A blog featuring whatever I fancy, often on the Christian faith but not exclusively
New Akkerman DVD
Just to confirm - this Jan Akkerman box set contains two DVDs and a CD in a nice wallet with a slip case. There is also a 4 page glossy brochure. The first DVD and the CD both contain a concert at the Hague Jazz, May 19, 2007. The DVD also has two extras - an 11 minute blues jam with kids and a 34 minute solo performance at Bimhuis Amsterdam. The other DVD is a 53 minute documentary with English subtitles made by Het uur van de Wulf and called Portrait with guitar.Living dangerously with cheese
We had spaghetti bolognese for tea tonight. When Eleri handed me the parmesan and the grater I saw she had used the large holes usually reserved for cheddar. I paused and then I thought 'Why not?' I'd never grated larger shreds of parmesan on like that. It may be a major faux pas I don't know. I checked Wikipedia under grater and parmesan and saw no reference to the matter. Don't think ill of me.
I also found this great, er, video. He uses the small holes, of course.
Akkerman 08
Caught Jan Akkerman last night down in Putney with Rhodri. Excellent show. A jazz rock group called Db Infusion kicked us off with a decent half hour set. Then in came Akkerman and his band with an amazing two hour set. For the first half we kicked off with Tranquilizer and Weedstalker then "Focussed ourselves" for four tracks - Answers Questions; Focus 2; Anonymous and Palace of the King. At the beginning of the second half we had some blues then Paul Weller's You do something to me. Then it was back to
Focus with a version of Tommy that included various other bits that reminded me of Fresh Air from way back. We also had Sylvia's Grandmother and a blistering Hocus Pocus. They finished off with Urban String and Pietons (with Hocus Pocus), which included drum and then bass solos. I bought a new nicely packaged DVD/CD set Jan Akkerman Live in Concert The Hague 2007 featuring a simialr set and one or two other things including a finally subtitled Dutch documentary.Banner of Truth 2008
[Pics: Andrew King; Keith Hoare; Graham John talking with Keith Hoare adn Jeremy Walker with Ani Ekpo from Nigeria]
So the Banner was a great time as ever with that excellent balance of Calvinistic methodism or experiential Calvinism that is its strength. Perhaps it was more weighted to the experimental this time but we are celebrating Calvin next year and may be that will be more the other way. Gwynn Williams kicked us off with a carefully crafted and very methodist reminder of the need for the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. Gwynn later introduced John Aaron's long evening paper introducing the massive 2 volume 1600 page Tadau Methodistiaid which he has now translated and that Banner will be publishing this summer. Two things struck me about this. Firstly, I am familiar with the phrase 'Wales the land of revivals' but I had not really appreciated this as a simple fact of history (1735-1850) rather than anything else. Secondly, a sketch of this history explained how Dr Lloyd-Jones could be so disappointed with what he knew in his day. From a high point of 53% of the population attending evangelical churches in 1851 to the present point where only 2% attend any church at all is a roller coaster story of gain and loss. For any believer this is of interest. For a Welshman it is particularly poignant.
The main speakers at the conference were Joel Beeke (on preaching Christ), Stuart Olyott and Ian Hamilton (Cambridge). All had useful things to say. I like Stuart Olyott's clear cut, no nonsense style in particular. He spoke about pastoral ministry and on training up young men and gave the closing sermon on 'the message we always need to hear' about forgiveness (1 John 1). Joel and Ian use a more difficult style but had good things to say.
We also had brief sessions of Spurgeon (from Jonathan Watson) and the matter of unction (from Andrew King). There was also a news session and a question and answer time, always quite stimulating, as are the late night chats with various groups of twos and threes and more. It's great to see old friends like Bernard Lewis, Alan Davey and Keith Hoare, fellow bloggers like Guy Davies and Martin Downes, my father-in-law, the other Welshmen, etc, etc.
Friday Hockey
Young people's night on Friday. Not as many there as usual but we had a nice tag hockey match as we often do.
LTS at Banner
While at Banner Philip Eveson was keen to snap the many LTSers there together. This one shows over 30 former students, two present students and Robert Oliver (Bradford) and Mostyn Roberts (Welwyn) who are currently lecturers there. Robert Strivens is the Principal designate. Bernard Lewis (Brodgened) was my exact contemporary and Gary Benfold (Bournemouth) was a year ahead of us. Mark Rowcroft (Darlington), Andrew Rowell (Carlisle), Robin Asgher (later my assistant and now in Cranford) and Luke Jenner (Welwyn) attended here while in LTS. Four of us are Aberystwyth graduates (me, Mark, Luke and Ed Collier, now in Sheffield)
Singing at Banner
One nice thing at Banner is the singing. We used to sing just psalms but now hymns are included. I missed joining in as I had a cold but snapped one verse of Wesley's great hymn.
Cute Animals
If you don't have a life you will find yourself going right down my side bar where you will find (among other things) 'Animal of the day'. I thought today's pic of S American sea lions was cute.
Fathers
I've been away at the Banner Conference and I must give a report some time soon. One evening we had a typical after sessions get together with my father-in-law in Guy Davies' room - G8 it was so we called it a 'G8 summit', wits that we are. Anyway we had the usual chat and then Geoff said tell us about your father and so we went round the room sharing and fascinating it was with various details coming out. One man was 4 when his father died, others were at their father's deathbeds at a good age. One even ended up leading his father and stepmother in a marriage reavowal ceremony when he was on his deathbed. I'm nearly 50 and my dad's still around. Some had Christian fathers, some not. Some could not be very complimentary about some things in their fathers, others were full of admiration. Some things came out that one could not easily share.I've since mentioned the session to one or two and then you obviously say 'and what about your father?' Someone recalled his father's sudden death when he was just 6. Imagine that. It's all part of God's providence and those I've spoken to were all keen to see how God's grace had come to them and the part their fathers played, greater or lesser. I'm thankful for my dad although I wished he believed what I believe more. It's a strange feeling to love and admire someone so much and yet to fundamentally disagree with them. His days in the Boys Brigade had a subtle but important impact on my own spiritual story. When I began to go to a Friday night club he said I should go on Sundays (as was the BB rule) too as it wasn't fair to go in the week but not Sunday. (More on that here). My dad's philosophy that if you're committed to something it should be to the hilt has had a big impact on me as have lots of others things in him, realised and unrealised.
The other thing here is the question of what sort of impact I am having on my sons. How will they remember me?
Holiday Bible Club
We are having a Holiday Bible Club here next week looking at the ealry life of Paul. There are a lot of these things going on in different churches over the holidays. Do pray.
More details here.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)