Two Days Off Week 29 2023

It has been a while since a double day off and these two did involve getting sermon prep started for Wednesday and Sunday and a church zoom meeting on the second evening. However, I was able to devote a good chunk of my time to reading Volume 4 and 6 of Beddome's sermons. I am trying to make sure I've read them all. Four volumes are online but the other foour are not. I was up in Oxford recently to read Volume 5 and half of 8. I hope to get up there soon to do Volume 7 and the other half of 8. Back here I went up to the Evangelical Library to read Volume 6, which they have, and then read Volume 4 online the next day. I also read one of my art books, one on Chagall, on the Tuesday and dipped into other books on the Monday. Watched University Challenge on Monday evening, of course, (programme 2 of the season) with its new presenter and the end of a fact based drama about a horrible double murder case. I also found time to work on a project I have planned for my sister's next birthday.

Lord's Day July 23 2023

I preached last Lord's Day in the morning on hell. I preached on it because it is the next thing in Luke 16. It was a good reminder of the benefits of systematic exposition. In the evening I preached for the first time ever on Zechariah 3:2 which shows that textual preaching is important too. There must be a hundred texts like this I have never touched. On Sunday morning I had the privilege of preaching to someone in church for the first time in his life - an overseas student with an interest in the gospel who lives in my street. One other thing, I was praying in the morning and inadvertently said "we are still in our sins" which means unbelieving when I meant simply to say we still sin. Easily made such slips. Just move on.

Midweek Meeting July 19 2023

Another well attended zoom meeting on Wednesday. We looked at Psalm 62 and then prayed. Plenty to pray about and give thanks for.

Day Off Week 28 2023

This week I managed to catch the Oxford Tube and get up to the Angus Library where I had three hours to peruse Beddome sermons. I amnaged to read a volume and a half, 28 sermons, in the time available. I then grabbed a Subway sub and headed back to London. Good day. I amnaged to read some Vos and some of Brad Franklin's bookwhen sorrows like sea billows roll.

And the next five

I have finished the book on Hitler and art that I had for my birthday. It is a fascinating book weaving together the story of how Hitler dealt with the mentally ill, including those with excellent artistic skills and his lesser known campaign against modern art. Very interesting. The book on Humility by Gavin Ortlund is in the same series as the one I mentioned by Sinclair Ferguson, Worthy. It is not an easy subject but he deals with it well and helpfully. I piced up David Robertson's book Seek at the Catalyst Conference. It is really for teenagers but I found it so fascinating I ordered the previous title, which I had missed, Ask. Both great little books. The other one I read recently is the Affinity book Challenging Leaders. I am desperate to be positive aboutthis book but am finding it very hard. It is written by a committee and sadly sounds like it as draws together various nuggets of biblical and sociological wisdom. I hope it is a helo to those who need oit most. 

Lord's Day July 16 2023

It was good to be back in Childs Hill on the Lords Day. We carried on in Luke's Gospel in the morning and then looked at a one off text in the evening, Hebrews 12:14. A few away but decent congregations morning and evening.

Memorial or Thanksgiving Service for Michael Toogood

Much of the day last Saturday was spent in Covent Garden, at the Swiss Church, where Andrew Murray and others had organised a memorial for Michael Toogood who planted the church there in Soho (as Immanuel Community Church, Soho; it is now Hope West End, after combining with the Covent Garden church). The day was arranged so that in the morning we talked about Michael together for an hour and then after packed lunch there was an afternoon service where Eric Holdstock said a little more about Michael and I preached. The sermon can be read here on another blog of mine. The acoustics is the church left something to be desired and it was sad that not more people were present. It was  good time, nevertheless.

Midweek Meeting July 12 2023

On zoom again for a well attended Bible Study and prayer meeting. We looked at Psalm 146 and then had a time of gathering material for prayer which was quite long, relatively, before launching into a time of prayer. That was Wednesday and the next evening we had a members meeting on zoom where we made a number of important decisions.

Day Off Week 27 2023

This week's day off turned out rather differently to what was expected. I had intended to go up to Oxford to check out some Beddome material. I waited for the Oxford Tube at Baker Street for an hour but it turns out the coach only stops there in the evening so that was and hour wasted and the day gone. I was very disappointed but the test of a good man is how he copes with disappointments. Anyway, I did some reading. I came across David Robertson's book for young people SEEK the other day and so enjoyed it that I sent for the first one in the series ASK and am enjoying that too. The books answer questions posed to David by young people from round the wolrd. There is some repeptition but the contents are easy to read and as he recommends further reading for each question answered it is all very stimulating. The other book I read was Michael Toogood's autobiography Mission to Soho. I have an original self-published version somewhere but unable to locate it, I sent for another. I am keen to read it as I have agreed to preach at a memorial service for Micahel at the Swiss Church tomorrow. It starts at 11 am or so and is at the Swiss Church, Covent Garden. More here.

10 things the father does for his returning son in the parable of the lost son

Andrei Mironov, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Luke 15:20-24

So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off,

1. his father saw him
2. and was filled with compassion for him;
3. he ran to his son,
4. threw his arms around him
5. and kissed him.“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants,
6. ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him.
7. Put a ring on his finger
8. and sandals on his feet.
9. Bring the fattened calf and kill it.
10. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.

For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

Lord's Day July 9 2023

I was in Pains Hill once again on Sunday. Some changes there but still a small congregation out in the countryside with no pastor. It was good to renew conversation with friends there. My Aberystywyth companion Jonathan is retiring next month! I preached on Luke 15 morning and evening. Bernard Lewis preached here. He is also a contemporary of sorts - from the seminary. Also retired.

Midweek Meeting July 5 2023

Numbers were a little down but nearly everyone prayed last Wednesday. We looked atanother psalm - Psalm 140. 

10 Science Myths

Mathias Krumbholz, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>,
via Wikimedia Commons

1. Lightning can strike in the same place twice
2. There are more than just three states of matter
3. Humans use more than 10% of their brains
4. Apple computers are not immune to computer viruses
5. Hair and nails do not continue to grow after death
6. Vitamins do not prevent colds
7. Seasons are not caused by the Earth's proximity to the sun
8. A coin flip is not always 50/50
9. Pythagoras did not discover the Pythagorean theorem
10. Alcohol does not kill brain cells

(Cars don't usually explode in the gas tank is hit by a bullet or anything else; stars don't twinkle)

Day Off Week 27 2023

I more or less followed the pattern of last week, starting with a long walk, ending with some TV and including perusing another art book (Warhol this time who I prefer to Klee) and buying some cheese to write about on my cheese blog. I also read most of John Benton's helpful book on resilience based on 2 Timothy. I also took a trip down to Trafalgar Square to see the new exhibition of photographs taken by Paul McCartney in late 1963 and in 1964. It is all done very well and  fascinating to spend time looking at. I also bought the paperback version of the accompanying book. These days one often turns ones photos into a little film and McCartney's stab at his colour ones from his Miami ones in colour is there to see. Perhaps it was a little pretentious to say he directed the film. Perhasp it's a joke, of course.

The photograph exhibition is at the National Portrait Gallery and is called Eyes of the Storm. See here.

Lord's Day July 2 2023

Good day last Lord's Day, beginning with communion and then on Luke 16:1-13. In the evening we looked at the great text Luke 16:1-13. We had decent numbers morning and evening.