10 books and booklets on retirement and old age 5, 6

1. Finishing our course with joy is a swansong from Jim Packer. It is a gentle but well grounded call to older people (younger, middle and oldest) to think wisely about their situation. We have an opportunity, a maturity, hopefully a humility and an intensity that can be a grat asset to the church he asserts. (PS The subheading on the cover is a misspelling). Quotes - "Still taking their cue from the world around, modern Western churches organize occupations, trips, parties, and so forth for their seniors and make pastoral provision for the shut-ins, but they no longer look to these folks as they do to the rest of the congregation to find, feed, and use their spiritual gifts. In this they behave as though spiritual gifts and ministry skills wither with age. But they don't; what happens, rather, is that they atrophy with disuse. ... to think of Christian retirees as exempt from the twin tasks ... learning and leading just 'cause they don't inhabit the world of wage andsalary earning ... and for aging Christians to think of themselves this way, as if they have no more to do ... than have fun is worldliness in a strikingly intense and ...foolish form!
2. A good old age by Derek Prime approaches the subject of old age in an unusual, perhaps quirky, way. After a short introduction, he provides us with a series of 26 meditations and prayers (often including a hymn) that explore the subject in a helpful and stimulating way. There is repetion but that is not a problem as we need reminders. The subjects are acceptance, believe, contentment, discipleship, encourage, the fear of God, godliness, hope, intercession, joy, knowledge, love, meditate, non-judgmental, etc. For X he has the X-factor - the atonement. Inevitably, he finishes with zeal. Much of it could be said to any Christian but it is tailored for the mature one and would be useful to look at on a daily basis. Gentle but searching.

Good Books Recently Published or Coming Out Soon

Good Christian books continue to appear. Here are four new or fairly new ones

1. Roger Fay Understanding John Wesley: Reassessing His Faith, Theology, and Legacy (Mentor) came out in July

2. David Campbell A remarkable circle of friends (Banner) biographies of the Chalmers circle is out soon

3. Dale Ralph Davies Shattered dreams and God's Plan: The Joseph Narrative in Genesis 37-50 (Focus) out next week

4. Ian F Show Samuel a gift returned (Day One) ‘Studying biblical figures by means of a biographical approach can bring Scripture to life. That is what happens in this very readable account of the life of Israel’s last judge and first prophet, Samuel. On the way, we gain insights into the lives of Hannah, Saul and others as Dr Shaw deftly tackles the sometimes difficult expository and theological issues that arise in Samuel’s story.’ Just out.

10 people who achieved great things later in life

1. Grandma Moses (Anna Mary Robertson Moses) (75-78). Spent decades as a farm worker and homemaker, turning to painting in earnest around age 75 or 78 after arthritis made embroidery too difficult, and later becoming a world-famous folk artist.
2. John Glenn (77). He began as an astronaut but spent four terms as a senator frm the age of 53. Then at the age of 77 he became the oldest man to travel into space.
3. Nelson Mandela (75). Became South Africa’s first Black president and led the country's transition out of apartheid at age 75 (1994–1999), following 27 years in prison.
4. Golda Meir (70). Became Prime Minister of Israel at age 70 (1969–1974), steering the nation through major geopolitical crises including the Yom Kippur War after previously planning to retire.
5. Katsushika Hokusai (70,71). Produced art throughout his life, yet his most iconic masterpieces - including The Great Wave off Kanagawa and Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji - were created in his late 60s and early 70s.
6. Ronald Reagan (69). Worked as an actor and union leader until his mid-50s, winning his first political office as Governor of California at age 55 and becoming President of the United States at age 69.
7. Frank McCourt (66). Worked as a New York City high school English teacher for nearly 30 years before publishing his Pulitzer Prize-winning debut memoir, Angela's Ashes, at age 66.
8. Harland David "Colonel" Sanders (65). Founded Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) as a franchise business at age 65, turning a recipe and roadside diner concept into a global empire after a lifetime of various failed jobs.
9. Winston Churchill (65) Held various cabinet posts earlier in life, but his most defining role - serving as Prime Minister of the UK during WWII - began when he was 65 (1940).
10. Penelope Fitzgerald (58). Published her first book, a biography, at age 58 and her first novel at 61, going on to win the Booker Prize at 62 and writing her acclaimed masterpiece The Blue Flower at 78.

10 books and booklets on retirement and old age 3, 4

1. The final lap is a short 2023 book from a former neonatal paediatrician in All Souls, Langham Place, circles called John Wyatt. It covers three important topics. First, the change from work to retirement. He helpfully suggests that while there are perhaps some disadvantages in retiring, there is more time to be available for others, to share life wisdom, to foster intergenerational friendships, to share your faith and to pray. Second, the change from independence to dependence. Some sober and sensible things here. Thirdly, the change from life to death - the ultimate change we all have to face at some point. Again, some sensible things about reconciliation with others and faith in Christ. A useful little book. One tiny quibble - given that his chief metaphor is the last lap of a marathon race, why the vintage car on the cover?

2. The Highway Code for retirement by David Winter is 100 pages long and packaged in a Highway Code style. The trope behind the book is not pushed, thankfully. We have instead a very interesting and practical book, evangelisitc in places, that could be given to anyone. Some eight chapters, many featuring a series of "commandments", look at planning, the absence of work, others, moving, the different stages, growing older gracefully and what is good about retirement. The penultimate chapter gives some interesting case studies to reflect on.

10 books and booklets on retirement and old age 1, 2

1. Christians grow old by David Gay is a slightly idiosyncratic and quite sermonic 42 page booklet with plenty of Scripture and various observations. The contents page at the front gives a good idea of what is to come. 1. He stresses the importance of conversion whatever your age 2. The fact old age usually means physical decline. 3. Seven general points from Scripture on the aged - they must: be respected, keep a careful spiriutal watch, keep hoping in the promises, still seek to be useful, prepare for death, not waste themselves on vain regrets, realise and accept limitations. 4. Elderly Christians are part of the family (an honoured and useful part) 5. Elderly Christians are part of the church (an honoured, teachable and useful part). Another feaure of the booklet is frequent pointed applications to young and old.

2. Making the mature years count by Robert Peterson is a 60 page large print transcript of Back to the Bible broadcasts from the seventies and has helpful things to say to Christians in their declining years. Four brief chapters cover God's care for the elderly, the importance of being positive, something on night time when it all seems worse and a final call to being thankful. It is as much a book on suffering as one on old age.

10 Reasons to believe that the Lord Jesus Christ will return

Md. Abdul Ahad Khan, CC BY-SA 4.0,
via Wikimedia Commons

1. His Personal Promise: in John 14:1–3 Jesus explicitly promises his disciples, "I will come back and take you to be with me."
2. The Precedent of His Ascension: Acts 1:11- Angels declare to the witnesses of his ascension, "This same Jesus ... will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
3. Completion of God’s Creation Plan: 2 Peter 3:13 and Revelation 21:1–5 - Scripture describes his return as the initiation of a "new heaven and a new earth," restoring physical creation.
4. Fulfilment of Prophecy: Matthew 26:64 and Isaiah 9:6–7 - Jesus himself confirms his future return "on the clouds of heaven," fulfilling the pattern of precise prophetic fulfilment established at his first coming.
5. The Final Accounting of Justice: 2 Thessalonians 1:6–10 and Acts 17:31 - Paul writes that God will bring ultimate justice and relief to the oppressed when Jesus is revealed from heaven.
6. Rescuing Creation and Humanity: Matthew 24:21–22 - Jesus states that his intervention at the end of the age is necessary, noting that "if those days had not been cut short, no one would survive."
7. The Resurrected King: Revelation 1:17,18 - Because Jesus holds "the keys of death and Hades," his resurrection gives believers confidence that he possesses the ultimate authority to return.
8. Reclaiming What Is Rightfully His: Revelation 11:15 and Philippians 2:9–11 - Prophecy states that "the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah," where every knee will bow.
9. Source of Eternal Hope: 1 Thessalonians 4:16–18 - Paul outlines the mechanics of the Second Coming to encourage believers, concluding with the instruction to "encourage one another with these words."
10. A Call to Holy Living: 2 Peter 3:11–12 and 1 John 3:2–3 - The text argues that the certainty of his return should directly influence daily behaviour, stating that everyone who has this hope "purifies himself, just as he is pure."

10 British Prime Ministers Alive Today

Sergeant Tom Robinson RLC/MOD, OGL v1.0OGL v1.0,
via Wikimedia Commons

At the cenotaph yesterday, besides Andy Burnham, there were nine former prime ministers. That is the most ever alive at oone time. 

They are

1. John Major
2. Tony Blair
3. Gordon Brown
4. David Cameron
5. Theresa May
6. Boris Johnson
7. Liz Truss
8. Rishi Sunak
9. Keir Starmer
10. Andy Burnham

Bedwas Mural

See here - https://caerphilly.observer/news/1050373/welsh-mythology-inspires-latest-valleys-street-art-project-in-bedwas/

I went through nearby Bedwas the other day and was struck by this impressive mural, representing the Welsh legend Rhiannon.

Lord's Day November 8 2026

I was preaching yesterday at Grace Reformed Baptist Church in Hilperton. I took two obscure verses from Ezekiel (41:22 and 39:3) and spoke to the thirty or so present inclding several new people. A good day. (You should be able to find the sermons here on thier website)

Recent Pics

Where are the songs of spring? Ay, Where are they?
Think not of them, thou hast thy music too (Keats)

Can I forget the sweet days that have been (W H Davies)

Avondrood

 Vlammengloed 

Bloedbad in het westen (Deelde)

Lord's Day November 1 2026

It was a good day yesterday, listening to the word preached and sitting at communion in our new church, Emmanuel. The pastor Paul Whiteley preached morning and evening. In the morning he preached on David and Goliath. It was an explore Sunday and so we also had, as well as the children's talk, a word of testimony from a woman in the church, Mary. Numbers seemed to be down a little. In the evening he preached on why we believe Christ is coming again. He gave five reasons which was enough though I'm sure there must be more.

The Burning Coals of the Broom Bush

Fer López, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In Psalm 120:3, 4 we read of the burning coals of the broom bush ("coals of juniper" in older versions). 

What will he do to you,
and what more besides,
you deceitful tongue?
He will punish you with a warrior’s sharp arrows,
with burning coals of the broom bush.

These are the hot, long-lasting embers and charcoal produced by the roots and wood of the broom shrub (Retama raetam), a hardy desert plant native to the Middle East and North Africa.

The thing about these coals is the intense heat they produce. The wood, stems and thick roots of the broom contain natural resins and oils that allow it to burn extremely hot - reaching temperatures over 750 ° - and produce a very fierce fire. Also, there are long-lasting embers. When covered with ash or made into charcoal, the wood smoulders slowly and retains its internal heat for many hours, even days. Bedouin tribes and desert travellers historically gathered broom wood and roots to forge metal items like arrowheads, to cook food or to keep warm during cold desert nights.

Symbolically, these broom-coals represent judgment and purification. The intense heat of the coals signifies the consuming nature of divine judgment, which purifies and refines. (The broom tree's ability to grow in desolate areas also perhaps symbolises resilience and survival amidst adversity, reflecting the spiritual journey of believers who endure trials and emerge purified.)

Theologically, the broom-coals underscore the dual nature of God's word and judgment. Just as broom-coals can provide warmth and sustenance, they can also consume and purify. This duality reflects the nature of God's interaction with humanity - offering both comfort and correction. The believer is called to recognise the purifying power of God's word, which, like broom-coals, can refine and transform the heart.

For believers today, the broom-coal imagery serves as a reminder of the power of words and the importance of truthfulness. Just as deceitful words can cause destruction akin to the burning of broom-coals, so too words of truth and love can bring warmth and healing. Christians are encouraged to speak with integrity and allow the refining fire of God's word to purify their hearts and minds.

Lawr Y Bae

We were down at the Bay last Wednesday - six grandchildren, two sons and a daughter-in-law. We had a little wander and went into the Norwegian church where Roald Dahl was christiened as a baby and the Senedd, which I'd been in before but not into the chamber. Impressive building.

Ashley0690, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

10 Reasons why I'm glad to be back in Wales

1. People are friendly
2. The water is softer (less shower gel, better tea or coffee taste, no limescale)
3. The views out are often good (the hills)
4. I can see more of the sky
5. When it rains, it often really rains
6. A little quieter
7. The singing in church is better
8. The Welsh language is everywhere, giving a different perspective
9. My family are nearer
10. These are my roots

Death of Barbara Homrighausen

It was a shock this week to learn of the death of my father-in-law's second wife, Barbara (Baerbel) Homrighausen. She had not been ill very long at all. We were thankful to God that my wife and her sisters were able to see her the day before her death. She is with the Lord, which is far better. More here on my wife's Facebook page.