Article in Reformation Today

 

I have an article in the latest edition of Reformation Today. Very nicely presented RT. Do check it out.

Focus at Powerhaus

Got to see Focus last week at the Powerhaus in Camden Town last Thursday. Our tickets had the wrong date and the wrong venue but the right band and so it all worked out well after a long, long wait. Everybody looked a little older but there was no diminution in the commitment and skill one associates with this great band and we had a two hour without a break beginning with Focus 1 Anonymus and ending with Hocus Pocus and an encore of Focus 3, Answers Questions Questions Answers. On the way there were many delights including a rendition of Brother dedicated to Bert Ruiter, former bassist, the news of whose death had reached the band earlier in the day and an ensemble version of Moving Waves that they are working on and that I had never heard before. Great stuff then on the whole despite what is now the familiarity of the set with nice solos and very tight playing. Decent crowd too. Claire Hamill kicked us off with her gentle songs and a version of Yes's Mood for a day by her guitarist.

Midweek Meeting March 23 2022

So last Wednesday we completed our studies in the Book of Ruth. We had a good time of prayer also. All on Zoom. A good number.

Weekend in Guernsey

I spent last weekend in the Channel Island of Guernsey. It was my fourth visit, I believe. It is a lovely island. My connection is that Robert and Elaine Yerby were members here in Childs Hill when I first came. After they married it was hard to find accommodation and so they moved to Elaine's native Guernsey, where Robert was able to find work in banking. They have four grown up children, all living elsewhere at the moment. They are members of La Villiaze Congregationalist church, an independent church Baptist in its make up. Following retirement from the bank. Robert has become their pastor and I was in Guernsey for the induction on the Saturday. About fifty came to that and a nice tea followed. I also preached twice on the Sunday when it was the more usual 15 or so. My wife and I had a really lovely time in Robert and Elaine's beautiful home, full of souvenirs and various knick knacks. We were waited on hand and foot. Reuben Saywell was preaching here.

Midweek Meeting March 16 2022

We did meet on zoom again last Wednesday. We looked at Ruth 3 and then we prayed. We were, of course, praying about Ukraine but several other matters too, including for our stalwart treasurer and his wife, soon to move from us. Good time.

Evangelical Library Lecture on Benjamin Francis

Last Monday (March 14) we had the second of two Spring lunchtime lectures. The first was on John Frith by Norman Hopkins and this one was on Benjamin Francis, which I did myself. Numbers were a little down, probably because the name Benjamin Francis means nothing to most people. I provided a series of visuals to help the listening and we had a little time for questions at the end. He certainly deserves to be better known. I have a blog for him here. Next up is the annual lecture on June 6 on the St Bartholomew's Day Massacre with Dr Robert Strivens, on zoom I expect.

Lord's Day March 13 2022

I ran out of time somewhere last week so haven't made note of our meetings the Sunday before last and they ought to be noted as after the morning service we had a fellowship meal, something we have not done in a long time. About thirty stayed, some of whom have never been to such a meal as they have only begun to be with us in the last two years. As for the preaching I began a series on the seven sayings of the cross, looking at Luke 34 and 43 morning and evening. We were our usual small number in the evening but a good bunch in the morning.

Great to have Jan Akkerman back

It was my joy to be down in Sussex last Friday at Trading Boundaries to catch the first of three concerts by Jan Akkerman and his band - the first time in a while. The concert was in two halves and was more jazzy for the first half (a nice section Crackers to Angel Watch) and more rocky for the second (though Focus 2 and Anonymous are unique). The bass player has broken his leg and so had to sit and Jan didn't seem quite happy with his two Gibson guitars for some of the time. I got a little lost on Tommy's Anniversary but otherwise it was a great concert. Nice to meet Jan and Mrs Akkerman, looking after the merchandise. Jan seemed tired at the end of a long day. He is 75, of course.

Midweek Meeting March 9 2022

So we carried on with the next part of Ruth last Wednesday. It's a great little book. We had a good number on Zoom and most of them prayed. Always a high spot in the week when the meeting comes around.

10 Albums of Bob Dylan Material

1. Any Day Now Joan Baez 1968
2. Dylanesque Bryan Ferry 2007
3. Hollies Sing Dylan The Hollies 1969
4. Masters of War Mountain 2007
5. Portraits of Bob Dylan Steve Howe 1999
6. Lo & Behold Coulson, Dean, McGuinness, Flint 2007
7. Judy Collins Sings Dylan: Just Like a Woman Judy Collins 1993
8. A Tree With Roots - Fairport Convention & Friends And The Songs Of Bob Dylan Fairport Convention 2018
9. The Byrds Play Dylan The Byrds 1979 and 2002 (Compilations)
10. Postcards of the Hanging Grateful Dead 2002 (Live compilation)

Day Off Week 10 2022

Had me traditional day off last Tuesday. I selected another of my art books - this time on Kandinsky. For the first time I wasn't really convinced. Kandinsky doesn't wow me I'm afraid. Remembering my art project made me check on Amazon which ones I haven't got in the series and so I sent for van Gogh, Monet, etc. Looking at my wish list I saw the book Turn Turn Turn by Steve Turner. This book takes a hundred popular songs in chronological order and teases out their biblical connections, obvious or not. I downloaded a sample and was then hooked, reading about half of it then and more since. The combination of a very good Bible knowledge and a great grasp of popular music from the thirties to the present. I enjoyed the obvious ones, the ones I'd never heard of and the explanations. This is a vast subject and right up my street. Having Alexa around was useful for checking songs referenced. In some ways I'd like to check out the further hearing too (he lists three more recordings for each of the hundred examples).

Lord's Day March 6 2022

We began the month as usual with communion. It was great t do it in the old style with a deacon either side of me. Not that we are entirely out of the woods yet. One deacon is isolating with his family as I write. I preached from Luke 9 again in the morning (46-50 - on greatness) and the last chapter of Amos in the evening. it's been good to look at Amos again. Quite a small number in the evening.

Midweek Meeting March 2 2022

 

We had a good turn out last Wednesday on zoom and a good time of prayer. Before that I began a new series on the wonderful little book of Ruth.

10 Popular Songs About Trains and Stations

1. Slow Train Bob Dylan
2. Marrakesh Express Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
3. Blue railroad train Doc Watson
4. Last train to Clarksville The Monkees
5. Trains and Winter Rains Enya
6. Doomsday Train Brainbox
7. Trains and Boas and Planes Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas
8. One after 909 The Beatles
9. Rock Island Line Johnny Cash, Lonnie Donegan, etc
10. People Get Ready Curtis Mayfield &The Impressions (Also Bob Marley)

Day Off Week 9 2022

Took my regular day off last Tuesday. Read a book on Gustav Klimt. Very informative. Also watched some TV and had a walk. This war in Ukraine is depressing. It was March 1 and my wife made us leek soup and bra brith and also pancakes for SHrove Tuesday.

Lord's Day February 27 2022

Last Lord's Day was difficult in some ways. I'd had a difficult week somehow and ended up with short sermons that to me seemed to lack. We had good numbers and there were many encouragements. We had a very nice afternoon with a family of members. Sometimes you just need to keep going. In preached again from Luke 9 and Amos.