route to get an academic qualification or to equip believers for effective spiritual service? The evidence is that the former has taken precedence over the latter, which has caused a major problem.

For many young people now Bible College is just another, perhaps more sheltered, route to getting a recognised qualification, and while there’s certainly nothing wrong with a good academic training and qualification, that agenda has had a massive impact on the ethos and nature of most Bible college training in UK. This fills me with alarm.

Bible neglected

Foe example, we are in danger of turning out good missiologists who know all about contextualisation and cross-cultural communication but are poor missionaries because they haven’t met with God on a deep level.

They haven't been spiritually transformed through their study of God’s Word with an emphasis on personal, spiritual devotions and disciplines as a core ingredient in their college experience.

We are in danger of turning out gifted theologians and apologists, who know all about higher criticism and are competent in the original biblical languages but are ineffective pastors and evangelists because they are, largely speaking, biblically illiterate, having spent an inordinate amount of time studying books about the Bible but precious little time in the Bible.

And I know – I’ve met some of them. I read some of their application forms when I was in leadership in the mission agency. One of my friends graduated from Bible college fairly recently and estimated he had spent less than 10% of his time in the Bible and that prayer meetings and devotional times had been largely optional.

Another former student said she had been three or four weeks in lectures before they actually opened their Bibles!

As a Bible college Principal this is something that weighs heavily on my heart most of the time. I don’t want us to lose sight of what we are actually about, which is not preparing students for an exam but for Christian service and spiritual warfare.

We need well trained biblically literate men and women, whose lives give evidence of a vital, transforming relationship with the Lord. We need training for head, heart and hands.

I recently read L J Van Valen’s biography of Robert Murray M'Cheyne Constrained by his love and was encouraged to see this statement, made by the author, about M’Cheyne’s attitude to his theological training: “The young student knew the true value of theological studies. These were nothing more than an aid in equipping him to be a servant of the Word of God.” Amen to that!

Seeking God

Van Valen goes on to quote from a letter sent by M’Cheyne to a fellow student: “Do get on with your studies. Remember you are now forming the character of your future ministry in great measure, if God spare you.

If you acquire slovenly or sleepy habits of study now, you will never get the better of it. Do everything in its own time. Do everything in earnest; if it is worth doing, then do it with all your might.

Above all, keep much in the presence of God. Never see the face of man till you have seen His face who is our life, our all.” I love that balance: get on with your studies because it is shaping your future ministry, do everything in earnest and, above all, keep much in the presence of God. Wonderful stuff!

At least I’m not alone in this concern. Here is R C Sproul in Feed My Sheep: “Some years ago, when I was on the faculty at a theological seminary, we reviewed the curriculum. We asked ourselves: what does a man have to know in order to be a godly pastor?

We decided that the main thing was the content of Holy Scripture. So many seminary courses are designed to answer academic questions of background, of authorship, and technical problems that we never get around to the English Bible. Our future ministers are coming out of seminaries not fully conversant with the content of the Bible.

So we began to develop a curriculum from ground zero. We said, let’s step out of the academic world for a minute and design the curriculum not to train professors in the areas of their specialities, but to serve the church and thereby to serve Christ.”

How I rejoiced to read that. That approach to the curriculum is precisely the one my predecessor and I took nearly four years ago (though with a wider remit than just for pastors).

The author is Principal of the Faith Mission Bible College, Edinburgh.

War Horse

2012-01-24T11:59:00.002Z

We went to see War Horse last Saturday. Based on the children's novel of the same name by Michael Morpurgo, first published in 1982 and the 2007 stage adaptation, also of the same name it is set during World War I. Stephen Spielberg directed, the varied cast being very competent but not that well known (although I spotted Dominic Cumberbatch in there). Some 14 horses were used apparently including a main one who also took the part of Sea Biscuit.

I've not seen the stage play but I know that in the book the horse tells the story. That dramatic method was thankfully dropped. The story is told from the horse's point of view but not sentimentally or ridiculously.

We all enjoyed it (ages 10-52) and I found myself close to tears on more than one occasion as the frailty of the human condition was played out against the back cloth of poverty and war and we saw the courage, cowardice and a certain amount of madness typical of life here on earth. The certificate is 12a but that is only in light of the violent war scenes rather than anything else. Great film for the whole family and a wonderful opener for endless discussion on man and animals, war and peace, human strengths and weaknesses, etc.

More here.

Beautiful English Words

2012-01-21T20:15:00.001Z

One of my sons sent me this link to the 100 most beautiful words in English. See here. One could add perhaps these

avuncular

dicephalous

glide

svelte

mellifluous

modulate

morose

panache

ponder

punctual

variegated

verdant

　

Novelists 4 Henry Fielding

2012-01-19T17:56:00.003Z

Henry Fielding 1707-1754 wrote 25 plays early in life that essentially satirise political corruption. This made him few friends so he turned to study the law and in 1748 was appointed a magistrate. He probably wrote Shamela (1741), a burlesque of Richardson's Pamela. Joseph Andrews (1742) also parodies Richardson. Tom Jones (1749) his most popular work, is noted for its great comic gusto, vast gallery of characters, and contrasting scenes of high- and lowlife.

ITN Cwmbran

2012-01-18T08:48:00.000Z

I was watching the news last night when I saw a face I recognised. ITN are speaking to a group of business people and one of them was Chris Sullivan of RBS. He is a year older than me and lived round the corner from where I grew up. I used to swap football pics with hsi brother. I think I was first aware of him when I saw him dressed as Peter or Gordon for a miming thing we used to do in our school. He hasn't really lost his accent.
Then the very next item showed Danny Gabbidon scoring fro QPR in the cup. Another Cwmbran boy I believe.

Owen on God's Unchanging Love

2012-01-17T20:01:00.001Z

I found this here. It's from John Owen on Communion with God.

The love of the Father is the same for all whom he has chosen to love. Whom God loves he loves to the end, and he loves them all alike. On whom he sets his love, it is set for ever. God's love does not grow to eternity or lessen in time. God's love is an eternal love that had no beginning and that shall have no end. It is a love that cannot be increased by anything we do and that cannot be lessened by anything in us.

But the love of God may be seen to be changeable in two ways:

1. God's love is changeable in its communications to us. It may sometimes be greater, sometimes less. Who among the saints does not know the truth of this? With what life, what light, what strength does God's love appear to us at times! And at other times how dead, how dark, how weak his love appears to be! All the graces of the Spirit in us, all sanctified enjoyments whatever, are fruits of his love. How variously these fruits are brought to us! How differently, at different times and seasons to the same person, his love is felt, experience will abundantly testify.

2. God “pours out his love in our hearts by the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 5:5). The Holy Spirit gives us a sense of it. He makes it known to us. Now this varies and is changeable. Sometimes it is more, sometimes less. Now he shines, and now he hides his face. But it is all done for our good. Our Father will not always chide in case we are cast down. He does not always smile in case we take his love for granted and neglect him. But still his love is always the same. When for a while he hides his face, he still gathers us with everlasting kindness.

Objection. But you will say, “This comes near to blasphemy!” You are saying that God loves his people in their sinning as well as in their strictest obedience. If this is so, who will bother to serve him or seek to please him?”

Answer. There are few truths of Christ which have not been greatly misunderstood and twisted by the ignorance of foolish men. The love of God in itself is the eternal purpose and act of God’s will. This is no more changeable than God himself. If it were, nobody could be saved. But God’s love does not change and therefore we are not consumed in his wrath. Does God then love his people while they are sinning? Yes! He loves his people but he does not love their sinning. Doesn’t God’s love change towards them? Not the purpose of his will to love them, but the working out of his gracious acts and disciplines towards them is changed. He rebukes them, disciplines them, hides his face from them, smites them, fills them with a sense of his indignation, but woe to us if he should change his love, or take away his kindness from us! Those very things which seem to suggest that his love to us changes in fact come to us from his love to us. “But won’t this encourage sin?” To suggest such a thing is to admit you have never tasted the love of God. The doctrine of grace may be turned into an excuse for doing evil but the principle cannot. And we may further affirm that God’s detesting and loathing sin in his people is not inconsistent with the acceptance of their persons and their being chosen for eternal life.

Novelists 3 Samuel Richardson

2012-01-17T19:51:00.000Z

Samuel Richardson1689-1761 was the author of the epistolary novels Pamela or Virtue Rewarded (2 vols., 1740-1), Clarissa or The History of a Young Lady (7 vols., 1747-8), and The History of Sir Charles Grandison (1753-4). Richardson was a London printer and publisher by trade.

Youcef Nadarkhani

2012-01-17T08:44:00.000Z

Continue to pray for Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who was sentenced to death for apostasy in November 2010. At the time of writing, his case had been referred to Iran's supreme leader for a decision. This unusual move indicates how much is at stake for both Pastor Nadarkhani and the country, which has been criticised on the international stage over his death sentence. The church leader has repeatedly refused opportunities to renounce his faith in order to secure an annulment of the charge. Thank God for Pastor Nadarkhani’s courage, and pray that the international pressure on Iran will result in his acquittal and freedom.

(Barnabas fund)

Jesus unique

2012-01-17T08:42:00.000Z

Jesus brooks no rivals. There have been, there are, many religious leaders.

In an age of postmodern sensibilities and a deep cultural commitment to philosophical
pluralism, it is desperately easy to relativize Jesus in countless ways.
But there is only one Person of whom it can be said that he made us, and then
became one of us; that he is the Lord of glory, and a human being; that he died
in ignominy and shame on the odious cross, yet is now seated on the right hand

of the Majesty on high, having returned to the glory he shared with the Father

before the world began.
Don Carson

Novelists 2 Defoe

2012-01-13T21:55:00.000Z

Daniel Defoe 1660-1731 was an English novelist, pamphleteer, and journalist, best known for his novels Robinson Crusoe and Moll Flanders. A nonconformist, he certainly understood Christian conversion even if he hadn't experienced it for himself. His novels were written in the closing years of his life. He is buried in Bunhill Fields. He also wrote Journal of the plague year.

Novelists 1 Bunyan

2012-01-13T21:53:00.000Z

John Bunyan 1628-1688 was born November 1628, in Elstow, England. A celebrated English minister and preacher, he wrote The Pilgrim's Progress (1678), the book that was the most characteristic expression of the Puritan religious outlook. His other works include doctrinal and controversial writings; a spiritual autobiography, Grace Abounding (1666); and another allegory The Holy War (1682). He is buried in Bunhill Fields.

Past diary entry Jan 08 1994

2012-01-11T17:28:00.003Z

"Not an over taxing day" it says (it was a Saturday). I'd read the papers, taken Rhodri for sweets, put up a poster, listened to a broadcast interview with Charlie Watts. Eleri had had a deserved sleep in the afternoon (a very rare thing even then). My father-in-law was with us in the evening and we had chatted until late, sermon preparation being under control it would seem. I took several phone calls and one person was obviously moaning at me for some reason but I was hoping in the preached Word.

Past diary entry Jan 07 1994

2012-01-10T20:08:00.001Z

Still at the Carey I was up a little late and decided on private devotions rather than the prayer meeting (always hard to call). Phoning home I was told there was snow (all gone by the time I got home later that day). Back at the Carey Bob Godfrey was excellent on women's ordination and Bob Sheehan on sanctification. Took the train home. Several at the station. Talked to Tim Mills en route. As we arrived at St Pancras I saw that the great Gordon Banks was also on the train. Back home put Rhodri (5) to bed then had a candlelit supper with Eleri. Worked on a sermon on Ephesians 6 until quite late.

Past diary entry Jan 06 1994

2012-01-06T12:07:00.001Z

Still at Swanwick I was up early for my own devotions then led the prayer meeting using Psalm 5. I enjoyed Robert Godfrey again, this time on Calvin and the Pentateuch. I made a note to read more Calvin, something I'm still telling myself 17 years on! We also had Erroll Hulse on the Law in the NT and Peter Jeffrey on the Law and Gospel Preaching. We also had a discussion session on discipline and ministers falling into sin. I'd felt very much under conviction at one point but a conversation with Bob Sheehan (now with the Lord) had helped - not that I consciously remember any of it now. By the time I got back to my room I was on a high with a million thoughts (typical of me to be at extremes). We also had a question session with Bob Godfrey that day and it says that I asked him "how to be an average minister" and he had replied in terms of having a high view of the call and remembering that God is present when we preach.

Past diary entry Jan 05 1994

2012-01-06T11:42:00.000Z

Up early with Dylan (12 months). It is my regular practice to attend the Carey Conference near the beginning of each new year. In 1994 it was in Swanwick, as has been the case for some years. I bought a meal for a beggar at St Pancras and enjoyed reading RT and BoT mags en route but appear to have got there in something of a bad mood. I don't know if it was the train delay due to flooding, feeling sick on the bus journey from Derby, being behind with sermon preparation or guilt at leaving Eleri home with two kids and she still not quite well. Professor Robert Godfrey kicked us off with a great paper on Luther and the Law. Up until late chatting with my father-in-law and several others. Also bought some books (Farley on Providence, Derek Thomas on Ezekiel).

Carey Conference 2012 08

2012-01-05T12:54:00.003Z

Sam Waldon's final paper looked at the universal work of the Spirit in the new covenant. He had three points

1. The emphasised dissimilarity of the new covenant

Some writers on the covenant emphasise similarities to such a point that there seems to be no dissimilarity

2. The precise superiority of the new covenant

Often commentators from Calvin on say that the newness of the new covenant is simply quantitative not qualitative. Surely though when it says that all will know God under the new covenant that is the difference. Under the old covenant there were many who were not saved. That is not the character of the new covenant. Under the new covenant there must be repentance - something not required under the old covenant. Similarly, spiritual sight and spiritual circumcision is now necessary which was not the case before. Sonship was quite a differen thing too. Mt 3, John 1, Php 3, Rom 8, 9, etc)..

The old covenant people are a physical nation while the new covenant people re a spiritual people.

3. The ulitmate fulfilment of the new covenant.

Presbyterians say that the new covenant church is very similar to the old covenant community. Part of the difficulty here is the need to remember that the ne covenant is not yet consummated. There is more to come. in the presnet age the promises are being fulfilled but there is more to come. The importance of this is that we are not now looking back to old Jerusalem and its mixed multitiude for our model but forward to new Jerusalem for it.

Applications

1. The fundamental importance of a regenerate church membership

2. The biblical necessity of believers baptism

3. We learn here a fatal flaw in arguments for paedobaptism

4. The glorious privilege of being a member of a new covenant church

Carey Conference 2012 07

2012-01-05T10:42:00.000Z

Our final day began with a paper from Bill James on children and the church. This is his outline

Intro - the special place of church children. They are not in the covenant but they are to be

welcomed (Mt 19:14), instructed (Eph 6:4), holy (1 Cor 7:14). Also note household baptisms.

1. Theology of children

Children are important

Children are sinners

Children are immature

Children's developing sense of responsibility

Children are entrusted to their parents

2. The nurture of chidren

Our responsibilities

Teaching, training, example

Involvement in worship and church life

Leading them to Christ

Children's privileges

Holy (1 Cor 7:14)

3. Leading our children to Christ

Coming to Christ

The need for care and patience and not bxing in.

Baptism

Can a child below teenage years give a credible profession?

Understanding? Conformity? Church membership?

More prayer points

2012-01-05T01:03:00.000Z

We had some more prayer pointers today from

Neil and Sheila Court of Stepwise in South Africa
Andy Banton of OAM

Plus
Michael Robinson recently move from Eeklo to Le Panne via Bruges in Belgium
Iader Patuelli (and Paolo) from Imola, Italy interpreted by Sarah Pietri
Lewis Allan involved in a ministerial training initiative
Benjamin Mitchell of the Christian Institute
Peter Slomski in Poznan, Poland
I also mentioned the 1662 conference coming up March 27

Carey Conference 2012 06

2012-01-05T00:57:00.000Z

We had a second session with Sam Waldron today, which I chaired. We came this time to the grace of the new covenant and there were again three points.

1. The covenant's sovereign determination

In Jeremiah 31 rather than the "if" of Exodus 19 we have ten shalls or wills.

2. The covenant's unbreakable character

The old covenant was broken by the people even thought it was in some sense a gracious covenant. The new covenant is one that will niot be broken. The problem with the Old Covenant was the unbelief of the people. There isa sense in which the new covenant is unconditional but there is a sense in which it is not. Our problem is God's wrath against sin rather than sin itself.

3. Its mediatorial guarantor -Christ.

All this points to the deficiency of an Arminian vision of grace, the need not to be embarrassed by the doctrines of grace and the centrality of Christ.

Good stuff once again.

Carey Conference 2012 05

2012-01-04T12:22:00.000Z

The second session of the morning was a little different in that Lewis Allen described the church planting work he has been involved with in Huddersfield over the last 18 months or so. Quite humbly and helpfully he described what has happened and the things he has taught and laid down at this beginning point. What a wise and inspiring fellow. I liked that phrase "the holy inconvenience of the Lord's Day".

Past diary entry Jan 04 1994

2012-01-04T11:11:00.000Z

Tuesday was a long day starting at 7.15 am and ending gone 11 pm. It was less efficient but I got some things done and did some shopping and bathed the boys. I also visited a member of the congregation who'd had a baby boy. Relaxed in the evening with newspapers and TV. I was concerned at the lack of reading and sermon prep.

Carey Conference 2012 04

2012-01-04T10:12:00.000Z

For our first session today we bifurcated by gender. We men listened to John Benton who spoke on the current climate. He had many interesting things to say under these three headings:

1. Demography

In the coming years we can expect to see more

Elderly

Immigrant

Young

Single

Poorer

IT people

2. Psychology

There is increasingly a culture that is a

Secular culture

Therapy culture

Entertainment culture

Post-modern culture

Social media

3. Theology

Church the importnace of the body of Christ

Grace real grace not secualr grace (as in American TV)

Scripture

Carey Prayery

2012-01-04T10:04:00.000Z

Instead of the usual prayer and share time this year they are having a prayer item at the beginning of each session. So far Matthias Lohmann has spoken about Germany, Erroll Hulse has reminded us of the various conferences that go on in South Africa at this time of the year and Steve Nowak from Stowmarket spoke about his regular trips to Indonesia, The Philippines and Tanzania. Then this morning Robert Strivens urged us to pray for LTS.

The Law of God is good and wise

2012-01-03T21:15:00.000Z

Dr Waldron quoted this hymn on the Law.

The law of God is good and wise
And sets his will before our eyes,
Shows us the way of righteousness,
And dooms to death when we transgress.

Its light of holiness imparts
The knowledge of our sinful hearts
That we may see our lost estate
And seek deliv'rance ere too late.

To those who help in Christ have found
And would in works of love abound
It shows what deeds are his delight
And should be done as good and right.

When men the offered help disdain
And wilfully in sin remain,
Its terror in their ear resounds
And keeps their wickedness in bounds.

The law is good; but since the fall
Its holiness condemns us all;
It dooms us for our sin to die
And has no pow'r to justify.

To Jesus we for refuge flee,
Who from the curse has set us free,
And humbly worship at his throne,
Saved by his grace through faith alone.

Carey Conference 2012

2012-01-03T20:59:00.003Z

This evening we had the privilege of hearing the first of three papers on the new covenant from our US visitor, Sam Waldron. He spoke tonight of the necessity of the law in the new covenant. Focusing on Jeremiah 31 he tackled these questions:

1. About what law is God speaking?

He is speaking about a law written by the finger of God on tablets of stone, the moral law as summarised in the Ten Commandments.

2. What is meant by the writing of that law on the heart?

It is important that we correctly understand what the Bible means by heart.

1 The seat and centre of the affections and the convictions (Rom 5:5, 9:2, 10:9, 10, etc, etc)

2 the source and spring of our words and actions (Prov 4:23, 24, Lk 6:44, 45, etc)

To have God;'s law written on hearts is to be convinced of its holiness and authority, to be controlled by its wisdom and instruction, etc, etc.

Not perfectly but truly this is how the Christian lives.

3. For what reason is the law written on the heart?

There is no being in the new covenant without this. There is no knowing God or forgiveness without this. This is how God is their God.

Observations

1. An essential goal of the gospel is the writing of the Law on the heart.

2. An essential accompaniment of true faith is a new heart deep delight in the law.

3. This does not mean that we no longer need to be guided by the objective dictates and authority if the Word but the very opposite. It is rather to love adn delight in the Law. Cf Ps 19, 119, Prov 28:9, etc.
4. Jeremiah 31 supports the threefold division of the Law and the third use of the Law.
5. It indeed upholds the confessional threefold division of judicial, ceremonial and moral law

Carey Conference 2012 02

2012-01-03T17:46:00.001Z

The Comedy of the Covenants

The second paper at Carey this year was from Martin Salter, an Oakhill graduate and an assistant pastor in Bedford. He gave us this outline to his helpful talk:

1. A covenant is ...

“A covenant of God with man, is an agreement between God and man, about the way of obtaining consummate happiness.” (Witsius)

"A covenant is a bond in blood sovereignly administered." (O Palmer Robertson)

"It is an oath-bound and oath-certified assurance of irrevocable grace and promise." (John Murray)

2. Story of the covenant ...

a. We traversed briefly the biblical story of the covenants

b. The newness of the new covenant

i. Calvin points up four antitheses from 2 Cor 3

external/internal; death/life; condemnation/righteousness; temporary/eternal
ii. Particularity and universality (Acts 2; Hebrews 8)
iii. Owen's five differences (Hebrews 8:6) - clearer, more gracious, immediate, spiritual, extensive.
"all with whom this covenant is made are effectually sanctified, justified and saved."
c. Dangers of reductionism or over-distinction within the "covenant of grace".

3. Signs of the covenant

Circumcision, baptism and the relationship between the two (Colossians 2:11, 12). This is the classic passage that is supposed to show that baptism of infants replaces circumcision. Rather Paul is talking about regeneration. Spiritual baptism replaces physical circumcision. One problem here is the fact that circumcision continued after baptism.

4. Objections

a. Is God less kind? (Zwingli) But is it less kind? He misses the radical newness.

b. Acts 2:39 - the promise is for you and your children The promise is that if we repent and are baptised we will be saved.

c. Warning passages (eg Hebrews 10). There are difficulties here but they are not suggesting that it is possible to fall from the covenant. God uses means to keep his children in line and it is the way language works that provides the key to such passages. (Cf 2 Peter 2:1).

5. Critiques

a. Everyone is a credo-baptist in practice

b. Consistency of paedo-baptists

The Larger Westminster Catechism is inconsistent.

Cf Stoddard's halfway covenant, Berkhof's "dual aspect", presumptive regeneration (Canons of Dort), federal vision.

6. Conclusions

A story which moves from one degree of glory to another - a better story

A consistent covenant theology is a Baptist covenant theology

Perhaps the most helpful thought was that every covenant has a obligatory element (in the new covenant Christ meets it).

Carey Conference 2012 01

2012-01-03T15:11:00.000Z

Our opening session at this year's Carey was, as is traditional, a biographical paper. Matthias Lohman from Munich, who was with us last year for the first time, spoke on Johann Oncken 1800-1884. You can read about Oncken here. This presentation was a balanced and practical one. It is sad to think that such a good and well used man should be so forgotten.
He finished with some applications
1. His conversion - never be shy to share your faith.
2. Mark 5:18-20. Don't forget your own people and neighbours. Carey was in India before there was any such work in Germany. Train nationals, ideally.
3. His work in Hamburg - the power of the doctrines of grace despite opposition.
4. Ephesians 4 - his ongoing work in Germany. The importance of unity.
5. Philippians 4 - the importance of recieving and passing on gifts.
6. 2 Timothy 2:2. Oncken was a master of multiplication.
7. His final years - the importance of letting go of what you cannot keep, something Oncken failed to do.
Jeden Baptist ein missionar!

Past diary entry Jan 03 1994

2012-01-03T11:00:00.000Z

Monday January 3 was apparently a pretty efficient day, mostly in the study. In those days one wrote letters and I'd done some of that as well as making phone calls, trying to track down missing congregants. Got lunch from MacDonalds in Golders Green (now gone) and shopped in Sainsburys (smaller then) with Rhodri (5) in tow. Tried to help Eleri still not well and did some tidying in the study (not sure where in the house it was in those days). We watched some Ruth Rendell thing from 9 pm, then a member phoned late - a family member not returned home and a cause for concern. Eleri and I got into an argument after, sad to say, and so we were late to sleep.

Past diary entry Jan 02 1994

2012-01-02T22:42:00.001Z

Another past diary entry
The boys (ages 5 and 1) woke me around 6.15 (which didn't please me well). Eleri spent the day in bed and I muddled through making some sort of dinner and taking the boys for a short walk in the afternoon rain. I preached on Psalm 146 and Hebrews 10.20. Several who heard me that day are no longer in this world. There was communion in the morning. I was rather sleepy completing my preparations for these. We relaxed later in the evening, read from Isaiah and hit the hay around 10.30 pm.

Past Diary entry Jan 01 1994

2012-01-02T00:33:00.001Z

I thought we might try some past diary entries again.
January 1 1994 was a Saturday. We (Eleri, me and the two boys) travelled back from Cwmbran where we'd been staying with my mam and dad (no longer with us sadly). I'd been at the funeral of a deacon from my home church the day before (Mr Harwood - who had the endearing knack of putting in aitches where they shouldn't be and leaving them out where they should be). Eleri was not well and the doctor had to come (highly unusual). She coughed so much her ribs were sore. I felt tired and was on a post Christmas come down with lots to do. The place was a bit of a mess and I stayed up late watching TV.

Board Games

2011-12-31T17:29:00.000Z

Played three new board games over the holiday. When I say new I mean new to me.

1. Dixit

I liked this as it is gentle, easy to follow and calls for some imaginative skills.

One player is the storyteller for the turn. He looks at the 6 images in his hand. From one of these, he makes up a sentence and says it out loud (without showing the card to the other players).

The other players select amongst their 6 images the one that best matches the sentence made up by the storyteller.

Then, each of them gives their selected card to the storyteller, without showing it to the others. The storyteller shuffles his card with all the received cards. All pictures are shown face up, randomly, and every player has to bet upon what picture was the storyteller's.

If nobody or everybody finds the correct picture, the storyteller scores 0, and each of the other players scores 2. Otherwise the storyteller and whoever found the correct answer scores 3. Players score 1 point for every vote gotten by their own picture.

The game ends when the deck is empty or if someone reaches 30 points.Otherwise the greatest total wins the game.

More here.

2. Apples to apples

Here you have two decks of cards: Things and Descriptions. Each turn, a different person selects a Description and players try to pick, from the cards in their hands, the Things that best match that Description. The person then chooses the Thing that appeals to him most and awards the card to the player who played it. The unusual combinations of Things and Descriptions are often humorous. Once a player has won a pre-determined number of cards, that player wins.

More here.

3. His & hers

This game celebrates our differences as seen through everyday things. Two teams split by gender, each take turns asking questions from the cards, which have different types of questions and categories of a generally trivia style. Each question also has a colour code associated with it. Should the question asked be answered correctly, the answering team's playing piece is moved on the board to the next space that corresponds to that particular question colour code. Should they answer incorrectly, the opposing team gets a chance to steal the question and possible board movement.

As they say "His and Hers is definitely not a "rude and crude" game, but please note that a few of the questions do have adult content.' So do take care.

More here.

Great Expectations

2011-12-31T16:18:00.002Z

Watched the three one hour episodes of Great Expectations from the BBC last night. Gillian Anderson and Ray WInstone superb. Just brilliant! It's a great novel and this pared down made for TV version managed to keep the eseential plot and character details pretty well. Great stuff. The opening scenes were stupendous. There's a cinema version due out next year. It will be hard pushed to better this.

Gyda'r Teulu

2011-12-31T15:56:00.001Z

One feature of this season's holiday break was a three day family holiday in the Haven Centre, Pembroke. Some forty gathered and we had a brilliant time talking, walking, eating, playing games, doing quizzes , singing and worshipping together, etc. I was a little fearful beforehand about whether it would work but it was a fine time with the right mix of organisation and relaxation.

The story starts over 70 years ago in Blaenau Ffestiniog, North Wales in a Welsh speaking Nonconformist home where two sisters (one of them, Iola, being my mother-in-law were born). These two (2) both became school teachers then married South Walians, one a preacher and one a schoolteacher, (4) and moved to Aberystwyth in the middle. They both had three children, (10) now all married, (16) who in turn produced 9 (Iola's side) and 12 (Rhiain's side) grandchildren (37). Of these grandchildren three are married and one is engaged (41). Eleri's youngest cousin is married to an American serviceman currently overseas so he couldn't be there - though we saw him on skype.

We are pretty much a middle class bunch I guess but there is some variety. Of the 40, two are retired, three are preachers, one is involved in church planting and youth work and another is about to start working for UCCF; a number work with children, one drives for a living, six are tertiary students (art, drama, English, technology, medicine and science) and 17 are school age (4-17). We live in Wales (22), England (12) and the USA (6). We attend 10 different churches (two Welsh speaking, the rest English, three of which are in Wales). Of the men, five are elders and two are deacons. There are three Catrins, two Owains and potentially two Keiths.

It's a great privilege to be part of such a family. One real asset is Eleri's cousin Gwydion, a PE teacher, and his wife Catrin who basically organise the whole thing. Everyone is either a believer or not actively rebelling and that makes a big difference I'm sure. Lots of things to give thanks for as the year closes then.

Christmas Books

2011-12-28T18:44:00.001Z

One of the joys of Christmas is getting books as gifts. I did well this year with about eight altogether plus a Big book of Knowlege from one of my sons. There's not been muchtime to read them so far. They are

1. Britannica Guide to India
2. The Pedant's return
3. Giles Collection 2012 (cartoons)
4. The Litigators John Grisham
6. The Lives of the novelists John Sutherland
7. The Holy Spirit Geoff Thomas
8. Ministry by his grace and for his glory in honour of Tom Nettles

Y Benfro

2011-12-28T11:10:00.000Z

Part of our Christmas this year has been joining with about 40 for a family get together in Pembrokeshire. It was nice to be down by the sea yesterday.

Human trafficking

2011-12-28T09:34:00.000Z

I came across this on the Operation World website today. It's disturbing.

Human trafficking is the illegal commerce in human beings for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation or forced labour - a modern-day form of slavery. It is the fastest-growing criminal industry in the world, and tied with the illegal arms industry as the second largest after the drug-trade. Today there are between 12 and 27 million people trapped in forced labour, bonded labour and sexual slavery in the world. Nearly 80% of those trafficked are used for sexual exploitation.

In 2009, the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) created a taskforce on human trafficking in an effort to raise awareness on this issue. The aim of the taskforce is to prevent and combat trafficking by developing strategic and effective actions and tools that will help equip local churches and their leaders to become responsive to the victims of human trafficking.

Answers to Prayer

Compassionate men and women have created businesses that offer a future and a hope to people who need a means to support themselves. Vocational training and the development of businesses which embrace God's purposes - and the women and men He has created - are key to prevention and an essential part of restoration for those vulnerable to and victimized by human trafficking.

There is an increase in anti-trafficking legislation in countries around the world. Pray for the just and consistent application of such legislation, adequate training for officers of the court and the political will and courage to see prosecutions to trial. Trafficking rings are often connected to very powerful and influential organized crime rings.

Challenges for Prayer

Human trafficking is accelerating globally. The trade in human beings has now surpassed drug smuggling as one of the most profitable businesses in the world. A disproportionate number of women are involved in human trafficking, not only as victims but also as traffickers. Female offenders have a far more prominent role in present-day slavery than in most other forms of crime. Pray for both the trapped and the traffickers, especially former victims who have become perpetrators. Pray that God would frustrate the efforts of those who make a living from the suffering of others.

Labour exploitation. Men are victims of trafficking, too. Many countries allow employers to seize the passports of their employees, increasing vulnerability to human rights and labour violations. Also, up to 10-15% of those working in prostitution in Thailand are men, a number of whom have been trafficked for such purposes.

Internal trafficking is growing inside many countries, making it much more difficult to identify victims and prosecute offenders. China is particularly culpable in this area; true figures for internal trafficking are substantial but undocumented, but most of the girls have been trafficked from other areas in China. Traffickers themselves report that it only usually takes one month to keep a girl under tight restrictions and then she is broken and surrenders herself to her captivity. There are currently around seven million prostitutes in China alone, and research has found that 80% of them were trafficked or forced in some way when they first started. A new trend is the appetite for girls 14-15 years old. The trade in virginity is very profitable in much of Asia. Traffickers employ handsome young men to bring the girls in; this lover then gets a cut from the girl’s income. A large part of the overall problem faced is corruption. Traffickers and brothel owners will be arrested but face small sentences and, with the right connections, can pay themselves out. Those who perpetrate such exploitation often have no understanding of just how wrong what they do is.

Sex tourism is burgeoning as the global financial crisis makes travel to some areas of the world a bargain at the same time that unemployment and growing desperation make women, children and families even more vulnerable to exploitation. Pray for the following specific situations.

Girls and sometimes boys in India are married to gods at an early age and end up in brothels. Many contract HIV/AIDS and die very early - by age 15 or 16. Is it another form of human sacrifice? Pray for the spiritual dimensions of this destructive practice to be broken by God. Even 8-year-old girls are for sale now in places. Pray for rescue of the children involved.

The demand for prostitution in Thailand must cease. Thailand draws vulnerable women and girls into its borders to satisfy Thai men, foreign sex tourists and "expatriates" alike. Contrary to what is most visible, the vast majority of prostitution in Thailand (over 90%) caters to Thai clients. Presently most ministries reach out to those women and men working as prostitutes who service foreign clients. Pray that God might raise up ministries, especially Thai-led, to those men and women servicing Thai clients. Pray that the Church would take a stand for sexual purity. Pray that public policy makers would implement justice and effective policy that addresses those who use prostitutes, and not just the sex workers themselves. Widespread corruption within the police and government helps to perpetuate this ubiquitous structure of wickedness.

Eastern Europe and the Central Asian states situated on the Silk Road are highly vulnerable to sex trafficking. A combination of poverty, lack of moral grounding, strong organized crime rings and weak governments work to exploit tens of thousands of women. While every Eastern European country struggles with this challenge, it is mainly though Kyrgyzstan that trafficking of girls from the whole of Central Asia occurs to the Gulf States, Turkey and Europe. One large problem faced is corruption in state structures which prevents their effectiveness in combating trafficking. Churches are young and unaware of the problem, and they are not ready, able or willing to actively press for solutions. The political situation in the country does not currently allow for government collaboration on this issue.

The hidden nature to prostitution and trafficking in the US, Western Europe and other developed nations needs to be brought into the light. There is a lack of awareness regarding the connections between prostitution and trafficking, as well as the degree to which most cities and neighbourhoods house trafficking activity. Western culture has become so accepting of the exploitation of sex and sexuality that the danger exists of making prostitution and sexual degradation normative.

Praise God that more churches, organizations and even governments are beginning to combat the global demand for commercial sexual and labour exploitation. Pray that God would change the hearts of those who commodify others for their own gain.

Victims returning to their homes and countries of origin experience ongoing difficulties in reintegration. Leaving prostitution and trafficking is not only incredibly difficult but complex and often requires a huge amount of support. Pray that families would not shun daughters that society tells them are ruined. Pray also that the Church would become a family to those feeling without help or hope. The global Church, operating locally, can be a powerful force in the battle against human trafficking, and for the restoration of its victims. Pray for the faithful Christians who leave their homes to visit dark streets and give hope and help to women forced to sell their bodies, and for the believers committed to walk and work as their companions on the long journey of restoration.

Christian response to the issues surrounding human trafficking and the people involved varies by country. Pray for the following specific situations, which are just a few prominent examples among many:

Spain. Thank God for evangelical Christians in Spain who approached the major political parties in their country to ask what they were planning to do about prostitution. "If you will draft a legislation that is good for women in Spain," the Christians were told, "we will bring it to Parliament." Pray for continued governmental co-operation and for legislation that bears good results.

India. Christians and churches in India are making conscious efforts to address issues related to prostitution and human trafficking, but it has been a struggle at every stage. While there are positive signs of redemption and rehabilitation for victims, there is still a struggle to help the Christian community accept these rehabilitated people and especially arrange marriages for the young adults. The Indian Church has not fully welcomed them into fellowship in many places.

United Kingdom. We praise God for those churches - particularly the emerging ones - that are making conscious efforts to fully accept those formerly caught in trafficking rings and to disciple them. There are over 60 church-based projects that provide this and other support across the UK. Despite the increased awareness of the problem, however, many of these projects are laying off staff due to lack of funds. Please pray for a well-equipped and sustainable Christian outreach to flourish.

Philippines. Pray for more labourers to reach out to the hundreds of thousands of women, men and children trapped in prostitution in the Philippines. Pray also for the few Christian organizations already working there: Kalinga Ministry, YWAM-Olongapo, RENEW Foundation, FOCUS, Samaritana, Sinalikway Outreach, Christian Cultural Development Foundation and Sinag.

We follow the Son of Man, who came to seek and to save the lost. As we pursue His purposes in these dark places, we can be confident that the darkness has not, and will not, overcome Him.

With thanks to contributing author, Jennifer Tunehag.

Fresh Prince of Cwmbran

2011-12-27T17:55:00.000Z

Hodge to the Pope

2011-12-24T10:23:00.000Z

This masterful letter appears in the current Banner and here. One wonders if anyone today is capable of writing such a letter with such lucidity and theological acumen.

The text of a letter written by Charles Hodge of Princeton Theological Seminary on behalf of the two General Assemblies of the Presbyterian Church in the USA, explaining why the Pope's invitation to Protestants to send delegates to the first Vatican Council of 1869-70 was being declined.

To Pius the Ninth, Bishop of Rome,
By your encyclical letter dated 1869 you invite Protestants to send delegates to the Council called to meet at Rome during the month of December of the current year. That letter has been brought to the attention of the two General Assemblies of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. Those Assemblies represent about five thousand ministers and a still larger number of Christian congregations.
Believing as we do, that it is the will of Christ that his Church on earth should be united, and recognizing the duty of doing all we consistently can to promote Christian charity and fellowship, we deem it right briefly to present the reasons which forbid our participation in the deliberations of the approaching Council.
It is not because we have renounced any article of the catholic faith. We are not heretics. We cordially receive all the doctrines contained in that Symbol which is known as the Apostles' Creed. We regard all doctrinal decisions of the first six ecumenical councils to be consistent with the Word of God, and because of that consistency, we receive them as expressing our faith. We therefore believe the doctrine of the Trinity and of the person of Christ as those doctrines are expressed in the symbols adopted by the Council of Nicea AD321, that of the Council of Constantinople AD381 and more fully that of the Council of Chalcedon AD451. We believe that there are three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are the same in substance and equal in power and glory. We believe that the Eternal Son of God became man by taking to himself a true body and a reasonable soul, and so was, and continues to be, both God and man in two distinct natures and one person forever. We believe that our adorable Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is the prophet who should come into the world, whose teachings we are bound to believe and on whose promises we rely. He is the High Priest whose infinitely meritorious satisfaction to divine justice, and whose ever prevalent intercession, is the sole ground of the sinner's justification and acceptance before God. We acknowledge him to be our Lord not only because we are his creatures but also because we are the purchase of his blood. To his authority we are bound to submit, in his care we confide, and to his service all creatures in heaven and earth should be devoted.
We receive all those doctrines concerning sin, grace and predestination, known as Augustinian, which doctrines received the sanction not only of the Council of Carthage and of other provincial Synods, but of the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus AD431, and of Zosimus, bishop of Rome.
We therefore cannot be pronounced heretics without involving in the same condemnation the whole ancient church.
Neither are we schismatics. We cordially recognize as members of Christ's visible Church on earth, all those who profess the true religion together with their children. We are not only willing but earnest to hold Christian communion with them, provided they do not require, as conditions of such communion, that we profess doctrines which the Word of God condemns, or that we should do what the Word forbids. If in any case any Church prescribes such unscriptural terms of fellowship, the error and the fault is with that church and not with us.
But although we do not decline your invitation because we are either heretics or schismatics, we are nevertheless debarred from accepting it, because we still hold with ever increasing confidence those principles for which our fathers were excommunicated and pronounced accursed by the Council of Trent, which represented, and still represents, the Church over which you preside.
The most important of those principles are: First, that the Word of God, contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only infallible rule of faith and practice. The Council of Trent, however, pronounces Anathema on all who do not receive the teachings of tradition pari pietatis affectu (with equal pious affection) as the Scriptures themselves. This we cannot do without incurring the condemnation which our Lord pronounced on the Pharisees, who made void the Word of God by their traditions (Matt. 15:6).
Secondly, the right of private judgement. When we open the Scriptures, we find that they are addressed to the people. They speak to us. We are commanded to search them (John 5:39), to believe what they teach. We are held personally responsible for our faith. The apostle commands us to pronounce accursed an apostle or an angel from heaven who should teach anything contrary to the divinely authenticated Word of God (Gal. 1:8). He made us the judges, and has placed the rule of judgement into our hands, and holds us responsible for our judgements.
Moreover, we find that the teaching of the Holy Spirit was promised by Christ not to the clergy only, much less to any one order of the clergy exclusively, but to all believers. It is written, 'Ye shall all be taught of God.' The Apostle John says to believers: 'Ye have an unction from the Holy One, and know all things . . . but the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you; and ye need not that any man teach you; but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him' (1 John 2:20,27). This teaching of the Spirit authenticates itself, as this same apostle teaches us, when he says, 'He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself (1 John 5:10). 'I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth' (1 John 2:21). Private judgement, therefore, is not only a right, but a duty, from which no man can absolve himself, or be absolved by others.
Thirdly, we believe in the universal priesthood of all believers, that is, that all believers have through Christ access by one Spirit unto the Father (Eph. 2:18); that we may come with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need (Heb. 4:16); 'Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water' (Heb. 10:19-22). To admit, therefore, the priesthood of the clergy, whose intervention is necessary to secure for us the remission of sin and other benefits of the redemption of Christ, is to renounce the priesthood of our Lord, or its sufficiency to secure reconciliation with God.
Fourthly, we deny the perpetuity of apostleship. As no man can be an apostle without the Spirit of prophecy, so no man can be an apostle without the gifts of an apostle. Those gifts, as we learn from Scripture, were plenary knowledge of the truth derived from Christ by immediate revelation (Gal.s 1:12), and personal infallibility as teachers and rulers. What the seals of apostleship were Paul teaches us, when he says to the Corinthians, 'Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds' (2 Cor. 12:12). As for prelates who claim to be apostles, and who demand the same confidence in their teaching, and the same submission to their authority, as that which is due to the inspired messengers of Christ, without pretending to possess either the gifts or signs of the apostleship, we cannot submit to their claims. This would be rendering to erring men the subjection due to God alone or to his divinely authenticated and infallible messengers.
Much less can we recognize the Bishop of Rome as the vicar of Christ on earth, clothed with the authority over the Church and the world which was exercised by our Lord while here in the flesh. It is plain that no one can be the vicar of Christ who has not the attributes of Christ. To recognize the Bishop of Rome as Christ's vicar is therefore virtually to recognize him as divine.
We must stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free. We cannot forfeit our salvation by putting man in the place of God, giving one of like passions with ourselves the control of our inward and outward life which is due only to him in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and in whom dwells all the fulness of the Godhead.
Other and equally cogent reasons might be assigned why we cannot with a good conscience be represented in the proposed Council. But as the Council of Trent, whose canons are still in force, pronounces all accursed who hold the principles above enumerated, nothing further is necessary to show that our declining your invitation is a matter of necessity.
Nevertheless, although we cannot return to the fellowship of the Church of Rome, we desire to live in charity with all men. We love all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. We regard as Christian brethren all who worship, love and obey him as their God and Saviour, and we hope to be united in heaven with all who unite with us on earth in saying, 'Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen' (Rev. 1:6).
Signed on behalf of the two General Assemblies of the Presbyterian Church in the US of America
Charles Hodge

Carols with uses 5

2011-12-24T10:04:00.002Z

One more go at this then before the big day tomorrow. In Once in royal Mrs Alexander pulls no punches at the end of verse 3 with her

Christian children all must be mild obedient good as he

(As a Baptist I used to baulk at that Christian children but I think it is a legitmate term for those growing up under the gospel. Once you allow Christian bookshop or Christian worldview why not Christian children?).

The one I want to finish with though is from Edward Caswall's See aamid the winter's snow. The last two verses say

Sacred Infant, all divine,

what a tender love was thine,

thus to come from highest bliss

down to such a world as this.

Teach, O teach us, holy Child,

by thy face so meek and mild,

teach us to resemble thee,

in thy sweet humility.

Arthur Christmas and the Hebrew Kings

2011-12-23T21:01:00.001Z

Just checking details on IMdB I came across this note about the film Arthur Christmas

Grandsanta says that he is 136 years old. But if he were 136 years old, he would not have been able to be Santa for 70 Christmases and then see his son, the current Santa, complete 70 Christmases as Santa. However, as mentioned in the story, Santas traditionally take their sons with them as young boys. So it would definitely be possible for Grandsanta and Santa to have both made 70 trips since some of those missions would have included both father and son.

In 1951 Edwin R Thiele produced his Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings dealing with similar questions with regard to dates given for Hebrew kings in Scripture. His solution was similar to this one. Obviously the example is a film and the writers could simply have made a mistake but it may rather be the explanation given. What is true of that fantasy is probably true in a similar way in Israel's history.

Five Christmas films

2011-12-23T20:50:00.001Z

1. Arthur Christmas (2011)
2. Elf (2003)
3. Christmas with the Kranks (2004)
4. Millions (2004)
5. Nativity (2006)

I seem to have watched more Christmas movies than usual this year. BTW the whole subject area is problematic and I have no time to discuss theology or the baneful influence of the Father Christmas myth. Meanwhile let me say

1. Yesterday it was Arthur Christmas with two of the (older) boys who hadn't seen it either at the cinema. Highly competent it was a fine film though it could have benefited from being 10 or 20 minutes shorter. As is so often done the Christmas myth has been taken up and adapted to produce a heart warming and fun story in impossible cartoon style. If only life was so simple. No high spots in this film but quite a spectacle in some ways.

2. A couple of weeks or so back I watched our Elf DVD with two of the boys. It's often been on in the background but I'd never watched it until then. It's an excellent comedy exploring the oft visited theme of an innocent abroad, an elf in New York on this occasion. Great fun. I love Will Ferrell's reaction when told that his father is on the naughty list. Arthur does show a similar spirit with his "A child's been missed!" but not as funny.3. More recently I joined the boys watching Christmas with the Kranks on DVD. I have a soft spot for this as I read the book first - John Grisham's Skipping Christmas and on that basis we all saw it in the cuinema when it came out. It's okay and very Christmassy with the usual Hollywood optimism thrown in but hardly a great film, I guess. It got panned at the time. I liked Tim Allen's botox scene.

4. Then this afternoon Dylan was looking for a film and found Danny Boyle's film Millions on BBC iplayer. This is technically not a Christmas film but no doubt was on TV for its Christmas content. Coming out of a Roman Catholic milieu and raising various ethical issues it was a great alternative Christmas film and as a comedy is as good as anything in this list. Well worth seeking out. Apparently the screenplay was written in response to an interview remark by Martin Scorsese about reading the lives of the saints. The book "Six O'Clock Saints" from the fifties is very much at the heart of the story. (Perhaps the worst scene in the film features St Peter supposedly giving that old liberal rubbish about the feeding of the 5000 being just a matter of sharing).

5. Nativity has been on TV today. We may have the DVD somewhere. I've never watched it all the way through. It looks like fun.

Carols with uses 4

2011-12-23T19:54:00.000Z

Christians awake! by John Byrom is a straight 3 or 4 verses if narative (though the very first line is an exhortation of course) then two verses of application

Oh, may we keep and ponder in our mind

God's wondrous love in saving lost mankind!

Trace we the Babe, who hath retrieved our loss,

From His poor manger to His bitter cross,

Tread in His steps, assisted by His grace,

Till man's first heavenly state again takes place.

Then may we hope, th' angelic hosts among,

To sing, redeemed, a glad triumphal song.

He that was born upon this joyful day

Around us all His glory shall display.

Saved by His love, incessant we shall sing

Eternal praise to heaven's almighty King.

Jesus born at night

2011-12-22T12:59:00.001Z

Back in 2008 I did two posts suggesting Christ was born at dead of night (see tag carols). I pointed out how it comes out in many carols and can probably be supported from Scripture. I noticed this year that other hymns say things like

Christians awake! Salute the happy morn

On which the Saviour of the world was born

Hail Thou ever blessed morn!

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, Born this happy morning;

Jesus, to Thee be glory given; ....

How can they write in that way? I suppose the simple fact is that they are thinking of the new dawn with Messiah's coming

Carols with uses 3

2011-12-22T12:31:00.002Z

The final verse of Thomas Pestel's Behold, the gret Creator makes is all application

Join then all hearts that are not stone,
and all our voices prove,

to celebrate this holy One,
the God of peace and love.

New Book on the Holy Spirit

2011-12-22T08:11:00.000Z

FYI more details here

Carols with uses 2

2011-12-22T02:00:00.000Z

In As with gladness men of old William Dix makes applications as he goes. So at the ends of the first three verses we have

So, most glorious Lord, may we Evermore be led to Thee.

So may we with willing feet Ever seek Thy mercy seat.

So may we with holy joy, Pure and free from sin’s alloy,

All our costliest treasures bring, Christ, to Thee, our heavenly King.

Then in the penultimate verse he writes

Holy Jesus, every day

Keep us in the narrow way;

And, when earthly things are past,

Bring our ransomed souls at last

Where they need no star to guide,

Where no clouds Thy glory hide.

Carols with uses 1

2011-12-20T10:43:00.000Z

We like to sing all the carols over Christmas. This time round one thing I've noticed is how amny will come to an application. So in James Montgomery's Angels from the relams of glory, after we have sung of angels, shepherds, sages and saints we have this verse to close

Sinners, wrung with true repentance,
Doomed for guilt to endless pains,

Justice now revokes the sentence,
Mercy calls you, break your chains.

Ancient Cassette Tape 1

2011-12-19T12:40:00.001Z

I came across a pile of cassette tapes the other day. It included this home made tape, which I wasn't sure of at first. What it appears to be is a series of recordings mostly of 7" singles of mine or that were in my parental home. I must have done it in 1992 or so. Before throwing it away I thought I'd note what was on it.

An eclectic set indeed covering the years 1959-1992 it contains nearly twenty tracks as follows:

1. Autobahn Kraftwerk 1974 (bought it second hand off a boy called Glenn Harris)

2. Bohemian Rhapsody Queen 1975 (Christmas present from my parents)

3. Laser Love T Rex 1976 (bought this new)

4. Wuthering Heights Kate Bush 1978 (my sister's I guess, not mine anyway)

5. Time after time Cyndi Lauper 1984 (Christmas present from my sister)

6. If you're looking for a way out Odyssey 1980 (Christmas present from my sister too, a great favourite)

7. Where she goes The La's 1990 (not sure where this was from)

8. The TV theme tune to Thirtysomething This 4 season series ran late eighties early nineties. Eleri enjoyed watching it. I had a favourite trick of coming into the room when it was on and asking innocently how old she thought a certain character was. If I could get her to say thirtysomething, which she did more than once I was happy. I wrote some words to the song which I must dig out some time.

9. The TV theme tune Cheers Both Eleri and I watched this series (there were 11 seasons) which ran throughout the eighties and into the nineties

10/11. Who's gonna ride your wild horses and Paint it Black U2 1992 (I bought this in Aberystwyth)

12/13. With a little help from my friends Wet Wet Wet and She's leaving home Billy Bragg 1988 (these must be from a copy of the album Sgt Pepper Knew My Father - my sister's no doubt - not sure why I recorded them).

14/15. She loves you and I'll get you The Beatles 1963 (I can't remember a time when that single was not in our house at home)

16. Keep Searchin' We'll follow the sun Del Shannon 1964

17. House of the rising sun The Animals 1964

18. Lovesick Blues Frank Ifield 1962

19. Only Sixteen Craig Douglas 1959

(Those last four would be part of the collection of singles that were in our house - they came from two main sources: my older cousin Gillian and a man in the street who worked with jukeboxes. All four would be from the previous collection.)

Pray for Vietnam

2011-12-19T11:23:00.000Z

New Foundatons Journal

2011-12-16T09:24:00.000Z

We note that issue 61 of the Affinity journal Foundations is now out. See here. It features the substance of Dan Strange’s paper at the Affinity Theological Studies Conference in February 2011. John Legg provides a provocative exegesis of the parable of The Good Samaritan. Thorsten Prill identifies key issues in world mission today and challenges churches, missions and missionaries to be caught up in a missionary movement with God. Ralph Cunnington provides a critique of the views of Francis Turretin on the authority of Scripture. Eryl Davies provides a detailed review of a number of recent books dealing with the doctrine of the Trinity. There are also a number of other book reviews.

The new edior is Ralph Cunnington, a fresh faced young man with a previous background in law and with a keen theological mind. We wish Ralph every blessing in this new venture and in his work a assistant minister in Aigburth.

Pop goes the Bible!

2011-12-14T08:01:00.000Z

There's a porgramme on Radio 4 this Saturday that sounds like it's up my atreet. The blurb says

As the 400th anniversary of the translation of the Bible into English draws to a close Paul Gambaccini picks out some of the 100's of pop songs that have been inspired by the Old and New Testaments. The stories, characters and text have led to a huge catalogue of songs ranging from Elvis Presley ('Adam and Evil'), to Bob Dylan (Highway 61 Revisited), Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice ('Joseph' and 'Jesus Christ, Superstar'), The Byrds (Turn! Turn! Turn!), Leonard Cohen ('Hallelujah'), and U2 ('40' and 'Yahweh').

Paul talks to Tim Rice about his early schooling which laid down for him an intimate knowledge of Bible stories. One of his favourites was that of 'Joseph' and the musical that evolved became the foundation of the Rice/Lloyd-Webber partnership. His fascination with the stories and characters took Rice not only on to 'Jesus Christ, Superstar' but more recently to the story of King David and Saul. He talks about his continued absorption in the people within the pages of the Bible.

Diana Lipton, an Old Testament scholar, shows how many popular song treatments refresh the ancient stories by setting them in an entirely different and often contemporary context. She cites Bob Dylan's treatment of the story of Abraham and Isaac in 'Highway 61 Revisited', but also finds a connection in Tom Jones' hit 'Delilah'. Although the only Biblical connection is the name 'Delilah', the blind passion of both the character in the song and Samson provokes the same disastrous outcome.

U2, with their song '40', took much of the lyric from Psalm 40, and rock critic Neil McCormick points to the close connection between Bono and his religious upbringing, a connection which - as in many of the songs in this programme - feeds into popular song culture.

Snowgates

2011-12-13T23:35:00.002Z

I'm sure they've mentioned them before but there seems to be a lot on the weather news this winter about the closing of snow gates. I'm niot entirely sure what these are though I suppose thye are designed to keep people from putting temselves in danger. The above picture is on a B road somehwere north of the border.

Praying for Saudi Arabia

2011-12-13T10:44:00.000Z

From Global Prayer Digest

Saudi Prince Al-Saud was making a strong appeal to some of the Council of Ministers in his father’s Kingdom. “The lesson to be learned from the recent upheavals in the Middle East is that Arab governments can no longer afford to take their populations for granted, or to assume that they will remain … subdued. Nor can the soothing instruments of yesteryear which were meant to appease serve any longer as substitutes for meaningful reform. For any reform to be effective, it has to be the result of meaningful interaction and dialogue among the different components of a society, most particularly between the rulers and the ruled. It also has to encompass the younger generation which, in this technologically advanced age, has become increasingly intertwined with its counterparts in other parts of the world.”
Saudi Arabs make up the majority of Saudi Arabia’s 25.7 million people. However, almost 35 percent of the inhabitants are from outside of the country. Officially Saudi Arabs follow a strict form of Sunni Islam known as Wahhabism. No faith other than Islam is permitted among Saudi citizens. However, there are nearly a million Christians from foreign countries in the land.

UQ App

2011-12-12T10:17:00.000Z

EP have just done their first app. It is free.

Details:

Ultimate Questions Mobile Application

Android Platform – Initial Release 22 November 2011
Searching for the App from a standard PC (Non-Tablet/Mobile Device)
By navigating to the following link, key information about the app is displayed*
(*They are aware that the wording on the main page requires an update, the current wording is a bit clunky and needs some work). https://market.android.com/details?id=com.ultimatequestions.app

Pray for the USA

2011-12-12T09:43:00.001Z

Westminster Conference 2011 Day 2

2011-12-08T09:17:00.001Z

Another excellent day rounded off an excellent conference.

1. We began with Lewis Allen on why Puritanism failed.

First there was the history - the opportunity before 1660, the upheaval from that time and the obsolence following it. We then had two concerns expressed. Firstly, with regard to ecclesiology, the Puritan's chief concern and secondly to do with heresy which came in with a vengeance the further on from the Reformation time moved. Finally, the two lessons emphasised were the importance of unity and the battle for truth and integrity in the local church. It was good to hear a church planter calling for doctrinally distinct churches to be founded and yet at the same time calling for unity with all who are orthodox in their teaching.

2. We then went to the 18th century with Robert Strivens.

He very helpfully charted the descent into heresy with regard to the Trinity that marked many of the nonconformists in that century, helpfully seeking to differentiate subordinationism, unitarianism, etc. Focusing on Doddridge and Watts as the defenders he pointed out how they too were defective in their defence, the problem stemming, he suggested, from the huge but often overlooked influence of Samuel Clark (1675-1729), whose heterodox theology Doddridge was unwilling to condemn and their attitude to creeds and confessions. He helpfully finished the paper by outlining Doddridge's objections to creeds (he much preferred for a minister to write his own confession. His objections were regarding

1 Ethics - imposing someone else's words on a person.

2 Conscience - its liberty

3 Language - the insistence on one set of words when ideas can be expressed in more than one way (Aristotelian Watts called it)

4 Scripture language - surely being preferable

5 Unity - a desire for greater Christian unity

6 The Bible - a desire to let it speak for itself.

it was this subject that we spent our time debating. Most appeared to be opposed to Doddridge.

3. Finally, Hugh Collier gave us the biography of the great missionary to the native Americans or Indians, John Eliot (1604-1690) a wonderful story a real a challenge and yet an encouragement to see what one man can do and a reminder to pray for those toiling in the lonely work of pioneer mission today. I liked the way that Mather pointed out that the secret of Eliot's success is found in his name spelled backwards (toile!).

God willing we will be meeting again next year at the same place on December 4 and 5 looking at 1662, Pascal, Henry Martyn, etc.

Westminster Conference 2011 Day 1

2011-12-07T08:50:00.001Z

We are at a new venue for the Westminster Conference this year. The Salvation Army Hall on Oxford Street is centrally located and well kept, light and airy. We had a little problem with acoustics but nothing that could not be overcome. Numbers were a little disappointing as we did not reach the hundred mark this time. We had good papers though and decent discussion.

1. Bob Letham on Christian Liberty and the Westminster Confession.

Bob began by pointing out two major factors influencing the Westminster Confession's statements regarding Christian liberty - the repression in the archepiscopate of William Laud and antinomianism. he also confessed that there is not much regarding Chapter 20 in the extant minutes except for the fourth and final section where Independents questioned the role of the magistrate. The location of the chapter is significant, coming as it does after the chapter on the law and before that on worship.

He then worked through the four sections under the headings - the basis, heart, boundaries and defence of Christian liberty, finishing with a section on the practice of Christian liberty and considering the Assembly debates on the logistics of The Lord's Supper, days of thanksgiving, etc.

2. Knox Hyndman on the covenanters

He began by explaining how after the Reformation Scotland uniquely entered into covenant with God as a nation on the Old Testament model of Israel in 1581 and 1638, not forgetting the Solemn League and Covenant with England in 1643. Under four headings he outlined covenanter principles and practice, the demands of absolutism that led them in the direction they went, the Restoration period in particular when a third of the clergy were ejected and the legitimacy of revolution. They eventually split on protester, resolutioner lines (differing over how much power should be given to the King in the ordering of church affairs) but were all disappointed in part with the settlement of 1689.

3. Stephen Rees on Obadiah Holmes

We reported on Stephen's paper on this man at the assembly some time ago. This fresh paper illuminated the subject well. It was especially helpful to have the differences between the Plymouth and Massachusetts colonies explained in detail.

So a good day on subjects increasingly relevant to us today.

Christmas Convictions

2011-12-06T20:31:00.001Z

(This article is in the current edition of Grace Magazine)

Christmas Convictions

Gary Brady

No not the results of the government's latest drink driving offensive but a look at one man's personal convictions about celebrating Christmas
I am sometimes involved in interviews at a theological college. We ask most of the questions but at the end they can ask what they want. I remember an occasion when one student asked about celebrating Christmas and Easter. He had come to the conviction this is something he did not want to be involved in and knowing that not all Christians take the same view he wanted to flag up his viewpoint. We assured him it would be no problem.
He is not alone in his convictions. I know of a minister with similar convictions who regularly goes on holiday at this time of year knowing that most of the church take a different approach to the season. The late Professor John Murray of Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, apparently used to really enjoy having the place to himself each December 25, which was for him an ordinary working day.
At the other extreme are Christians who keep Christmas as enthusiastically as anyone. Some will have a crib in their front room, pipe endless Christmas carols through the house and send cars with nativity scenes and texts. Some even talk of celebrating Christ's birthday and the idea of not being in church on Christmas day of all days make them rather nervous.
What about you? Did you tut a little when you saw that the magazine theme was a Christmas one? Or were you pleased that the subject has been raised again? Whatever your reaction you need to hold firm convictions on this vexed subject but you need to hold them with grace recognising that not all will hold the same convictions as you.
What I want to do here is to set out my own convictions so that if you are undecided on the issue it may help you to come to firm convictions, which we all need, and if you are decided you will have a good opportunity to test your convictions and consider whether there might be need for change.

Conviction 1 The New Testament does not require believers to keep any particular festival
Talking about Jewish customs in Colossians 2:16 Paul says do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. In Romans 14 he says (6, 7a) One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord.
Obviously the Lord's Day is to be kept special as it is part of the moral law but with everything else it is up to the individual. If you wish to celebrate Passover or Israeli independence or your birthday or Christmas or (to a limited extent) Ramadan for that matter, you are free to do so.

Conviction 2 Christmas or the midwinter festival as some want us to call it is a pagan festival
It is certainly possible that Jesus was born on December 25 or thereabouts but the truth is that we do not know, we cannot know and we do not need to know if that is so. It is true that large numbers of people celebrate his birthday at this time of the year but that is undeniably tied into the pre-Christian traditions that existed in communities in the northern hemisphere long before they heard the gospel.
Wherever Christians have gone they have attempted to transform pagan customs into something more Christian. There is some evidence, for example, that Boniface the sixth century missionary to the Germans tried to stop pagan tree worship but still encouraged the custom of cutting down a fir tree and bringing it into the house in winter.
We may feel that pagan customs are better abandoned rather than adapted but the fact is that year by year we are confronted by pagan traditions, often with but increasingly without a Christian veneer, and we need to decide how to react. To do so we must try not to confuse what is allowable for a Christian to do with what it is necessary for him to do. It is allowable for a Christian to put a tree in his house and decorate it or eat plum pudding or wear a paper hat and blow a party puffer. It is allowable for him to celebrate Christ's birth with songs and readings and sermons any day of the year. None of these things are necessary for him to do.

Conviction 3 Christmas or the midwinter festival is a good idea for many
If you live in the northern hemisphere winter is long and dreary. Splitting it up with a celebration in the middle makes good sense psychologically. If at the same time lots of people want to say it is a time to celebrate Christ's birth then rather than complaining about it take advantage of the opportunity to talk about his birth, his life and his death too and how to come to him.
Having said that it is a pagan festival, if we are going to celebrate it then we must nevertheless be careful to celebrate it in a Christian way. Can we justify the amount we are spending albeit on other members of the family? Is slumping in front of the TV for more than a few hours a good idea? What about all that food and drink – is it right to so indulge? Are we just being swept along with it all and not thinking about how to glorify God? These are the sorts of questions to ask.
More positively, many will want to go further and not simply seek to shun the commercialised and pagan Christmas that is so common but really celebrate the fact of our Saviour's birth. When he saw Christmas trees Luther would famously speak about how Jesus the Light of the World has come into this dark world. That fact beats anything the world has to offer.

Conviction 4 No celebration should be allowed to unduly interfere with the Lord's Day
I do not know how you celebrate Christmas Day. For many people it includes a number of things that they would not normally do on the Lord's Day. It is important not to let anything interfere with keeping the Lord's Day as far as possible and so when Christmas Day falls on a Sunday, as it will this year, it is wise for those who mark it to think ahead and consider how best they can handle possible conflicts. For many of us it will be wisest if, this year at least, we do many of the things that we normally do on December 25 the day before or the day after.

New Live Horslips Album

2011-12-05T18:53:00.001Z

Back on St Patrick's Day last, the legendary Horslips performed in Belfast with the Ulster orchestra. It has just been released as an album and it's on my Christmas wish list. The above video was shot by someone in the audience on the night.

Good Jews Week

2011-12-05T18:28:00.001Z

Providentially we have had two Jewish people speaking at the church in the last few days about the work of the gospel among their people. First Andreea came to our midweek meeting to speak about the work she has been involved in over the last 18 months adn then yesterday evening David Zadok was with us speaking about the work of HaGefen publishing and preaching from Psalm 121. Living as we do in an area that is 15% Jewish it was good to be reminded to pray and to know that many Jewish people are showing an interest in these things and coming to know Messiah for themselves in many cases too. For more info check these sites here and here.

Pray for Ukraine

2011-12-03T09:23:00.001Z

Reconstructing the Pooh Community

2011-11-30T11:10:00.001Z

Some may enjoy this fun with a point piece by Richard Bauckham here as pointed out by Justin Taylor on his blog.

Westminster Conference 2011

2011-11-30T10:23:00.001Z

This is a reminder that the Westminster Conference is on next week in London. See the website here.

2011 - Freedom, Courage and the Truth

The Westminster Conference meets for two days annually and comprises six speakers presenting papers examining the history, doctrine and practice of people, events and churches associated with the Puritans including their forebears and successors. The perspective is that of reformed Biblical Christianity of the orthodox historic kind, in which such themes as the Gospel of Grace and God’s sovereign purpose are derived from Scripture and lived-out in human lives.The 2011 conference will be held on Tuesday 6th & Wednesday 7th December 2010, with the theme of: “Freedom, Courage and the Truth”. The following papers will be presented:

Christian Liberty and the Westminster Assembly (Robert Letham)

The Westminster Confession of Faith (1647) contains a ground-breaking declaration of Christian liberty. What forces thrust this to the forefront of its agenda? On what basis did the Assembly set it? How did it work out in practice? How does it relate to the gospel? Robert Letham’s address will seek answers to these questions, as well as considering what lessons can be learned for our own day.

The Covenanting Experience (Knox Hyndman)

Within a few years of taking the throne Charles II began subjecting the Scots to a 28 eight year period of persecution and terror. During this period it has been estimated that the authorities “killed, impoverished or banished” over eighteen thousand people. However, the response to this cruelty was not uniform and this address will consider the different reactions in the church and the subsequent effect on its life and witness.

Obadiah Holmes: Pioneer of Religious Freedom (Stephen Rees)

Obadiah Holmes left Lancashire in 1638, crossing the Atlantic in search of purity of worship and clear gospel preaching. In New England he found saving faith but also came to Baptist convictions and found himself at odds with church leaders and magistrates alike. He discovered that there were limits to the religious liberty permitted by the Puritan establishment. Holmes’ stand for freedom of conscience had greater consequences than anyone could have predicted.

The Broad Road from Orthodoxy to Heresy (Robert Strivens)

Anti-trinitarian views gained considerable ground in Old Dissent during the first half of the 18th century. By the second half of that century significant numbers of congregations had lapsed into heresy. Why did this happen? What attempts were made to turn back the tide and why were they largely unsuccessful? What lessons are there for us in this story, faced as we are today with increasingly strong attacks on central evangelical doctrines?

Puritanism: Where did it all go wrong? (Lewis Allen)

Why, after they had made such strides in the churches and in national life, was there such a disintegration of Puritan principles? And what accounts for the doctrinal descent into Unitarianism in the first quarter of the 17th Century? This paper will give an overview of the period after 1662, considering the “downgrade” of Puritan ideals during this time and giving salutary lessons for our day.

John Eliot: “Apostle to the Indians” (Hugh Collier)

This remarkable man was one of the first to take the gospel to the Indians of North America. He learned their Algonquian language, and, as it had no written text, devised one. He then translated the whole bible into their tongue. He preached to them, cared for them and was loved by them. This was all on top of a 58 year pastorate! There is much for us to learn from this servant of God.

New Location The new conference location for 2011 is Regent Hall (The Salvation Army) 275 Oxford Street, London W1C 2DJ.

In Writing No 119

2011-11-30T10:20:00.001Z

FYI

St Andrew's Day Julie Fowlis

2011-11-30T10:10:00.001Z

Pray for Uganda

2011-11-30T08:38:00.000Z

Engaging new book on the Doctor

2011-11-29T19:23:00.001Z

I was very pleased to see this book appear and despite being a slow reader I have already read it. As the book suggests, it is when some years have passed since their death that such great men as Lloyd-Jones undoubtedly was can begin to be assessed. My problem has always been first over what exactly Lloyd-Jones did believe and teach and then whether it was biblical. Tied in with that is the difficulty of disagreeing with such a persuasive man and a sense at times that he was not easy to disagree with. The collection of essays in this book really helped with that and with a few other things too.

There are 11 essays altogether plus an intro, all by evangelical academics. Being mostly of a younger generation and mostly non-separatists the writers (apart from the present and former LTS principals really) cannot at all be thought of as Lloyd-Jones men. Inevitably there is some variation in the quality of the essays although they are all clear and competent and I found the intro and the essays on revival, the charismatic movement and his view of history the most informative and helpful. The book is well footnoted and quite rigorous and although some may want to quibble with conclusions the subject matter looks pretty unassailable. Also very good is the one on Anglican session which for perhaps the first time mentions the many Anglicans who left their denomination in response to Lloyd-Jones's calls. Perhaps the least satisfying essay is the one on fundamentalism.

The book is pretty thorough, though I was surprised to see nothing about the beginnings of the Banner or his falling out with John Murray over the sort of unity Reformed people should aim for. The book is a must for anyone interested in the history of evangelicalism over the last 50 years.

Fuller review here.

TTRMOMG 05 Trick Biscuit

2011-11-29T18:56:00.001Z

Lincoln biscuits remind me of my Nana Pidge, my dad's mother, partly because she would serve them but chiefly because in a drawer in her kitchen there was a trick one. It looked like a Lincoln biscuit from one side but then you turned it over and there was a mirror on the other side. I don't think I ever genuinely caught anyone out with it but the very idea thrilled me.

A Book on Boys

2011-11-29T18:49:00.001Z

This review was in ET this month. I could only give it two stars I'm afraid.

Slugs and snails and puppy dogs' tails: Helping boys connect with God – IVP- Gary Brady

Slugs and snails and puppy dogs' tails

Carolyn Edwards

192 pages, Paperback, £8.99

ISBN: 9781844745234 (Published: 15/04/2011)

As a father of five boys and someone who is very involved in work with children and young people I was not surprised to be asked to review this book and indeed warmed to the task. However, I did not find the book easy to get into because of its ethos and methodology and the fact that, though the book is otherwise well written, we are 40 pages in before the main dish is served (Part 1 being given over to introductory matters). I can only give it a mild commendation.

Mrs Edwards is very well read and clearly highly competent in her field. She is senior lecturer in Children and Family Work at the Centre for Youth Ministry, Oxford. She also loves children. Her book grows out of an investigation into the spiritual expressions and preferences of boys ages 5-11 in three settings – an Anglican Junior church, a Scripture Union club and an RE class.

The main problem with it for me was its rather sociological approach and its lack of scriptural and theological grounding. When for example, on page 98, she wonders aloud if children's laughter has something to do with what Jesus meant when he said we need to be like children to enter the kingdom one is concerned. A few pages later she is naively commending the visual approach of the eastern orthodox churches. On page 81 she commends more rugged and manly pictures of Jesus without ever raising the question of whether we should be making pictures of Jesus at all.

Having said all this, there are plenty of good things to be had from this book. If you go through it finding the paragraphs beginning with with a large stylised “?!” you will find plenty of practical suggestions regarding working with boys in the areas of relationship and conversation, play and touch, story telling, pain and loss, humour, creativity, silence and prayer, good deeds, healthy risk and multimedia technology. There are also potentially useful “Things to think about” at the end of each of the ten main chapters of the book.

Gary Brady Childs hill

Latimer - Preaching Prelate

2011-11-29T17:27:00.001Z

It was great to be at the Evangelical Library once again for a lunch time lecture. About 15 of us gathered on this occasion to hear Jeremy Walker speak on the preaching of Bishop adn martyr Hugh Latimer. Latimer's works, mostly sermons are preserved in two volumes available here and here. Generosuly quoting from these Jeremy gave us an encoruiaging and in some ways challenging description of the preaching, which he characterised as

1. Vivid and lively (not just illustrations but jokes too sometimes)

2. Popular in the best sense

3. Direct (plain language with vernacular paraphrasing and searching applications)

4. Polemical (especialy against false religion and injustice)

5. Pastorally thorough as well as thoroughly pastoral

The whole paper will appear on the Library website soon.

Thanks Jeremy! Good stuff!

Aslam Masih

2011-11-29T07:37:00.001Z

Barnabas Fund report

Aslam Masih, a 30-year-old Christian man imprisoned on a false charge of blasphemy in Pakistan, died on 9 September. He had fallen ill with various diseases, and was denied proper medical care. He was kept in solitary confinement without access to a toilet, water or electricity. He was receiving basic treatment in the prison hospital but required more specialised care; however, the prison authorities initially refused to allow him to go to a regular hospital in case he was assassinated. Aslam had been in prison in Lahore since his arrest in February 2010, having been falsely accused under Pakistan’s harsh “blasphemy law”. His family did not visit him during his time in prison, probably for fear of reprisals, and were not even there to collect his body. Pray for all Christians unjustly imprisoned for blasphemy in Pakistan.

For more see here,

More serious than that

2011-11-28T10:25:00.001Z

My interest in football is only a mild one. Over the weekend the news of the suicide of Gary Speed lead the news, however, and it is clearly a tragedy from every perspective. Seeing footage of him on Football Focus less than 24 hours before his death was mystifying - there was not a hint of anything wrong. Perhaps more will come out, perhaps not. Utter tragedy and a reminder to football fans of the bigger issues - life, death, eternity and God.

With that story let me couple this much more positive one about Gary Parkinson as found on the Christian Institute website.

A former footballer with ‘locked-in syndrome’ has landed a job as a talent scout – using just the blinking of his eyes to communicate.

Research published earlier this year found that a majority of locked-in patients are happy and do not want to die.

The study, which was published online by the British Medical Journal Open, undermined calls by pro-euthanasia groups to change the laws so that such people can be ‘put out of their misery’.

Aware

Gary Parkinson, who played for Middlesbrough in the 80s and 90s, had a stroke last year. While he is aware of what is going on around him, he cannot move or speak.

Now the 43-year-old is again working for his former team, with manager Tony Mowbray commenting that the club will be there for him long after the headlines disappear.

Deborah, Gary’s wife, described how the scouting set-up works: “A DVD comes down to us, with a sheet of paper. There is a description of the player, his name, his age, his position and the clubs he has played for.”

Eyelids

She then counts slowly from one to four. When she gets to the number he thinks the player should get, with four being the highest, he raises his eyelids.

Mr Parkinson, a father of three, was working at Blackpool Football Club when he had the stroke.

Deborah said: “Gary still loves his football, knows all about youth football from his time as the youth team coach at Blackpool, and you can see he picks up when he is doing it.”

Value

Middlesbrough manager Tony Mowbray commented on the appointment, saying: “We were determined to give Gary a role where he could feel involved. Not only that, I genuinely value his opinions about the game.

“We let him have a look at some of the players who come to our attention and it gives Gary something to concentrate on.

“Long after he ceases to be headline news, we will still be there for him”.

Feel

Dr Carol Cooper commented on Mr Parkinson’s condition in the Sun newspaper, saying: “Locked-in syndrome is a neurological condition where a victim is aware of what goes on and their thinking is completely normal — but they can’t communicate with the outside world.”

She added: “It is so incredibly frustrating for the victim and extremely hard to diagnose.

“The danger is that people assume they are brain dead. But that is not the case. It is just that victims can’t move anything – but they can feel and they can think.”

Pray for Turkey

2011-11-25T08:08:00.001Z

TTRMOMG 04 Daz soldiers

2011-11-22T19:49:00.001Z

These cowboys and Indians were given away free with Daz in the sixties and my Nana, my dad's mother, used to collect them for me. Cowboys were done in red plastic, Indians in brown. My, I had some fun with them.

New Ultimate Questions App Delayed

2011-11-22T19:22:00.000Z

EP have had problems with the new UQ app. Watch this space.

The Don again - on worship

2011-11-21T04:33:00.001Z

Read this by Don Carson on 1 Chronicles 15 yesterday

Here is a profound lesson. At one level, doubtless God approves childlike praise and enthusiastic zeal. But he expects those with authority among his people to know what his Word says and obey it. No amount of enthusiasm and zeal can ever hope to make up for this lack. Zeal that is heading in the wrong direction never reaches the goal. It must either be redirected in the direction staked out in God’s Word, or however enthusiastic, it is still wrong-headed and misdirected. There is no substitute for faith working itself out in informed obedience.

Money Saving Tip

2011-11-19T19:09:00.000Z

Do you like banoffee pie? You can buy the caramel ready made in a tin but to save money you can boil a can of sweetened condensed milk in a saucepan. Only don't let the saucepan run dry will you?

30 Great poems

2011-11-19T16:08:00.002Z

Today's Times features a pull out with thirty poems everyone should know. Good choices on the whole.

1. We’ll Go No More A-Roving by Lord Byron So, we’ll go no more a-roving
2. I Hear America Singing by Walt Whitman I hear America singing, the varied carols
3. Poor Old Lady by Anon Poor old lady, she swallowed a fly...
4. Funeral Blues by W.H. Auden Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone...
5. Crossing The Bar by Alfred, Lord Tennyson Sunset and evening star...
6. The Song of Mr Toad by Kenneth Grahame The world has held great Heroes...
7. If by Rudyard Kipling If you can keep your head when all about you...
8. Remember by Christina Rossetti Remember me when I am gone away...
9. Daffodils by William Wordsworth I wandered lonely as a cloud...
10. The Owl and the Pussycat by Edward Lear The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to...
11. Kubla Khan by Samuel Taylor Coleridge In Xanadu did Kubla Khan...
12. Invictus by W.E. Henley Out of the night that covers me...
13. How Soon Hath Time by John Milton How soon hath Time, the subtle thief...
14. The Arrow and the Song by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow I shot an arrow into...
15. Answer to a Child’s Question by Samuel Taylor Coleridge Do you ask what...
16. Sonnet 18 by William Shakespeare Shall I compare thee to a Summer’s day...
17. The Soldier by Rupert Brooke If I should die, think only this of me...
18. To Autumn by John Keats Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness
19. Dulce Et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen Bent double, like old beggars...
20. A Red, Red Rose by Robert Burns O my Luve’s like a red, red rose
21. Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley I met a traveller from an antique land...
22. He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven by W B Yeats Had I the heavens’...
23. The Tyger by William Blake Tyger! Tyger! burning bright, In the forest of the night
24. Death Be Not Proud by John Donne Death be not proud, though some have...
25. Hope is the Thing with Feathers by Emily Dickinson Hope is the thing with...
26. Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll ’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves...
27. How Do I Love Thee? by Elizabeth Barrett Browning How do I love thee? Let me...
28. Love and Friendship by Emily Brontë Love is like the wild rose-briar...
29. Jerusalem by William Blake And did those feet in ancient time...
30. The Elephant by Hilaire Belloc When people call this beast to mind

Pray for Thailand

2011-11-19T09:20:00.000Z

TTRMOMG 03 Pigeons

2011-11-14T10:12:00.000Z

My father's mother (Bampie I called him. My nana always referred to him as Yer Gransha - both good South Walianisms [the first a childish way of saying grampie, the second a form of Grandsire]), like many urban working class men of the period, kept racing pigeons. He had built a sort of pigeon loft that dominated the garden. I remember the smell of pigeon feathers and excrement and the sound of grain being thrown onto the wooden platform and the clicking noise my Bampie would make to coax the pigeons back in. Bampie would soemtimes win races and was quite knowledgeable. My dad's brother, still living at home, also kept pigeons at one point. I'm always positive about pigeons, therefore, nuisance as they are here in London.

Pray for Switzerland

2011-11-14T09:55:00.000Z

Richie Havens Here Comes The Sun

2011-11-14T09:45:00.000Z

You may like this. Unconventional Richie Havens doing a George Harrison number in 1971.

Black Sabbath Reunite

2011-11-12T09:42:00.001Z

BBC News informs me that the heavy metal band Black Sabbath are reforming. Lost on me I'm afraid. Never a fan (apart from Paranoid, of course). I do love the story of their guitarist Tony Iommi, however, here in his own words:

Although my handicap has received quite a bit of press over the years, a lot of people are very surprised when they find out that I'm missing two fingertips from my fretboard (right) hand. (I'm a lefty.) After all, that is a fairly serious affliction for a guitarist. Specifically, I lost the tips of my middle and ring fingers in an accident I had at work - they got caught in a piece of machinery. Ironically, the day the accident happened was my last day at that job before turning professional musician, as I was all set to go to Germany on tour with a band. The timing couldn't have been worse - not that there's ever a good time to cut off the ends of two of your fingers!
As you can imagine, it was an awful experience and I went through a terrible period of depression because I was convinced that my guitar playing days were over for good. I went to dozens of different doctors and hospitals and they all said, "Forget it. You're not going to be able to play guitar again."
While I was down in the dumps though, a friend of mine, who happened to be my foreman at work, brought me a record of [world-renowned Gypsy jazz guitarist] Django Reinhardt who, at the time, I'd never heard of before. My friend said, "Listen to this guy play," and I went, "No way! Listening to someone play the guitar is the very last thing I want to do right now!" But he kept insisting and he ended up playing the record for me. I told him I thought it was really good and then he said, "You know, the guy's only playing with two fingers on his fretboard hand because of an injury he sustained in a terrible fire." I was totally knocked back by this revelation and was so impressed by what I had just heard that I suddenly became inspired to start trying to play again.
I tried playing right-handed for a while but that didn't work out for me so I bandaged my two damaged fingers together and started playing lefty again using just my first (index) and little fingers. I then decided to go a step further by trying to bring my two injured fingers back into the game. What I did was this: I melted down a "Fairy Liquid" [an English dishwashing detergent] bottle, made a couple of blobs of the plastic and then sat there with a hot soldering iron and melted holes in them so they'd fit on the tips of my injured fingers, kind of like thimbles.
When I got the caps to fit comfortably, I ended up with these big balls on the ends of my fingers, so I then proceeded to file them down with sandpaper until they were approximately the size of normal fingertips.
It took me quite a while to get them exactly right because they couldn't be too heavy or thick but had to be strong enough so they didn't hurt the ends of my fingers when I used them. When I had sculpted my "thimbles" to the right size and tested them I realized that the ends weren't gripping the strings so I cut up a piece of leather and fixed pieces to the ends of them. I then spent ages rubbing the leather pads so they would get shiny and absorb some oils and would help me grip the strings better. I filed down the edges so they wouldn't catch on anything and it worked!
Once I had done this it took me quite a while to get used to bending and shaking strings with those two fingers because I obviously couldn't feel anything. It was difficult to even know where my fingers were and where they were going. It was just a matter of practicing and persevering with it, using my ears to compensate for my lost tactile sense.
In the years since my story was publicized more than a few musicians who have had similar afflictions have told me that my "never say die" attitude has inspired them to keep going. However bad something may seem at first, you've got to try to overcome it because sometimes the "impossible" is possible. It was really depressing at first, but after hearing Django, I just wouldn't accept defeat. I was sure there had to be a way around my problem.

Pottery Gollies

2011-11-11T10:20:00.002Z

If you were wondering (no - okay) what these pottery gollies looked like this will give you an idea.

TTRMOMG 03 Golly collecting

2011-11-11T10:12:00.001Z

I can't tell you how much pleaseure this illustration gives me; it's like an artefact from another world. I', sure you could get these bags from various retailers in the sxities but when I was a child I only knew one or two places. These included Curtesses the shop where my father's mother went. What you would do is to stick "gollies" on these paper bags. The gollies were to be found inserted behind the label on Robertson's jams and marmalades. When you had collected ten you were able to send for a golly gift - a badge or pottery figure. In the end we had a whole band of gollies and they are still about somewhere. When my oldest son was young I used to get the gollies to perform. Must locate them again.

New Lloyd-Jones Book

2011-11-11T10:03:00.000Z

Alerted to this by that reading machine the Exiled Preacher. He got it from here.

(Neither mention that this is the fruit of a conference some while ago)

2 Minutes of Focus Fun

2011-11-11T09:46:00.000Z

I was hoping to see Focus this time round but didn't manage it. Here's a tiny bit of what I missed.

Top 10 Times not to give a book

2011-11-07T11:43:00.001Z

This is from Abebooks and is by Beth Carswell

10. You don’t know them well enough. Period.

When I went through a painful period of loss, a well-meaning acquaintance gave me a book that had helped her through a hard time. It was Chicken Soup for the Soul. Anyone who knows me knows this just made me cry harder.

Rule of thumb: if you don’t really know someone, you can’t know their taste, so even a book you adored may be inappropriate. Much of this list boils down to “You don’t know them well enough”, actually, but there are some specific scenarios to watch for.

9. You don’t know them well enough romantically.

A friend had been dating a fellow for two months when his birthday arose. Birthdays early into relationships are tricky – the balance of personal and thoughtful versus too intimate or expensive is a delicate one. She chose to give him a copy – HER copy, in fact – of her favourite love story, Harold and Maude by Colin Higgins. It’s a romance between a morbid young man obsessed with dying (he attends strangers’ funerals and fakes his own death) and a vibrant, exuberant 79-year old woman living to the fullest. My friend found it beautiful, meaningful and romantic.

Her paramour, when asked how he’d enjoyed the book, shrugged uncomfortably. He had found it “kind of creepy and gross” and not finished it.

My friend loved that book so well that she was taken aback by his response, and given pause. I’m not saying it was Harold and Maude’s fault that they fizzled out shortly afterward, but you never know. Perhaps a book given romantically can actually be a good litmus test, when used judiciously.

8. You don’t know them well enough politically.

Better to err on the side of caution, mixing politics and pleasure. Politics is often something not discussed much among casual friends, and it can be difficult to gauge a person’s beliefs. Don’t assume. Otherwise, you may find them staring at you in horror when they unwrap Back from the Brink by Alistair Darling, or conversely, A Journey by Tony Blair.

7. They’re a huge book nerd, and have read everything. Twice.

Some people consume books like the rest of us consume oxygen. They manage to read while sleeping, driving, giving birth, ice skating, cooking. Voracious does not begin to describe it. These are the people to whom it is VERY DANGEROUS to give books. Always keep the receipt, and try not to take it personally when four out of five books given result in an apologetic face and an “I’ve read this, I’m sorry… it was really good, though!”

Better to just give them a gift certificate.

6. While you wish they did, they just don’t like books.

Remember when you were a teenager, and wore whatever your era’s version of terrible fashion was (mine: ripped jeans, oversized flannel shirts, rainbow hair, combat boots), and your parents would give you clothes, smiling pleadingly, hoping you might actually consider wearing a nice blazer and decent skirt? Yeah. That doesn’t work. Similarly, if someone limits their reading to Cosmopolitan or WWE Smackdown, giving them books to try to make a reader of them won’t go over well. They’ll be unimpressed at best, insulted at worst, and the book will end up in the closet – next to the blazer and skirt.

5. While you wish they did, they just don’t like the books you like.

How can they read submarine action, bosom-heaving bodice rippers and stories of moody vampires, when there are better books? So we decide, out of the kindness of our hearts, to intervene and correct their taste. But it’s probably less a matter of exposure than one of opinion. We all think our own taste is best (it’s our taste, after all), but people like what they like, and more power to ‘em. I don’t care if you’re reading for entertainment, education or escapism – just keep reading! It’s a better bet to give them something they’ll actually like, rather than trying to convert them.

4. They’re a gadget person.

Even if you know their tastes, and they’ve been a reader all their life, it’s no guarantee. How into gadgetry and devices are they? E-readers are now common enough that some people get all their books in file form, and might not know how to handle a real book anymore. But if you’re lucky, they might pronounce it ‘vintage’ or ‘retro’, and read it for irony’s sake. Perhaps while listening to music on vinyl.

3. They’ve become a minimalist.

Some people go through phases where they feel like “all my stuff owns ME!” and try to get rid of stuff. At this point in their lives, they’re probably using library cards (or again, electronic reading devices) to keep possessions to a minimum. Still, I suppose there’s no reason not to give them a book – once they read it, they might give it back!

2. They’re in college.

While your student may love reading more than food, sleep and water combined, giving a book as a gift to someone with a full course load can be a cruelty. You’re reminding them they won’t have time to read anything but textbooks, notes and dissertations for long, dark months and even years. Better to just give them a fist full of cash or some food more nutritious than noodles. Although perhaps it’s kind to remind them the world can be a beautiful place where reading is a choice. The book could sit on their shelf like a beacon of hope, boosting their spirits to make that final push to the end.

1. You haven’t researched the book properly.

You know that Great-Aunt Geraldine loves gardening and home décor, so you hastily buy her Flowers in the Attic. Or your nephew takes an interest in the Beat Generation, so you thoughtfully pick him up The Road by Cormac McCarthy. Ooh…so close. Gifts can sometimes be needed quickly, and books are such highly personal items that ensuring you know the book properly is important. Otherwise, Great-Aunt Geraldine might never stop screaming.

... And if you’ve read the above list, and feel safe that none of the scenarios apply, by all means proceed. The list is largely tongue-in-cheek anyway, and books often make the best gifts of all, if chosen with love and wisdom. And for every book I’ve gifted that tanked like a lead balloon, I’ve given at least 10 that have been met with pleasure, delight, and genuine excitement. Not a bad way to stay on someone’s Christmas card list.

Mike Oldfield William Tell

2011-11-07T09:40:00.001Z

I'm quite an Mike Oldfield fan, I'd not seen this before. What fun!

Last of the summer wine

2011-11-05T21:08:00.000Z

The BBC has announced a new series ...

Excuse my irreverence. No, this is from the cover of the new Banner of Truth mag from November, featuring the retirement of Ulsterman Ted Donnelly, pictured here with Eric Alldritt and Iain Murray.

Francysk Skaryna

2011-11-05T15:40:00.001Z

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Outside the Library in Minsk there is a atatue of someone I had never heard of. His claim to fame is that he translated the Bible into Belarussian. He was more of an Erasmus than a Luther I understand. More here.

Minsk National Library again

2011-11-05T14:59:00.003Z

Outside the library in Minsk they highlight 1 Timothy 3:18 (sorry 3:17) in various languages. Interesting choice.

VIE

2011-11-05T14:40:00.000Z

I am currently in Vienna International Airport, very nice and with free wifi (unlike Heathrow). I spotted these smoking kiosks, something I'd not seen before - somewhere to go if you're desperate for a fag.