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.

Enfys Arall

 

Down at the castle this week God blessed us with another rainbow.

It was a double one actually.

Caerffili Area History 5 (Christmas Evans)

By William Roos, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Built 1866

Also by Jaggery, CC BY-SA 2.0,
via Wikimedia Commons

I thought I might be complete for now on Caerffili and its church history but I forgot that for two years (1826-1828) the renowned one eyed Welsh Baptist preacher Christmas Evans (1766–1838), often called the "Bunyan of Wales" due to his vivid, dramatic storytelling, spent a brief but powerful period of his ministry here.

In August 1826, after serving for over three decades as the "bishop of Anglesey" in North Wales, he accepted an invitation to become the pastor of the small, struggling Tonyfelin Chapel in Caerffili.

When Evans arrived, the Tonyfelin church had only about 65 members. However, his unique, highly imaginative preaching style quickly ignited a massive spiritual awakening in the area.

In his letters from Caerphilly, Evans famously wrote about the local awakening, stating, "the breeze is blowing". (See here).

Large crowds of people travelled across the surrounding hills from all directions on Sundays just to hear him speak and his two-year ministry transformed the small congregation, resulting in a wave of new conversions and outdoor baptisms throughout Caerffili and neighbouring Bedwas.

Despite his massive local success, Evans chose to leave in 1828. He had spent decades managing multiple churches at once and found it difficult to adapt to looking after just one local congregation. Additionally, structural tensions arose because the church deacons were accustomed to running internal affairs independently, clashing with Evans's leadership style.

Seeking a fresh start, he accepted an invitation to move eight miles down the road to the Tabernacle church in Cardiff.

Caerffili Area History 4 (Bowls Inn)

 

© Copyright http://Alan Hughes and licensed
for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Peter Wasp / Bowls Inn, Penyrheol, Caerphilly.

At the end of our new street, conveniently, is a Tesco Exoress. The Bowls Inn once stood there and only closed as a pub in 2013. Before that it had been a pub going back at least until 1825 and undoubtedly before that. The present structure only goe back to the 1980s.

Midweek Meeting October 28 2026

We were at the whle church prayer meeting again yesterday. Perhaps under thrty were there and Gareth again led, reminding us that Christ is building his church. A good time of prayer followed.

Caerffili Area History 3 (Watford)

National Library of Wales, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons 1912

No Swan So Fine, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

On another trip we went to nearby Watford (not the famous one near London). First we found the Congregational Church, interesting enough (Grade II) but then Plas Watford (also Grade II) still lived in. A very kind lady and her husband asked us in to the parlour, wher we are aware the first meeting of the Calvinistic Methodists in Wales took place. She told us that Hwitefield alos had his wedding reception there after marrying Welsh widow, Elizabeth James, in 1741. This clip from YouTube is interesting.

Caerffili Area History 2 (Groeswen Chapel)

Pics https://www.visitcaerphilly.com/en/listings/groeswen-chapel/

Our second trip was to do with more recent history. Groeswen Calvinistic Methodist Chapel (later Congregationalist) was built in 1742 (Grade II listed). |It was the first purpose built Metofist place of worship in Wales. Its graveyard has been described as a Welsh Westminster Abbey as many Welsh poets are buried there. A bit lost on me to be honest. Their first long serving minister was WIlliam Edwards, also a builder, whio built the disticnctive bridgge in nearby Pontypridd.

Among those buried there

• Ieuan Gwynedd (Evan Jones, 1820–1852) fiercely patriotic journalist, independent minister and poet celebrated in Wales for his passionate defence of Welsh women and national character following the derogatory British government report known as the "Treason of the Blue Books" in 1847.
• Caledfryn (William Williams, 1801–1869) one of the nineteenth century’s most formidable Welsh-language poets, literary critics and Eisteddfod adjudicators. Served as a minister at Groeswen later in his life.
• The Coslett Dynasty. Highly influential family of local bards and scholars, including Gwilym Tawe (William Coslett) whose ornate family headstones form a significant piece of the graveyard's historic character.
• John Thomas "Llanwrtyd" (1839–1921) well-known Welsh composer and teacher who took his bardic name from his hometown.
• D C 'Christmas' Williams (1871–1926) prominent early 20th-century Welsh composer and conductor whose music was widely celebrated in chapel culture across South Wales.
• Griffith Hughes (1797–1839) charismatic minister who led the Groeswen flock during a time of immense growth and regional religious revivals.
• Tawelfryn (Charles Thomas, 1880–1927) beloved long-serving minister, local historian and writer, instrumental in documenting the chapel's rich history.

Also, some victims of the Senghenydd Colliery disasters. Beyond the famous cultural figures, the graveyard serves as an important site of industrial heritage, holding the remains of several local coal miners who tragically lost their lives in the massive Senghenydd colliery explosions of 1901 and 1913 - the latter being the worst mining disaster in British history when over 400 died, including, it turns out, one David Lewis Morgan, who lived here where I sit in our new home in Penyrheol, Caerffili. He was 35 when he died and left a wife and three children. See here.

Caerffili Area History 1 (Gelligaer)

My oldest son and his family have been with us for a few days (Also my sister, whi is now nearby again, and my niece and her children and another son and his kids who live nearby too). Anyway, Rhodri likes to check out a bit of history (as do I) and so we have been trying to do that this week. First, we went to Gelligaer. As the name suggests there wa sa fort there at one time (a Roman one on the opening centuries of the last Millennium). Not much to see but interesting to know. This leaflet now printed online gives interesting info.

EL Lecture on Myles Coverdale

Over twenty joined us on Zoom for a very interesting lecture last Monday, organised by the Evangelical Library.  Jonathan Wilson of Ripon gave us an excellent illustrated introduction to Myles or Miles Coverdale. Relying on the new biography by G F Main (see here), he was able to guide us very clearly and helpfully through the background and the main features of the life of the often exiled Coverdale and still leave time for questions. Another lecture November 23. Details from the Library.

Lord's Day October 25 2026

It was my privilege once again to sit under the sound of the word at Emmanuel Baptist, Cardiff. Andrew Love from Tabor, Llantrisant, was the visiting preacher. The church was packed.

10 Differences Between Elijah and Elisha

(Bible Illustration by Sweet Media)

1. Background: Elijah came from a poor family in Gilead. Elisha came from a wealthy farming family that owned twelve teams of oxen in Abel-meholah.
2. Appearance: Elijah was hairy and wore rough camel-hair clothes. Elisha was bald.
3. Role/Status: Elijah started as a lone prophet who appeared abruptly. Elisha started as Elijah's servant and assistant before succeeding him.
4. Primary Focus: Elijah emphasised strict law, public confrontation of sin and divine judgment. Elisha emphasised grace, mercy and personal restoration.
5. Number of Miracles: Elijah performed about 7-9 recorded miracles. Elisha performed roughly 14 or more recorded miracles (double Elijah's count).
6. Nature of Miracles: Elijah’s miracles were grand and judgmental, like stopping the rain or calling fire from heaven. Elisha’s miracles were often quiet and compassionate, like healing Naaman, purifying toxic water or floating an axe head.
7. Living Environment: Elijah lived as a wanderer in the wilderness, caves and mountains. Elisha lived among ordinary people in towns and cities.
8. Length of Ministry: Elijah’s active ministry was relatively short. Elisha served as a prophet for roughly 50 years.
9. Personality: Elijah experienced deep mood swings, isolation and severe burnout. Elisha was generally steady, calm and approachable.
10. End of Life: Elijah did not die a natural death; he was taken up to heaven alive in a whirlwind. Elisha died of an illness in his old age and was buried in a tomb from where his body was used to raise someone from the dead.

10 Insults aimed at other composers by Tchaikovsky

Public Domain, via Wikimedia commons

Tchaikovsky could apparently be quite acerbic aboout other composers. Here are a set of 10 from him.

1. “I like playing Bach because it is entertaining to play a good fugue, but I do not acknowledge in him (as others do) a great genius.”  – Tchaikovsky about Bach
2. “Handel is only fourth rate. He is not even interesting.” – Tchaikovsky about Handel
3. “And so what is Beethoven to me? I bow before the greatness of some of his works - but I do not love Beethoven.”  – Tchaikovsky about Beethoven.
4. “He can’t compose a single note without someone’s help.” – Tchaikovsky about Borodin
5. “Mussorgsky’s idiom is narrow, his artistic instinct is entirely absent ... He likes what is coarse, unpolished, and ugly.” – Tchaikovsky about Mussorgsky
6. “Rimsky-Korsakov is a very great talent ... [But] he was a member of that circle which believed itself to be destined to create a new Russian music ... They all fell into despair and took up a different path. Rimsky-Korsakov is the only one among them who realised that their path was a dead end ... He suddenly threw himself into the study of classical counterpoint and strict fugue. ... He has written dozens of fugues and counterpoints, and now his music is completely weighed down by this academic baggage. ....”
7. “I have played over the music of that scoundrel Brahms. What a giftless bastard! ... What would I say to [Brahms]? … I would have to tell him this: ‘Herr Brahms! I consider you to be a very untalented person, full of pretensions but utterly devoid of creative inspiration. I rate you very poorly and indeed I simply look down upon you.’” – Tchaikovsky about Brahms
8. “The Fourth Symphony is the last of the series, and at the same time the least in value. It has not that overwhelming power, that searching pathos, which strikes us in the first two symphonies. The sum-total of its beauties cannot unfortunately redeem that great fault which prevails in all works of Schumann, considered especially as a symphonic writer. This fault would be called by painters a lack of colour; it is a pallor, a dryness — I may almost say harshness — of orchestration. Without entering into technical details, I may explain to my readers that the art of instrumentation (i.e. the distribution of a work among the various instruments) consists in understanding how to employ alternately the individual groups of instruments; how to blend them appropriately; how to economise strong effects, and also in the intelligent use of colouring - that is to say, the application of timbre to musical ideas. This knowledge Schumann has not acquired. His orchestra works continuously; all the instruments take part in the exposition and development of his ideas. They are not used in detachments; there is no contrast between them (and contrasting effects are inexhaustible in orchestration); most of the time they mingle in a continuous roar, often spoiling the best parts of the work. As regards instrumentation, Schumann not only stands on a lower level than such masters as Berlioz, Mendelssohn, Meyerbeer, and Wagner, but he cannot even be compared with many second-rate composers who have borrowed his best inspirations.” – Tchaikovsky about Schumann
9. “Such an astounding lack of talent has never before been united to such pretentiousness.” – Tchaikovsky about Richard Strauss
10. “I’ve been to the theatre a few times and heard Wagner’s Walküre, from which I carried away memories of two or three glorious minutes and a whole ocean of boredom and utter emptiness. ... After the last notes of Götterdämmerung, I felt as though I had been let out of prison.” – Tchaikovsky about Wagner

(Also "As for Liszt, he is an old hypocrite who lavishes the most exaggerated praises on any piece of music submitted to his august judgment. He is naturally kind. He is one of the rare famous artists who has never been envious or tempted to hinder [others]...")

10 Things about Caerffili

Cadw, OGL v1.0OGL v1.0, via Wikimedia Commons

1. It is famous for its cheese
2. It has the biggest castle in Wales (second biggest in the UK)
3. It boasts a statue of comedian Tommy Cooper who was born here
4. Footballers Aaron Ramsey and Robert Earnshaw are also from Caerffili
5. Rugby player Steve Fenwick went to school in Caerffili
6. Amy Dowden of Strictly Come Dancing is from Caerffili
7. It has a wildlife park
8. It has two art galleries
9. It is where the girl evangelist Margaret Bevan who moved to America grew up
10. It features heavily in a collection of short stories by Thomas Morris We don't know what we're doing. The book was a major literary success, winning the 2016 Wales Book of the Year and a Somerset Maugham Prize. Morris was later named one of Granta’s Best Young British Novelists.

(Also Evan James who wrote the national anthem with his son grew up here)

10 Guernsey Parishes

TUBS, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>,
via Wikimedia Commons

The parishes of Guernsey are the 10 civil parishes of the Bailiwick of Guernsey in the Channel Islands. They are based on ancient ecclesiastical parishes, each with its own parish church from which they get their names. They are the main administrative divisions of Guernsey, and are each governed by an elected council known as a Douzaine.

1. (Sainte Marie de) Castel
2. (Sainte Marguerite de) Forest
3. St Andrew
4. St Martin
5. St Peter Port
6. St Pierre du Bois
7. St Sampson
8. St Saviour
9. Torteval
10. Vale

The occupation museum

Heather Cowper, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>,
via Wikimedia Commons

We spent a pleasant morning today in Guernsey's German Occupation Museum. The result of one man's vision it is a remarkable large and well presented record of the five years occupation that Guernsey underwent 1940-1945. See website.

Lord's Day October 18 2026

Jonadab, Public domain,
via Wikimedia Commons

I was preaching here in Guernsey yesterday in the morning and evening. I preached on two more of the seven churches of Asia, having looked at Laodicea on the Friday. We looked at Smyrna in the morning and Pregamum in the evening. The congregation is small and the older side but eager to hear the Word. There was one visitor in the morning but she will be leaving the island soon. It is hard when it is so rare for newcomers to be there. We had a lovely time in the afternoon at the home of a couple in the church. The three srmons can be found on the church website in audio form at the moment (click here).

Why no Daniel in Daniel 3?

Unknown artist 3rd century A.D., Rome, Public domain,
via Wikimedia Commons

One of the features of Daniel 3 is that it is the only chapter where the lead character Daniel is not mentioned. It's like a solo album where on one track the lead artist doesn't play.

But why is Daniel not mentioned? No doubt the writer is keen to show us that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were men of faith in their own right not just pale imitations of Daniel. However, there must be a reason why Daniel is not mentioned.

It cannot be that Daniel compromised his faith at this point and bowed down to the statue. Perhaps he was on an official royal assignment elsewhere in the kingdom. He had been promoted by King Nebuchadnezzar to rule over the entire province of Babylon and serve as chief administrator over the wisemen. He may have been away from the Plain of Dura on a diplomatic mission or royal duty elsewhere. It is alos possible that because Nebuchadnezzar held Daniel in such high regard after Daniel interpreted his dream  that he simply overlooked Daniel's failure to attend the ceremony.

The other fruiful line of thought is that the who accused and reported the three Hebrew friends targeted them because they had administrative roles in the province. Daniel was not targeted either out of fear of his high rank and favour with the king or because he was not present in the group that they reported.

In the end we do not know for certain but sometimes these questions are still worth thinking about even though we cannot come to a very firm conclusion.

10 Fun Ways to remember the names of Daniel's friends

Kjetil Ree, Michael Barera and Tim Evanson, CC BY-SA 3.0, 2.0 and 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, 4.0 and 2.0>,
all via Wikimedia Commons

1. Coat-Rack, Crab-Shack and To-Bed-I-Go (The classic everyday object rhyme)
2. Your shack, my shack and a bungalow (The ultimate property-themed favourite)
3. Your shack, my shack and a condo (The modernised real estate upgrade)
4. Shed rack, man shack and lumbago (The bad back version) 
5. A shack, a track and a bungalow (The railroad variation)
6. Shake a shack, mess a shack and away we go (The chaotic home renovation or burger chain variant)
7. Rack, Shack and Benny (The famous VeggieTales chocolate factory nicknames)
8. Make the bed, shake the bed and into bed we go (The perfect bedtime-routine cadence)
9. Shake-a-snack, munch-a-snack and a bagel-to-go (The fast-food snack routine)
10. Sugar, Mustard and a baked potato (The root vegetable substitute)

Three things I didn't know

As old as I am, I'm still learning things I either didn't know or have somehow forgotten. Two recent examples

1. The Hawaiian islands were formerly known as the Sandwich Islands. (James Cook named the chain in 1778 in honour of his patron, John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich (the same British nobleman who inspired the food item). The name was used by Europeans and Western maps through the 19th century before changing back to the native name Hawaiʻi as the islands unified under the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi.

2. Canadian thanksgiving is six weeks before the American one. It falls on the second Monday in October (October 12 this year).

3. The controversial Hawaiian pizza was invented in Canada. It was invented in Ontario in 1962 by a Greek immigrant, Sam Panopolous at his family's Satellite Restaurant. It is called Hawaiian fom the brand of pineapple chinks first used.

Guernsey

My wife and I are currently in Guernsey with our good friends Robert and Elaine Yerby. It is my fourth of fifth time on the island which is lovely and quiet and rural. I am chiefly here to preach at the anniversary services of La Villiaze Congregational Church where Robert has been pastor these last five years. I preached yesterday evening (Friday) and will reach tomorrow morning and evening, God willing. There is a meal tonight in a local hotel.

On arriving here, I received an interesting message from my mobule provider. It begins "Tesco Mobile: Welcome to JERSEY, which is one of our Home From Home destinations - using data and calling/texting UK & Home From Home numbers will come out of any free credit or bundles you have. Picture messages will be 55p to send ...."

Midweek Meeting October 14 2026

This week it was homegroups. Emmanuel has four home groups, each linked up on Whatsapp. About 15 of us gathered (half and half men and women, a little opn the older side maybe) in the front room of a couple who've been in the church since the beginning. A cuppa and biscuits were kindly supplied then Paul led us in looking over last Sunday morning's sermon, with contributions from several there. We then listed prayer points and spent about half an hour in prayer. There's good atmosphere and it was encouraging to see so many out midweek. It is also easier to get to know a quarter of what is for us a fairly large church.

Lord's Day October 11 2026

So it was off in the car to Emmanuel again on Sunday. It was a little more regular this week although the evening service started an hour earlier at 5 pm, which nearly caught us out. On those Sundays the service is followed by tea and provides an opportunity to invite people in. Paul preached in the morning on 1 John 4:1-5, part of a series on 1 John, In the evening the preacher was Ross Frierson, an American church planter who has been in Cardiff for nine years and hopes to work with Emmanuel in the future. He preached helpfully from Hebrews 2:5-9. All on YouTube.

Induction at Ebenezer Swansea

It was a great joy to be present at the induction for Fabio Silva, who we know from London, to the pastorate of Ebenezer Baptist Church, Swansea, a church I have known of these many years. Taking part were the elders of the church, Fabio, and, from the London end Mike Gilbart-Smith and Jeremy Walker, who preached. You can see it on YouTube here. We wish Fabio and his wife Salia and the family every blessing on this new situation.

10 Tain verbs

1. attain
2. detain
3. obtain
4. retain
5. abstain
6. contain
7. sustain
8. maintain
9. appertain
10. ascertain

(also entertain)

10 Terms to do with whales and whaling

Mother and baby sperm whale (Gabriel Barathieu, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)

1. Cetacean - a fully aquatic, air-breathing marine mammal belonging to the biological order Cetacea, which includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises
2. Pyloric stomach (or pyloric chamber) - the final multi-chambered compartment of the stomach system in whales and other cataceans before it connects to the small intestine.
3. Ambergris - a solid, waxy, flammable substance produced in the digestive system of sperm whales.
4. Baleen - a row of flexible, horny plates made of keratin that hang from the upper jaws of certain filter-feeding whales instead of teeth.
5. Flensing - the act of stripping the blubber, skin, or outer fat layer from a marine mammal, such as a whale or seal.
6. Blubber - a thick layer of vascularised adipose tissue (fat) found directly beneath the skin of marine mammals like whales, seals and walruses.
7. Spermaceti - a waxy, semi-liquid substance found inside specialised head cavities (the spermaceti organ and "junk") of sperm whales and some other cetaceans.
8. Harpoon - a long, barbed, spear-like tool or weapon used to pierce, capture, and haul in large marine animals such as whales, sharks, seals or large fish.
9. Krill - small, shrimp-like marine crustaceans belonging to the order Euphausiacea that live in all of the world's oceans. Baleen whales (blue, humpback, fin, minke, etc) depend on krill as their primary food source. A blue whale can consume up to 4-17.6 tons (3.6 to 16 metric tons) of krill a day during the feeding season.
10. Flukes - the horizontal lobes of a whale's tail

10 ways the earliest Christian martyrs apparently died

Rembrandt, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Caravaggio, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

1. Stephen was stoned
2. James the Great was beheaded
3. Matthew was slain with a halberd
4. Matthias was stoned and beheaded
5. Andrew and Bartholomew were crucified
6. Peter was crucified upside down (his preference)
7. Thomas was thrust through with a spear
8. Simon Zelotes was sawn in half
9. Luke was hanged from an olive tree
10. John Mark was dragged through the streets until dead

Midweek Meeting October 7 2026

It was good to be at the midweek meeting of Emmanuel Baptist, Cardiff, tonight. About 35 of us were there and the pastor, Paul Whitely, led. First, a short Bible study from Psalm 116 on prayer, then a song and a brief time gathering information before the time of prayer. About 8 or 9 prayed, all men. It was a privilege to be there.

10 ways the early Christians were tortured

Public Domain via Wikipedia

In the beginning, the emperor threatened them with bonds and imprisonment. But a while later, when he began to work the matter in good earnest, he devised innumerable sorts of torments and punishments, such as

1. whippings and scourgings,
2. rackings,
3. horrible scrapings,
4. sword,
5. and fire.
6. A great number were put in boats, which were then sunk; they drowned in the bottom of the sea.
7. Also, hanging them on crosses, binding them to the bodies of dead trees with their heads downward;
8. hanging them by their middles on gallows till they died of hunger;
9. throwing them alive to wild beasts which would devour them, such as lions, bears, leopards, and wild bulls.
10. Pricking and thrusting them with daggers and the talons of beasts till they were almost dead;

(also, pricking and thrusting them with daggers and the talons of beasts till they were almost dead; lifting them up on high with their heads downward. There were other sorts of punishments, most tragic - or rather, tyrannical and pitiful to describe: such as first binding them to trees and their boughs, then pulling and tearing apart their members and joints; mangling them with axes; choking them with smoke by small fires; severing their hands, ears, feet and other joints)

10 verses in the Bible that tell us God is Good

1. Psalm 34:8: Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
2. Psalm 84:11: For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favour and honour; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.
3. Psalm 100:5: For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
4. Psalm 107:1: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
5. Psalm 145:9: The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.
6. 1 Chronicles 16:34 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
7. Lamentations 3:25: The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him
8. Nahum 1:7: The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him
9. James 1:17: Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
10. Romans 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

He is omnibenevolent

10 verses in the Bible that tell us God is Great

1. Deuteronomy 10:17 For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.
2. Job 36:26 How great is God - beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out.
3. Psalm 48:1 Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain.
4. Psalm 86:10 For you are great and do marvellous deeds; you alone are God.
5. Psalm 95:3 For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. (Also 96:4)
6. Psalm 135:5 I know that the Lord is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods.
7. Psalm 145:3 Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.
8. 1 Chronicles 16:25 For great is the LoHrd and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.
9. Jeremiah 32:19 ... great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to the ways of all mankind; you reward each person according to their conduct and as their deeds deserve.
10. Titus 2:13 ... while we wait for the blessed hope - the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ ....

He is omnipotent

Ezekiel 39:3 A surprisingly encouraging verse

Scythian archer
(British Museum, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Then I will strike your bow from your left hand and make your arrows drop from your right hand.

These words are addressed by God to Gog, King of Meshek and Tubal, the enemy of God's people.

1. The Identity of the Invader

The target of the prophecy is Gog, pointing to the nomadic tribes of the Eurasian steppes - Scythians and others. These northern armies were famous and feared because of their mastery of mounted horse-archery. Their entire military strategy and reputation relied on the bow and arrow.

By specifically targeting their archery, the text shows God attacking the enemy in the very place where their confidence and pride lay. He doesn't just defeat them, he completely dismantles their identity as a dominant military force.

2. The Ergonomics of Ancient Archery

To understand the imagery you have to look at how an ancient archer fought. In his left hand (if he was right handed) was his bow. A right-handed archer holds the bow grip firmly with his left hand. The left arm acts as the steady anchor and aiming platform.

In his right hand was his arrows. The right hand draws the string, places the arrow and releases the shot.

By striking the bow from the left hand and the arrows from the right, God is described as interrupting the exact physical mechanics required to fight. It is an image of simultaneous and total disarming - in one swift motion, both the weapon and ammunition are rendered useless.

3. Total Helplessness and Vulnerability

In the ancient world, if a swordsman lost his sword, he might still have a shield to defend himself but an archer stripped of both bow and arrows is left entirely defenceless. The verb used for the arrows ("dash down", "cause to fall") implies the weapons will drop uselessly to the ground before a single shot can be fired.

It highlights the idea of the enemy being completely paralysed. They are caught in the middle of an offensive stance but are frozen and disarmed by a superior, divine power before they can even engage in battle.

4. A Shift in Sovereign Control

Symbolically, the hands represent human strength, action and agency. Holding weapons in both hands signifies an army fully operational and in control of its own destiny. When God strikes the weapons out of both hands, it serves as a stark theological message. Human power is completely empty when it opposes God. Ultimate control in the battle is violently shifted from the hands of the invaders to God himself.

This is how God deals with his enemies. How encouraging.

10 Things found in a drawer (9, 10)

Two final contrasting items. First, my dad's Boy's Brigade handbook. My dad enjoyed his time in the youth movement. He played the bugle. Founded in 1884 it was one of several uniformed organisations for young people that flourished in more jingoistic times and still survivie to this day. The other item is an oddity. It is a signed publicity postcard for Roger de Courcey. De Courcey was a ventriloquist best known best known for performing with Nookie Bear. He was the winner of the 1976 New Faces tv talent competition grand final. My parents would have sene him somewhere locally. He has lattelry become an agent for musician Rick Wakeman.

10 Things found in a drawer (7, 8)

 

On the right is a Bibel that belonged to my dad oresented to him when he was 11. My grandfather was a Roman Catholic but my grandmother was something of a Baptist and so my dad was sent to the nearby Sunday School. This was the first Bible I used when I was converted at the age of 12 in mys own nearby Baptist Church. On the left is an abandoned box containing various cards that I have used in the past in order to try to memorise Scripture.

Lord's Day October 4 2026

So the beginning of my new life churchwise yesterday. I have preached every Sunday since the beginning oof May so I appreiated a day off. It was more than that, however, as the futre pattern (when I'm not preaching siomewhere) will be to be in the congregation in Emmanuel Baptist, Gabalfa in Cardiff. There were things I could quibble about but it was a good day.

The morning was a bit different - the pastor Paul Whitely preached on Noah, All aboard! (Three points - God's judgement on sin, God's grace to the world, Invitation to be saved) but we also had a helpful testimony from Gareth Swann plus a big children's talk from Aneurin Britton on upheld (part of an A-Z). About eighty in the morning and not many fewer in the evening. I know lots of people but more know me than I know myself. Spoke to several people including Richard Myerscough and his wife Anna whose daughter is in the church. He has also recently retired but the future for them is a little less clear than for us. Bit of a baby boom in the church. It's going to take a while to fit in and get used to it all.

One of the elders, Gareth Davies, preached in the evening on 2 Corinthians 5:11-21. Again quite evangelistic and three points - the necessity, the cost and the reality of reconciliation. So a good day and hopefully we will soon adjust to being in a much larger church than we are used to.

God is Good, God is Great

I was reading Psalm 86 recently and I noticed how it underlines that God is both good (verse 5 You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you) and great (verse 10 For you are great and do marvellous deeds; you alone are God). The theme is found elsewhere especially in Psalm 145 (verses 3 and 7-9, also see Psalms 135, 136). There is an old children's table grace that goes

"God is great, and God is good, and we thank him for our food.

By his hand we all are fed; give us, Lord, our daily bread. Amen."

To adapt Keats (Ode on a Grecian urn)

Our God is great, he's good - that is all

We know on earth, and all we need to know.

10 Things found in a drawer (5, 6)

Next we have a couple of matching ornaments that were my mother's. She loved glass things and had a Swarowski collection. Perhaps these were designed as paperweights. The second item is a clothes brush. If the story is correct, when I was in my early teens my friend, Stephen Price, found an ad offering a mystery parcel for £1. We put in 50p each and received a parcel of plastic fruit, etc, which we then needed to divide between us. I later added a Jesus sticker to this item in my early enthusiasm for Christ.

10 Things found in a drawer (3, 4)

On the left we have a pair of scissors, which were apparently my great grandfather's. William Burke Hazelton (1883-1965) was a barber and had a shop at 454 Corporation Road in Newport until at least 1946 (see here). It is currently a beauty salon, it seems. The other item is an 1824 edition of A Key to Lennie's Grammar. It is an answer book to a popular text book of the time by a Scotsman called William Lennie (1779-1852). Not sure where it came from but it has hung about the house a while. Such books can fetcch up to £60 but this one is not in great condition.