Dr Lloyd-Jones Memorial Lecture 2025 Concupiscence

It was good to be with about 30 others at the Dr Lloyd-Jones Memorial Lecture in the seminary in Finchley last Tuesday evening. The speaker was Matthew Roberts, the author of the book Pride, who spoke on repentance. Matthew has made his mark drawing attention to the whole matter of concupiscence. That was part of his message but there was much more. He must have spoken for over an hour and then there was a decent question session to follow. A good evening. One slight thing is that by now there is no real connection with Dr Lloyd-Jones. Some reference to the Doctor would perhaps have been appropriate.

Concupiscence

We had the Westminster Fellowship on Monday at Westminster Baptist Church. The speaker was Matthew Roberts the author of the book Pride. One of the main arguments in the book is that there is such a thing as concupiscence or lust and that it is sinful. The subject has come to the fore because some evangelicals say they are same sex attracted and that there is nothing innately wrong with that as long as they do not act on those desires. Mr Roberts seeks, convincingly, to quesion that view. It was good to go through the subject once again and to dicuss it. We were not a great number, failing to reach twenty. Also, I note that most of us are either retired or son to retire. it wa  aworthwhile time, however.

Subliminal Advertising

I thought subliminal advertising had been outlawed but there on page 171 of Matthew Roberts Pride it is clear that have paid to the good people who run the Carey Conference and publish RT to advertise their mag subliminally. We should be told.

Pride at the PA

We had a bumper turn out at the reading group at the Pastors Academy in Finchley last Monday. We must have been around 16 and had to remove from the Library to the Lecture room where there is more space. Spencer Cunnah chaired. The book under consideration was Matthew Roberts' book on the whole subject of culture's obsession with identity. Many were quite positive about the book but several, nevertheless, felt a little nervous in places. It was hard to tease this out really but we were generally agreed that the approach to homosexuality that has dominated the evangelical scene needs refuting as this book does. Anyway very stimulating. We will meet again in May, God willing, when we will look at Rumours of a better country by Marsh Moyle.

Day Off Week 4 2024

After a funny old start to the year, I'm trying to get back into a routine so I took the day off on Tuesday in my ususal manner, as best I could. I had an annual check up at the doctor's to start the day and then I spent some time blogging and writing in connection with various projects I am currently working on. I also spent time reading Matthew Roberts' very worthwhile book Pride whcih we are due to discuss next Monday at the Pastors Academy. In the evening I watched some TV. Fool me once is a flawed Harlan Coben thing with a crazy plot but it kept us watching. 

Catalyst Conference 2023 Day 1

It was good to be once again at the Catalyst Conference in Ealing with the usual crowd plus some newbies. David Gibson started us off from Psalm 23, just concentrating really on The LORD is. Stafford Carson spoke after the break helpfully on some of the divisions and disagreemnets that can plague church life. After lunch, Sinclair Ferguson on what we are to be as ministers, as men, was a highlight. Matthew Roberts ended the day with something positive on the cult of self that plagues our day. Hot day, I was tired at the end of it.

(David Gibson had a quote via Spurgeon where someone speaks of shepherds he saw in his own day:

The shepherds themselves had none of that peaceful and placid aspect which is generally associated with pastoral life and habits. They looked more like warriors marching to the battle-field - a long gun slung from the shoulder, a dagger and heavy pistols in the belt, a light battle-axe or ironheaded club in the hand. Such were the equipments; and their fierce flashing eyes and scowling countenances showed but too plainly that they were prepared to use their weapons at any moment.

An interesting insight into pastoral ministry!)