Midweek Meeting June 14 2023

About 14 of us zoomed together on Wednesday. We looked at Galatians 4:1-7 and then spent time in prayer. Most of us led in prayer. Various topics were mentioned. We look forward t answers to prayer in due time.

Catalyst Conference 2023 Day 2

Another good day at IPC Ealing for the Catalyst Conference. David Gibson again kicked us off with more from Psalm 23 - this time God our companion though the Valley of the Shadow of death. He quoted Spurgeon saying that we shuld "Observe that it is not walking in the valley, but through the valley. We go through the dark tunnel of death and emerge into the light of immortality." This may be right but I'm not sure it stands up exegetically. Stafford Carson (above) followed and was fine again, this time on our calling as ministers to be servants and stewards.

In the afternoon because things have been rearranged we ended up with a double dose of Sinclair Ferguson adn that was fine by all of us. In his follow up to yesterday he spoke on preaching the Word and then for the final session took us through parts of the directory for worship on preaching emphasising individuality and preaching Christ. Another very good day.

Judy Collins - "Farewell to Tarwathie"

I add this in light of the recent death of Roger Payne, the scientist who spurred a worldwide environmental conservation movement with his discovery that whales could sing. He was 88.

Catalyst Conference 2023 Day 1

It was good to be once again at the Catalyst Conference in Ealing with the usual crowd plus some newbies. David Gibson started us off from Psalm 23, just concentrating really on The LORD is. Stafford Carson spoke after the break helpfully on some of the divisions and disagreemnets that can plague church life. After lunch, Sinclair Ferguson on what we are to be as ministers, as men, was a highlight. Matthew Roberts ended the day with something positive on the cult of self that plagues our day. Hot day, I was tired at the end of it.

(David Gibson had a quote via Spurgeon where someone speaks of shepherds he saw in his own day:

The shepherds themselves had none of that peaceful and placid aspect which is generally associated with pastoral life and habits. They looked more like warriors marching to the battle-field - a long gun slung from the shoulder, a dagger and heavy pistols in the belt, a light battle-axe or ironheaded club in the hand. Such were the equipments; and their fierce flashing eyes and scowling countenances showed but too plainly that they were prepared to use their weapons at any moment.

An interesting insight into pastoral ministry!)

Lord's Day June 11 2023

Great passages to preach on yesterday - Luke 15:11-32 in the morning and the lost son, then Job 28 in the evening, the great chapter about wisdom. After the morning sermon we took a photo and then had much together. we were about 45 in the morning but only 12 in the evening, though someone new showed up. I hope this young man will stick with us.

And another five books

 

I like the idea of noting my reading five books at a time. So here goes again. I think I've mentioned Breeze from heaven by Eryl Davies, which is really worth reading if you are Welsh. It tries to give some idea of the blessing there has been on several churches since the forties. Inevitably it is selective and some of the omissions seem glaring to me but in its effort to inform, to invite biblical thinking and to inspire prayer, it is excellent. I also mentioned the two books on the Lord's Supper before, so need to say no more there. (They are by Robert Letham and Michael Haykin). The one on fake history (which I read on kindle) by Otto English is a debunking exercise, attacking some of the ways history is related in quite a romantic and inaccurate way. Most of it I was familiar with (ancient people didn't think the earth was flat, Abraham Lincoln was not all he is cracked up to be by some, Hitler's artistic skills, the story of curry - although I had some of that worng, etc). Great story telling. I have now started on his second similar volume. I also bought and read Misconceptions a similar but shorter book by Tim Rayborn unveiling misconceptions such as some found in English's book and lots of others. I will do some ten lists from it soon. (I bought that last book from a shop in Golders Green. I had complained to the owner about a prominently displayed item with a swear word on it and he had reacted positively and so I wanted to buy something.)

Midweek Meeting June 7 2023

 

Another good time in Galatians and a good time of prayer as about ten of us gathered on zoom. I think I have mentioned before a lady who sings instead of praying as such. It adds some real variety to the praying. We also have two men, one older one younger who really wrestle with the Lord (if that's the best term) and that 's great.

Day Off Week 23 at The Art of Shepherding Conference

My day off this week was rather different. A good friendship has grown up between Andrew King and Phil Heaps at Highbury and the Americans Brad Franklin and Aaron Prelock at St Giles Christian Mission. Last year they organised a conference for ministers and this year they met again St Giles. About forty ministers and prospective miisters were there. All Reformed Baptists I guess.

Phil kicked us off with an appropriate trek through the very relevant and stimulating material in Ezekiel 34. Aaron then took us to the much neglected Pastoral Rule by Gregory the Great. We had an excellent Mexican lunch and then Brad took us to Bunyan's Mr Greatheart. The final session was a discussion period led by Andrew, which went well. Several of us then crossed the road for an Indian meal to rounf off the day.

It was good to meet people I've not met before especially several young men, including two whose fathers I know and one who turned out to be the grandson of a former pastor of Childs Hill (ie the late Tony Sandys). Most of them have parents born on other continents, which is a fascinating dimension of life these days. This is a good addition to the roster of conferences for ministers, not that we are short of them. as I've thought about it the phrase "Art of shepherding" sound more and more pretentious but it was not like that at all. The very opposite.

Monday's Lecture on Pascal at the Evangelical Library

Blaise Pascal was born June 19 1623. It was a great privilege to be one of just under thirty who zoomed in to listen to a paper on his life and his famous Pensees written in the last four years of his short life. For the sake of time, very little was said about his scientific and mathematical writings and his important theological writings such as those on grace that deserve to be better known. He died in August 1662. Our lectureer was Stephane Simonnin, pastor of Ealing Road Baptist Church, Brentford. It was a careful and well thought through paper. We hope it will appear in print next Autumn, in In Writing. For recordings contact the Library.

Stochelo Rosenberg, Jan Akkerman, Paulus Schäfer, Flintstones (May 2023)

This is fun!

10 three letter initialisms often used by certain rock bands

1. ELO (Electric Light Orchestra)
2. OMD (Orchestral Manouvres in the Dark)
3. ELP (Emerson,Lake and Palmer)
4. BTO (Bachman Turner Overdrive)
5. CCR (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
6. CSN(Y ) (Crosby, Stills, Nash (and Young))
7. AWB (Average White Band)
8. CCS (Collective Consciousness Society)
9. BAD (Big Audio Dynamite)
10. PIL (Public Image Limited)

Lord's Day June 4 2023

Sunday began with communion and there were 17 there. It's been a while since so many were present. Encouraging. We had a similar number in the evening service, which is also encouraging. We were double that for the morning with one or two visitors present, relatives of church members in from overseas. After the morning meeting we sang happy birthday to our oldest member who turned 88 this week. I preached on the parable of the lost coin in the morning and Job 27 in the evening. Good day (especially in contrast to last Sunday).

Midweek Meeting May 31 2023

Slightly reduced in numbers but most prayed. Good time of prayer and Galatians 3 is so full. I thought we might have finishd the chapter bby now but we will need another week.

10 Points on A Christian's Distinguishing Character

Distinguishing Character of Christians

This is from a sermon by Benjamin Beddome on John 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

1. It is not that they have no connection with the men of the world. Grace does not dissolve the union between man and man.

2. It is not that they are to be wholly disengaged from the things of the world.

3. It is not that even the best of men are entirely divested of a worldly spirit, though they are not of the world.

4. They are in a considerable degree mortified to the things of this life, so as not to have "the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God." They are in the world, but not of it: it is their residence, but not their portion.

5. They possess different tempers and dispositions from the men of the world. "Old things are passed away, and all things become new."

6. They speak a different language from the rest of the world.

7. They are neither influenced by the maxims of the world, nor do they imitate its customs.

8. They do not take up their rest in this world. They are born from heaven, and are bound to heaven.

9. To illustrate this character Christ has given his own.

10. From this view of the subject we may learn what judgment we are to form of those about us what is our duty with respect to ourselves.

Day Off Week 22 2023

I tried to have a regular day off as usual this week. I was mostly reading - an interesting book on fake heroes, debunking Douglas Bader and JFK before moving on to others. I also read a good chunk of a new book on Welsh churches in the 40s, 50s and 60s by Eryl Davies. All very interesting. I got out for a coffee durig the day and then in the evening I watched a bit of gritty crime drama, which is well written but can't be recommended because of the content.