Midweek Meeting March 11 2026

There were five of us present plus one or to online last night. Eddie led us very well giving prayer pointers for missionaries. We then had two good prayer sessions.

Day Off Week 11 2026

The two main things on Tuesdaywere finishing the book on Blaise Pascal and walking three sections of the Thames Path, from Blackfriars Station to London Bridge. We watched sme TV in the evening.

VR05 Blackfriars

 

Contining this sporadic series of Statues of Queen Victoria. This one is on

the northern side of Blackfriars Bridge, London.

Lord's Day March 8 2026

We had a visiting preacher on Sunday - Chungman Shon. Childs Hill holds a lot of memories for Chungman as his father was the pastor of the church that meets on Sunday afternoons in our building and he remembers where he sat as a teenager (feet up and asleep sometimes!). He preached to us morning and evening from Matthew 5 and the beatitudes. Very helpful. We had a bumper turn out in the morning - perhaps over 50, including four people whohaven't been there for a while, one or two visitors, etc. There were still plenty missing, as ever We were about 15 in the evening.

Food Fun

 

This is what I had for lunch last Saturday

Midweek Meeting March 4 2026

 

A nice session on Wednesday. Five or si in the room and one o two onlilne. We began on Romans 14 and spent time in prayer. Still in the cosy kitchen.

Day Off Week 10 2026

 

Last Tuesday wasn't quite a day off in that I spent much if it in St Giles Christian Mission planning the next Westminster Conferences with the committee. Once I was out though I walked another section of the Thames Path, from Somerset House to Blackfriars. all very interesting once again. This is where we leave Westminster and enter the CiIty. Relasing evening too.

Lord's Day February 29 2026

I preached morning and evening last Lord's Day. We began with communion and then I preached (am) on the final verses of Luke 19. In the evening we carried on with out series on paradoxes, looking at angels. A good number in the morning. Lots of Iranians. Many less in the evening. We had a visitor who came to the morning service and stayed with us for lunch. Nice to have her here.

Week of Prayer February 2026

 We had a week of prayer meetings last week, which we try to do twice a year.  We held six prayer meetings, two early in the morning, two in the evening and then one on the day and a final prayer breakfast on the Saturday. It was slightly different this time in that our evening meetings were on Tuesday and Wdnesday (rather than Wednesday and Thursday) and the day time prayer eeting was on the Thursday. Also, we did not sing at all this time, which is not our usual pattern. It was good to see people at each meeting and to take art. We too easily forget how important prayer is.

Day Off Week 9 2026

On my day off last Tuesday I headed down to Westminster and walked another two sections of the Thames path. It was all very interesting and included New Scotand Yard, the Savoy, Cleoatra's needle, Tyndale, Raikes, etc. I ended near the Savoy and walked upfrom there to the STrand where I hada coffee in Caffe Nero, reading this new biography of Pascal that I have agreed to introduce at the enxt Theological Study Group at the Pastors Academy. In the evening we watched a recording of last week's The Apprentice.

Evangelical Library Lecture on Early English Baptists

We had an excellent Evangelical Library Zoom lecture on Monday from Ryan King. He spoke on Early English Baptists and Liberty. It was a very interesting and well presented lecture simply outlining how early Baptists in England came t what many of us would regard as a biblical view of the way church and state are to interact. It will soon be on our YouTube Channel for your perusal. If you want to go into things further, Ryan has a book on the subject with H&E. The final lecture ion this series is on March 16 when Stuart Fisher will speak on Thomas Bilney. Contact me if you want log in info.

Lord's Day February 22 2026

Last Lord's Day we had Eddie preaching (from Revelation 7) inthe morning and myself on some moreparadoxes, these to do mainly with humility. It was great to see an Iranian friend in church for the first time after leaving that country. The man who we met on tracts the other week continues to attend i the mornings and the man who was new at last week's evening service returned. Thins are happening. We have a week of prayer meetings this week.

Eusébio, Pelé and the Bible

I am not a football fan but back in the late sixties and early seventies I was an avid follower of the game. At that time, two of the top overseas footballers were two Portuguese speaking strikers, one from Portugal and one from Brazil.

The Portuguese player was Eusébio, full name Eusébio da Silva Ferreira (1942–2014). Nicknamed the "Black Panther", the "Black Pearl" or "The King" ("O Rei") he is considered to be one of the greatest players of all time and Benfica's best player ever. He was known for his speed, technique, athleticism and right-footed shot, making him a prolific goalscorer, accumulating 733 goals in 745 matches. He helped Portugal to third place in the1966 World Cup, being the top goalscorer of the tournament with nine goals.

Also nicknamed “The King”, the Brazilian was known as Pelé, although his actual name was Edson Arantes do Nascimento (1940-2022). Pelé was a nickname based on his young mispronunciation of the name of another player. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in history, he was among the most successful and popular sports figures of his century. His 1,279 goals in 1,363 games, including friendlies, is recognised as a Guinness World Record. In 1999, the International Olympic Committee named him Athlete of the Century and Time put him on their list of the 100 most important people of the 20th century. In 2000, the International Federation of Football History & Statistics voted him World Player of the Century and he was made, with Maradona, joint FIFA Player of the Century.

One of the interesting and more obscure things about these men is that their names are in the Bible. That is to say, in the New Testament you will find the Greek original of Eusébio, Eusebios, and in the Old Testament you will find a Hebrew word remarkably like the word Pelé.

The name Eusébio or Eusebeo means to be pious or devout. It is made up of the short adjective eu or good and the verb sebesthai which means to honour or respect. In its different forms the word occurs about six times and is translated devout or godly and can mean to serve God or to worship him.

So in Acts (10:2, 7) we read that Cornelius was devout, as was Ananias who helped Paul when he was first converted (22:12). In 2 Peter 2:9 Peter tells us that the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials. In 1 Timothy 5:4 Paul says that the children or grandchildren of widows first learn to show godliness to (or put their faith or religion into practice with) their own household and to make some return to their parents. In Acts 17;23 Paul tells the Athenians that he is proclaiming to them a God they worship as unknown.

So if and when you come across the name Eusébio, it may call to mind the way the New Testament uses related words and set you thinking of the importance of devotion, worship and putting your faith into practice.

As for the name Pelé or Pele, this appears in the Hebrew Old Testament some 13 times, most often to refer to wonders or marvellous things God has done. See Exodus 15:11, Isaiah 25:1 and 29:14, Daniel 12:6 and several places in the Psalms (77, 11, 14; 78:12; 88:10, 12; 89:5). In Psalm 119:129 David refers to God's Word as wonderful using this word. More unusual is Lamentations 1:9 where it says that Israel has fallen wonderfully or her fall has been a wonder. Modern versions sat it was tragic, terrible, amazing or astounding. Perhaps the most astounding pele verse is Isaiah 9:6 where we read For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. The wonderful of the first title is that word pele.

So again if and when you come across the name Pelé, it may call to mind the way the Old Testament uses this word pele and set you thinking of God's Wonders and especially of Jesus Christ the wonderful counsellor.

As for Johan Cruyff, the surname at least is nowhere to be found in our Bibles.

10 Claims to fame that belong to Pascal

Palace of Versailles, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>,
via Wikimedia Commons

I have begun to read a biography of Blaise Pascal. At the beginning Graham Tomlinson lists Pascal's claims to fame. They include these 

1. He proved the existence fo the vacuum
2. He was the first to demonstrate that air has weight
3. He virtually invented probabilty theory
4. He performed what has been called the first modern proper scientific experiment
5. He made possible the creation of the hydraulic press
6. He built the first mechanical calculating machine
7. He wrote one of the most famous satirical works in French literature
8. He was one of the first people to wear a wristwatch
9. He was involved in creating the first public urban tranportation system in Europe
10. In the field of apologetics, he came up with what we call Pascal's wager, an argument for faith.

The Buxton Memorial Fountain

Given my recent reading it was interesting to stumble across this the other day.

The Buxton Memorial Fountain is a memorial and drinking fountain commemorating the emancipation of slaves in the British Empire in 1834, and in particular, the role of British parliamentarians in the campaign. It was commissioned by Charles Buxton MP, and dedicated to his father Thomas Fowell Buxton along with Wilberforce, Clarkson, Babington Macaulay, Henry Brougham and Stephen Lushington, all of whom were involved. It was designed by Buxton, an amateur architect, in collaboration with neo-Gothic architect Samuel Sanders Teulon (1812–1873) in 1865. It coincided with the passing of the Thirteenth Amendment to the US Constitution, which effectively ended slavery in the USA. The memorial was completed February 1866. It was originally constructed in Parliament Square, erected at a cost of £1,200. As part of the postwar redesign of the square it was removed in 1949 and not reinstated in its present position in Victoria Tower Gardens until 1957.

There were eight decorative figures of British rulers on it, but four were stolen in 1960 and four in 1971. They were replaced by fibreglass figures in 1980. By 2005 these were missing, and the fountain was no longer working. Between autumn 2006 and February 2007 restoration works were carried out. The restored fountain was unveiled on 27 March 2007 as part of the commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act 1807 to abolish the slave trade. A memorial plaque commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Anti-Slavery Society was added in 1989.

Thames Path - Millbank, Westminster

 

I headed down to Pimlico the other day and walked another two sections of the Thames Path. I passed Tate Britain and Millbank Tower, etc, and approached Parliament from what for me is an unusual angle, via Victoria Tower Park.

Notice to ponder

I have long pondered this notice. My current theory is that after the male attendants have had a go the female ones can see how poor an effort they have made and then sort it out.

(Toilet humour?)

 

Follow up article in Banner 750

The second part of a two part article that I have written on Experiential Calvinism is in the March Banner Magazine.

Midweek Meeting February 18 2026

Half term this week and we ended up with three in the little kitchen and three online. It was all over within the hour. I spoke on Romans 13:11-14.

10 Famous People Buried in Westminster Abbey

1. Sir Isaac Newton: Buried in 1727 near the quire screen
2. Charles Darwin: Located in the scientists' corner
3. Stephen Hawking: Ashes interred in 2018
4. Ernest Rutherford: Renowned physicist
5. Charles Dickens: Famous novelist
6. Laurence Olivier: Renowned actor
7. George Frideric Handel: Composer
8. David Livingstone: Explorer
9. Aphra Behn: One of the first English women to earn a living from writing
10. William Wilberforce: Politician and abolitionist

10 British Monarchs Buried in Westminster Abbey

1. Edward I, King of England, in 1307
2. Edward III, King of England, in 1377
3. Henry V, King of England, in 1422
4. Henry VII, King of England, in 1509
5. Edward VI, King of England, in 1553
6. Mary I, Queen of England, in 1558
7. Elizabeth I, Queen of England, in 1603
8. James VI and I, King of England and Scotland, in 1625
9. Charles II, King of England and Scotland, in 1685
10. William III, King of England and Scotland, in 1702

(Also, Anne, Queen of Great Britain, in 1714 and George II, King of Great Britain, in 1760)

10 Poets Buried in Poets' Corner, Westminster Abbey

National Library of Wales, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Bain News Service, publisher, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

1. Geoffrey Chaucer c. 1343 1400 Author and poet
2. Edmund Spenser c. 1552 1599 Poet
3. Abraham Cowley 1618 1667 Poet
4. John Dryden 1631 1700 Poet and playwright
5. Samuel Johnson 1709 1784 Author, poet and lexicographer
6. Alfred, Lord Tennyson 1809 1892 Poet
7. Robert Browning 1812 1889 Poet and playwright
8. Thomas Hardy 1840 1928 Author and poet
9. John Masefield 1878 1967 Poet and author
10. Rudyard Kipling 1865 1936 Author and poet

Lord's Day February 15 2026

Low numbers yesterday due to sickness and perhapss the terrible weather. Local newcomer in the evening showing an interest. Always encouraging. I thought Eternal paradoxes might not be the best subject but he loved it, it seems.

Midweek Meeting February 11 2026

Just a handful huddled in the kitchen again plus two online. We all prayed. We also looked at Romans 13:8-10.

Day Off Week 7 2026

The main feature of this week's day off was a trip with my wife to  lovely restaurant. It was a birthday/Christmas gift from very king friend of ours. The location was the Vincent Rooms Brasserie near Victoria. The set up is connected with the Westmineter College and is staffed by students. We had a very nice three course meal and just enjoyed being out together. I also managed to complete the William Hague biography of Wilberforce that I have been reading and started a biography of Jimi Hendrix. In the evening, it was TV wall to wall as we watched the Apprentice with Owain, which we had missed last week, Silent WItness (just us) and then the news before bed.

Lord's Day February 8 2026

We had a full day last Lord's Day with a meal together after the morning meeting at which I preached on the parable of the minas from Luke 19. In the evening Eddie preached, once again from Luke 15. As usual the morning congregation was much larger than the small evening one. Our Iranian friends were out in force in the morning, despite being distracted by a desire to know what is happening at home. Two younger men who have begun to attend were there, whch was encouraging. 

Thames Path - Next Bits

I was on my own on Saturday and so I thought I woud do the next two sections of the Thames Path. I got myself down to Sloane Square by opublic transport and grabbed a coffee, I then walked to Chelsea Beidge and headed back almost to the Alert Bridge then made my official start. First we passed the Chelsea Physic Garcen and the Royal Hospital. As ever, one is amazed by how much open space London contains. I noted the western oumping station and, on the other side, the pagoda in Battersea Park and the remaining facade of the Bettersea Power Station. Just beyond Grosvenor Railway Bridge I started a seond, less full section, that included Dolphi Square adn St George's Square adn finished with the statue of William Huskinson in a little park area. I walked a little way further until I fond a bus to Victoria and then home. The thing is an education.

Midweek Meeting February 4 2026

Nice and cosy in the kitchen once again, praying and looking at Romans 13:1-7 about honouring the powers that be and paying your taxes.

Day Off Week 6 2026

There was the usual reading today (Hague on Wilberforce) but I also resumed walking the London Thams Path, something I started a little while ago that I seem to have left no record of. I have  abook by David Fathers that divides the walk up into 20 odd north shore and south shore pieces. I did the first part of the north shore with my wife last year and this Tuesday I did the next two parts. For the first part (Fulham) we went down to Putney Bridge Underground and walked west as far as Fulham Palace and then came back east all the way to Wandsworh Bridge, where we had a cuppa. (Sasdly it was very windy and so parts of the Thames Path were closed then). This time I headed to Imperial Wharf Overground where we ended up last time. First, I headed back west as far as the large Sainsbury's near Wandsworth Bridge and then headed east again as far as the end of Cheyne Walk where I caught a bus to Sloane Square and had a coffee in Cote before headingto Five Guys in Victoria and home on a 13. Lots of famous people are connected with Cheyne Walk as you may have noticed in a previous post. I also saw Crosvy Hall, the statue of Thomas Moore, what was Lots Road Power Station and Chelsea Harbour. I'd been to Cheyne Walk before, to Carlyle's House, but before there I hadn't known so it was good to see how the further west fits in to the whole. On the opposite side I saw at one point the impressive St Mary's church where Blake was married. It was a dull wet day but not too cold.