10 Interesting facts from the World Cup Group Stages

1. This is the most competitive first round ever

61.5% of victories were by a one-goal margin in the group stages - the second highest proportion for any previous tournament behind only South Africa in 2010. On top of this, the number of goals scored in the second half stoppage time has also reached a record high for the group stages. As many as 16 goals have been scored after the 90 minute mark so far in the tournament which is equivalent to 13.1 % of all goals scored.

2. The fewest number of 0-0 draws since the 1950s

Aside from the joyless 0-0 draw played out between France and Denmark in their final group game, the group stage hasn't featured a single goalless match. This is the fewest number of scoreless draws in the first round of any World Cup since 1954

3. The curse of the holders is now a proper thing

One reason we shouldn't be surprised at Germany's exit is that the holders barely ever win the World Cup, a trend that has become more pronounced of late. Four of the past five winners have now been knocked out of the World Cup at the first hurdle. France 2002, Italy 2010, Spain 2014 and now Germany 2018.

4. Top-seeded teams have struggled

There are several notable examples of big footballing nations making slow-starts in World Cups before eventually clicking into gear and coming away with the trophy. In Russia, many of the favourites look as though they’re trying to employ this model with Portugal, Spain and Brazil all drawing to supposedly lesser adversaries, while Germany and Argentina have both endured losses. Indeed, of the pot one teams in the World Cup, the average Elo change in the group stage has been -16.4 points. The average pot two team has picked up 18.1 points over the same period, indicating that good teams that aren't quite top are closing in on the favourites. Pot three teams picked up an average 3.8 points per team, while the worst teams in pot four lost 3.1 each. 

5. Fouls are down

There is a noticeable reduction in fouls per game in this World Cup. With a total of 883 fouls over the first 36 matches, there is an average of 24.5 fouls per game. There was an average of 30 fouls per game in the 2014 Brazil World Cup - the lowest level seen for at least 50 years.

6. VAR has led to a record number of penalties

There have already been 18 penalties scored in the 2018 Russia World Cup, meaning 14.8 % of all goals scored have been from the spot. This has already eclipsed the record number of spot-kick goals which was set in 1998. VAR has made its mark on the competition with this, with referees consulting the video assistant referees and hence punishing fouls that may have once gone missed.

7. Own goals are winning the Golden Boot for the first time

There have already been nine own goals in the 2018 World Cup - eclipsing the total number seen at the Brazil 2014 World Cup and tying for the record, set in 1998. These have been committed by Morocco's Aziz Bouhaddouz, Australia's Aziz Behich, Nigeria's Oghenekaro Etebo, Poland's Thiago Cionek, Egypt's Ahmed Fathy, Russia’s Denis Cheryshev, Mexico's Edson Álvarez, Switzerland's Yann Sommer and Tunisia's Yassine Meriah. Othrwise Harry Kane is top with five. This would be the first time that own goals have won the golden boot outright.

8. Spain are now unbeaten in 23 games

Going into the tournament, the longest unbeaten runs were for Spain (20), Morocco (18) and Belgium (18). After a win and two draws, Spain's unbeaten run has extended to 23 games - the longest of any country in the World Cup. Belgium's unbeaten run has also extended to 21 matches while Morocco's loss to Iran ended their run. Spain's forward Lucas Vazquez and defender Sergio Ramos celebrate their second goal against Morocco Spain's forward Lucas Vazquez and defender Sergio Ramos celebrate their second goal against Morocco CREDIT: OZAN KOSE/AFP

9. John Stones has scored more World Cup goals than Wayne Rooney

By scoring two headed goals against Panama, John Stones has already scored more World Cup goals than Wayne Rooney. Rooney's only goal at a World Cup came in Brazil in 2014, in England's 2-1 loss to Uruguay in the group stage. With five World Cup goals to his name, England captain Harry Kane is well on his way to rivalling Gary Lineker (10 World Cup goals). He's currently England's joint-second-best World Cup goalscorer, alongside Geoff Hurst on five goals.

10. Croatia, Sweden and Belgium had the best group stage

Impressive wins over Argentina and Germany have grabbed the headlines in the last few weeks, and such performances have meant that teams such as Croatia have had the largest boosts to their Elo ratings of any team. Croatia's Elo rating has been boosted by 103 points over their first three games, to move from 14th to 7th place. Over the course of the first three games, Sweden also picked up 77 points in the Elo ratings (moving from 17th to 15th), and Belgium picked up 62 with their three wins (moving from 8th to 4th).

Drawn from this source

10 More Penalties at the World Cup

1. Mile Jedinak for Australia vs Denmark after VAR review (scored)

2. Gylfi Sigurdsson for Iceland vs Nigeria after VAR review (missed)

3. Eden Hazard for Belgium vs Tunisia after VAR review (scored)
4. Carlos Vela for Mexico vs South Korea (scored)

5. Harry Kane for England vs Panama (scored)*
6. Harry Kane for England vs Panama (scored)*

7. Fahad Al Muwallad for Saudi Arabia vs Egypt (missed)
8. Fahad Al Muwallad for Saudi Arabia vs Egypt after VAR review (scored)

9. Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal vs Iran after VAR review (missed)

10. Karim Ansarifard for Iran vs Portugal after VAR review (scored)

* Surprising statistic - England have never missed a penalty in the world cup - in normal play that is.

Buddy Holly doing Peggy Sue on Ed Sullivan Show 1957

Midweek Meeting June 27 2018

We went back to our Bible study and prayer format this week. We took up where we had left off in Genesis 18 and just looked at the opening verses and God as the God of beginnings (the birth of Isaac is announced) and endings (the end of Sodom is intimated). It was  good brief session followed by items for prayer and prayer itself, all of us again praying (about nine we were I think). Some were missing.

Troggs With a girl like you live

Aaah the sixties.

Aber keeping up with The Times

The front page of the London Times today featured a picture from Aberystwyth. Our kids and their cousins and seccnd cousins love jumping off the jetty in summer.

Westminster Conference 2017

The papers are now available. Available from the secretary.

God with us and for us

Day 1

THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE HUMAN HEART (STEPHEN CLARK)

To understand the work of the Spirit in the heart of man is to start to become a true physician of the soul. But the work of the Holy Spirit is intertwined with the ministry of the Word of God. How, then, does the Holy Spirit work in and through the Word? Is he bound to the Scriptures in some way? If so, how? Such questions, and their answers, provide us with both challenges and comforts as we seek to be ministers of the Word and Spirit.

A CHILD OF LIGHT WALKING IN DARKNESS: THE FELT PRESENCE OF GOD

(GUY DAVIES)

What does it mean to know the presence of God with us? Should we expect it? Can we lose it? How can we regain it? Concentrating on key works of Thomas Goodwin and John Owen, this paper will look particularly at the loss and recovery of such a sense of divine sweetness, comparing and contrasting the convictions, explanations and applications of these two theologians of the Holy Spirit.

CALVIN – WORSHIP AND PREACHING (ANDREW YOUNG)

The way or ways in which we worship the Lord so as to honour and glorify him remains a topic of vigorous and often heated debate. This is no new thing. Andrew Young will consider Calvin’s approach to this topic, including his doctrine of worship, his approach to liturgy, and his preaching and teaching ministry. Such assessments should assist us to ask the right questions in the right spirit as we move toward answers grounded in something more than preference.

JACOB ARMINIUS (1560-1609) (PHIL ARTHUR)

Theological labels are quick to apply, and provide us with easy targets. Particular theologians are relatively easy to demonise. Jacob Arminius has given his name to a theological system that is defended by supporters and assaulted by opponents with equal ardour. It is profitable for us to understand who Arminius was, what he believed, and how his name became connected to this system. Phil Arthur will introduce us to this man, and guide us through his life and thought.

THE SYNOD OF DORT (1618-1619) (BENEDICT BIRD)

In November 1618 the Dutch Reformed Church convened a synod at Dordrecht in the Netherlands. With representatives of Reformed churches from around Europe, the synod debated the tenets of the Remonstrants, who disputed the Calvinistic understanding of the plan of redemption. Politics and theology intertwined as they wrestled to address the controversy over Arminianism. This paper will help us understand this critical event and its relevance today.

WILLIAM WILLIAMS, PANTYCELYN (1717-1791) (MARK THOMAS)

William Williams is best known among evangelicals as ‘the sweet singer of Wales’ on account of his hymnody, combining a rigorous commitment to truth and a profound experimental sense. However, he is also recognised as a towering figure in the literary and spiritual spheres of his native Wales. Mark Thomas will help us to understand the character and context of this man, and how the Lord used him during and after his lifetime.

Another day off

This week's day off began with a shower and some porridge before eight. I should have had devotions before going out but I left it until later.* I like to write something each day and truth is I had gotten behind so I knew it would take a while. Thankfully, we're all up to date now which is not an achievement in itself but it makes me feel better.

The main things the rest of the day were first taking Alffi for a long walk to Highgate. We'd soon clocked 10,000 steps. A coffee and crossword there were enjoyable. Much of the rest of the time went on working on a local church history I am trying to finish. By the end of the day I was pretty much there. I now have the bones of a 6 chapter 85 page book covering the story from the 1860s to today.

I also watched the football (Nigeria Argentina) ordered some Cds and books and got some emails out of the way. I also dipped into the current Private Eye. Very little reading or blogging and no DIY this time. There is a plumbing job needs doing and we need new blinds for our bedroom. Later.

* M'Cheyne says somewhere

"I ought to pray before seeing any one. Often when I sleep long, or meet with others early, it is eleven or twelve o'clock before I begin secret prayer. This is a wretched system. It is unscriptural. Christ arose before day and went into a solitary place. David says: 'Early will I seek thee'; 'Thou shalt early hear my voice.' Family prayer loses much of its power and sweetness, and I can do no good to those who come to seek from me. The conscience feels guilty, the soul unfed, the lamp not trimmed. Then when in secret prayer the soul is often out of tune, I feel it is far better to begin with God - to see his face first, to get my soul near him before it is near another."

10 Invention myths

1. George Washington Carver did not invent peanut butter, though he reputedly discovered 300 uses for peanuts and hundreds more for soy beans, pecans and sweet potatoes.
2. Thomas Crapper did not invent the flush toilet; flushing toilets were first used in the Indus Valley Civilisation, around the 26th century BC. The forerunner of the modern toilet was invented by the Elizabethan courtier Sir John Harington, who was banished from court when his book on the subject poked fun at important people. Crapper, however, did much to increase its popularity and introduced several innovations, including as the 'valveless waste-water preventer', which allowed the toilet to flush effectively without leaving the flush water running for a long time.
3. Thomas Edison did not invent the light bulb. He did, however, develop the first practical light bulb in 1880 (employing a carbonised bamboo filament), shortly prior to Joseph Swan, who invented an even more efficient bulb in 1881 (which used a cellulose filament).
4. Henry Ford did not invent either the motor car or the assembly line. He did improve the assembly line process substantially, sometimes through his own engineering but more often through sponsoring the work of his employees. Karl Benz (co-founder of Mercedes-Benz) is credited with the invention of the first modern car and the assembly line has existed throughout history.
5. James Watt did not invent the steam engine nor were his ideas on steam engine power inspired by a kettle lid pressured open by steam. Watt improved upon the already commercially successful Newcomen atmospheric engine in the 1760s and 1770s, making certain improvements critical to its future usage, particularly the external condenser, increasing its efficiency, and later the mechanism for transforming reciprocating motion into rotary motion; his new steam engine later gained huge fame as a result.

6. The Wright Brothers did not invent the first powered heavier-than-air aeroplane. Nine months prior to their famous takeoff on the 17th of December, 1903 at Kitty Hawk, New Zealander Richard Pearse performed the same feat in Timaru, New Zealand (31 March 1903). Although it lacked an aerofoil section wing, Pearse’s flying machine resembled modern aircraft design much more than did the Wright brothers’ machine: monoplane rather than biplane; tractor rather than pusher propeller; stabiliser and elevators at the back rather than the front; and ailerons rather than wing-warping for controlling banking. It bore a remarkable resemblance to modern microlight aircraft.

7. Alexander Graham Bell did not invent the first telephone. In 1860 an early version of the telephone was claimed to have been invented by a man named Antonio Meucci. He originally called it a teletrofono. In 1860 an Italian language newspaper in New York published a description of Meucci’s invention. Meucci coupled an electro-magnetic transmitter with a receiver. The motion of a diaphragm would modulate a signal in the coil by causing movement to an electromagnet. Although this was a dependable and lasting signal, it was a very weak signal. Mr. Meucci’s patent for his invention expired in 1874 and he was not able to pay the continuation fee and Western Union labs claimed to have lost the working models that were Mr. Meucci’s invention. To further muddy the waters for Mr. Alexander Graham Bell there is the fact that he conducted experiments in the same lab where Mr. Meucci’s materials had been stored. Giving ample access to any notes or records left behind. In March of 1876 Mr. Bell was granted a patent and has forever been credited with inventing the telephone.

8. Marconi did not invent the radio. The real inventor of radio is now considered to be Nikola Tesla. He invented so much stuff that it is hard to catalogue all of it (much less understand it). Tesla got the idea for radio back in 1892 and demonstrated a remotely controlled boat in 1898. He did get basic US patents in 1897; these were for single-frequency radio, not spark gap. Yet somehow, he never got recognition for this work, while Marconi took the basic idea and ran with it. Marconi was very successful in assembling a system for wireless telegraphy. Although he was born in Italy, Marconi spent a great deal of his life in the UK. It was here that he got the patent and formed the British wireless service. He later formed the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company.

9. Galileo did not invent the telescope. There is evidence that Leonard Digges invented both the reflecting and refracting telescopes. In 1608, Dutch eyeglass maker, Hans Lippershey offered a new device to the government for military use. This new device made use of two glass lenses in a tube to magnify distant objects. He may not have invented the telescope but Hans Lippershey has been credited with its invention. He, at least, applied for the patent for it first. As soon as Galileo Galilei heard about the device coming out of the Netherlands, he was fascinated. He began constructing telescopes, himself, before ever seeing one. By 1609, he was ready for the next step. He began using telescopes to observe the heavens, becoming the first astronomer to do so. While Galileo did not invent the telescope, he made great improvements in the technology. His first construction was a three power instrument, which he quickly improved to eight, twenty, then thirty power. With this new tool, he found mountains and craters on the moon, discovered that the Milky Way was composed of stars and discovered the four largest moons of Jupiter.

10. Samuel Morse did not invent the telegraph. As the tale goes, Samuel Morse was having dinner with friends and debating electromagnetism (as you do) when he realised that if an electrical signal could travel instantly across a wire, why couldn't information do the same? Like most fun eureka stories, it's a fib. The telegraph was invented by not only Morse, but also Charles Wheatstone, Sir William Fothergill Cooke, Edward Davy and Carl August von Steinhiel so near to each other that the British Supreme Court refused to issue one patent. It was Joseph Henry, not Morse, who discovered that coiling wire would strengthen electromagnetic induction. Of Morse's key contribution - the application of Henry's electromagnets to boost signal strength - Lemley writes that "it is not even clear that he fully understood how that contribution worked."

The Minister and his relaxation

See here for an article on this subject.

Lord's Day June 24 2018

Three things happened yesterday that tend to happen once a year around this time but don't always coincide.

1. It was what we might call hay fever sufferer. By now it is quite mild but there are usually two or three random days that are really bad and sometimes this happens on the Lord's Day. Yesterday was quite bad. Actually preaching is okay as mind triumphs over matter and I almost never sneeze during a sermon.

2. In Childs Hill we are always saying goodbye to people especially to the seminary students we are allotted. Yesterday was Thapelo's last Sunday with us. The Roks family have a few more Sundays but I took opportunity to pass on some gifts (including a copy each of the collection of papers on limited atonement From Heaven He Came and Sought Her) and to publicly pray for both students.

As it turned out we also had the widow of a former seminary student, the first to be with us from Madagascar, with their two children. They are currently living in Gloucester. It was nice to have them back.

3. Usually about once a year we take a photo of the congregation (see above). This is always a little bit frustrating as who is there is rather random. I can think of at least ten people missing from the above shot, which shows about 40 of us (39 I think it is). I think we are about 14 nationalities (English, Welsh, Dutch, South African, Tswana, Nigerian, Ghanaian, Malagas (visitors), Jamaican, Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Filipino; we could add Anglo-Japanese, Anglo-Italian, Anglo-Dutch if we were being pedantic).

There were a decent number in the evening too. In the morning I preached on repentance. While I was at the IPC Conference I bought Sinclair Ferguson's little book on repentance of about twenty years which I plundered to put together a sermon from Proverbs 28:13 and Psalm 51. In the evening we were again in Matthew 19 looking at the impossibility and possibility of being saved.

London Seminary End of Year 2018

Alexander Roks

Thapelo Mpai

It was great once again to be in sunny Finchley for the Seminary end of year service. Seven students were leaving. We were particularly interested in the two shown above (with Vice-principal David Green, who perhaps could have given them a little more time) as they have been part of the congregation here since they arrived in London and it has been great to get to know them and benefit from their fellowship. Alexander from The Netherlands has been here with his family and Thepelo from South Africa on his own and so that with their very different backgrounds (they have tested how close Dutch and Afikaans and found it's not enough when English is ready available).

It is a great thing for a pastor to have ministerial students in the congregation as even when the numbers seem low and the progress non-existent one is at the very least modelling ministry . One can lean too heavily on that, of course, but it is a great encouragement, year after year, to have these men with us.

David Earl chaired and the preacher was Mark Dever from Washington DC. He preached a well tailored sermon, brief and to the point, which managed (from Mark 4) to address the students and everyone else (including any unbelievers present). It was nice to speak to him briefly after the service and to his assistant Jason Rivette bfore heading out on to the lawn for the traditional tea in glorious sunshine. It is always good to see old friends. There were about 14 of us present from Childs Hill which is also encouraging in its own way.

Holy Ghost Revival

This has just appeared on my Published Articles blog

Trey Ratcliff Flickr

In Acts 19 we read of a group of Ephesians who had not even heard that there was a Holy Spirit. When reading that verse in public one Church of England minister was heard to say that it was apparently also true, for the most part in most of the Anglican churches of his day. A W Tozer of the Christian and Missionary Alliance similarly remarked that if the Holy Spirit was withdrawn today most of what goes on in the name of Christianity would probably continue unaltered tomorrow. We live in the age of the Spirit but for many professing Christians it makes little difference to their every day lives. 

From time to time sincere Christians have woken up to this great neglect of the Holy Spirit or the Holy Ghost and have reacted by seeking to draw attention to him in various ways. Now the Spirit's role is in fact not to draw attention to himself but to the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus says in John 15:26 When the Counsellor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. 

I believe in the Holy Spirit

Given this fact, it is important that, in the right sense, we can honestly say 'I believe in the Holy Spirit'. This is what C H Spurgeon used to say to himself as he ascended the stairs of the pulpit of the Metropolitan Tabernacle pulpit to preach. By that he did not mean 'I have neither prepared a message nor prepared myself for this moment but I believe God can do something anyway' . Rather, he meant that having prepared himself to preach and having prepared his message to be preached he wanted to rely for conversions and for making an impact on Christians on neither of those things or both but only on the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven.

In the 18th century John Newton used to recommend young ministers to prepare their messages as if there was no Holy Spirit and then to preach them as if all depended on nothing but the Holy Spirit. In this way he sought to stress the paradox revealed in Scripture that, on the one hand, exalts the teaching that God is sovereign and yet at the same time insists on human responsibility. There is no way that we can logically reconcile these two clear biblical doctrines. Abraham Kuyper used to say that if we find a way to reconcile the two then we have misunderstood. Humanly speaking they truly do seem antithetical. They find their resolution ultimately only in the mind of God. 

Practically

B B Warfield called Calvin 'The theologian of the Holy Spirit' because of the careful and thorough way Calvin set out the doctrine of the Spirit for the first time. Good Calvinists should have a clear theology of the Spirit in their heads. In practical terms, however, how are we to truly believe in the Spirit and honour him as we should yet give proper weight to the important doctrine of human responsibility? Perhaps something along the lines of John Newton's advice will serve us best. If we truly honour the Holy Spirit we will certainly notice references to him as we read the Scriptures, his inspired Word. We will be conscious of the need of his help when we come to pray. We will want to do nothing to make him grieved with us or to quench his fire in others. We will long to know him at work in conversion and sanctification; in illuminating his Word and guiding his people into truth; in restoring and renewing his people. On the other hand, we will also see the need to work hard at winning people to Christ; at seeking to grow in grace; at maintaining Christian unity; to know God's will and live to his glory. Belief in the Holy Ghost should not lead to some sort of spiritual inertia but to a tremendous confidence in God that he is with us, strengthening and helping and nourishing and using us to his praise as we live for him. The genuine fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, etc (Galatians 5:22). 

Anointed

There are many example of men in Scripture who were filled with the Spirit but the greatest example of such a man is the Lord Jesus himself for he was filled with the Spirit without measure. His very title Christ or Messiah means 'Anointed one'. He was anointed not merely with oil but with the Spirit himself. The Spirit of God was upon him enabling him to do what he did.

If we are Christians we too have an anointing. As C S Lewis once put it, we are little Christs. We will then look for the leading of the Spirit, for his guidance and help and power and blessing, as we endeavour to live lives that reflect the patterns laid down for us by the Saviour. That is what keeping in step with the Spirit is all about. 

Never forget the Holy Spirit - not by talking about him or promoting the mere name but by actively seeking to keep in step with him in all he does. 

This article first appeared in Grace Magazine

Fist Heart Mighty Dawn Dart

Midweek Meeting June 20 2018

About 11 of us gathered last night. Again it was (just) a prayer meeting in this month of special mission. We sang a hymn, I read from 1 Kings 3 and said a little about Solomon and Christ. My main point was that God is more ready to give than we are to receive. We then gathered information together and started praying about 40 minutes in. All of us then prayed in turn for the next half an hour or so.