IPC Catalyst Conference Day 3

Jonty Rhodes

David Gibson

Mark Earngey

Once again, on this third day, we followed the same pattern with Jonty Rhodes followed by Dick Gaffin with Sinclair Ferguson after lunch and, this time, both David Gibson and Mark Earngey. Dr Gaffin spoke on the Spirit and prayer from Romans 8 and Dr Ferguson on the Spirit and holiness. Again these were excellent. The opening and closing sessions were very practical and perhaps less attractive in some ways. It is difficult to apply theology without sounding rather pedestrian. This is an observation rather than a criticism. The liturgical emphasis was appreciated but needs more nuancing I would think.

More on the IPC Catalyst Conference, etc

Greatly enjoying the IPC Catalyst Conference here in Ealing. Yesterday I skipped the session introducing the International Presbyterian Church. My father-in-law Geoff Thomas took myself and two others for a pizza. An interesting moment was when I asked Dick Gaffin if he had known the Westminster teacher E J Young. This is the equivalent of someone asking me if I know Geoff Thomas. He was very kind about it. Apparently the conference next year will be June 18-20. That means it won't clash with the EMA which will be June 25-27. I shoud mention that another joy this week has been stocking up bookwise courtesy of the Evangelical Bookshop, Belfast.

IPC Catalyst Conference Ealing Day 2

Sinclair Ferguson

I was back yesterday (Wednesday) in Ealing for more of the same. Ealing is only 8 or 9 miles away but at that time of the morning is quite a trek (my wife gave me a lift on Tuesday). Anyway I arrived a little late so was not able to fully appreciate the opening paper from Jonty Rhodes.

Dick Gaffin presented part of the cessation position very helpfully and after lunch Sinclair Ferguson spoke on the Spirit of adoption, again the best and most moving.

In the final session we had Mark Earngey an Australian looking Australian, an Anglican and a man who looks as if he has had a shock. He did something I have never heard covered before  - a survey of the various liturgies produced in the 16th century around Europe. Thie meant he was able to speak with some authority about the nuances of Reformed theology and practice. Fascinating. I liked the fact that in Zurich they did not sing but they did celbrate Christmas - so what is the Reformed positon there? He alos noted that from ealy on other things apart from Scripture were sung in many places. Like Dr Gaffin he ended with opportunity for questions.

So another good day. I am not sure if recordings or transcripts might be available.

IPC Catalyst Conference Ealing

Dick Gaffin

Spoiled for choice with regard to conferences this week I decided last minute to get down to Ealing Town Hall and try the IPC Catalyst Conference. Given the speakers on the programme it would be hard to see, humanly speaking, how it could fail to be good. And it was. We had four sessions of solid theology (we must have covered more theology in one day than we tend to do in one year at Child Hill - perhaps I exaggerate).

We started off in Leviticus with Jonty Rhodes who gave us lots of good biblical theology including a number of thoughts that were fresh to me (eg the Temple and Sinai). The final session of the day was from Jonathan Gibson (like Jonty's name no more than a name to me until that point). Here we were again chiefly in the Old Testament, looking at worship. This was a bit of a tour de force and comes from a large book which, despite my late booking, I managed to procure a free copy of (thanks Graham Weeks) like many others - ie Reformed Worship. Again lots of fresh thoughts (although I do wish he hadn''t left his remarks about women ruining everything rather dangling).

Between these younger biblical theologians we had two septuagenarians (One is actually an octogenarian) both systematicians. They both spoke on the Holy Spirit - Dr Richard Gaffin mainly from Acts but including other references and Sinclair Ferguson from John 14. These were again fresh and stretching and full of good and deep theology.

To be Gaffinised adn Sinclaired on the same day is quite something.

In between times there was opportunity to stock up on books and to hear Chris Roberts lunch time session Ecclesiastes 12 and to talk to people new to me and old.

We have someone staying with us for the EMA and he had a good day too. I don't know how they got on in Bala.

Book Buys December

With the coming of Christmas book numbers have gone up. I bought a copy of Tony Lane's Concise history of Christian thought in the Borders sale early on. Then, for Christmas I got hold of Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 and had from my wife some nice books - a Welsh phrase book and a book called Why is Q always followed by u a collection of articles on the English language by Michael Quinion
I also made a visit to my favourite Christian bookshop where I bought several books. These were
A biography of Katherine Parr by a Christian called Brandon Withrow

The new Banner collection of letters from John Newton to John Ryland "Wise Counsel"
Keller on Counterfeit gods
The festschrift for Dick Gaffin Resurrection and Eschatology
Hugh Martin's Abiding Presence
I also bought a Family Pilgrim's Progress. We have it in Welsh but not English and I want to use it for a series with the children next year.

Oh yes, I should add that one of my sons bought me the very enjoyable Judy Parkinson book Remember, Remember (The Fifth of November): The History of Britain in Bite-Sized Chunks and someone else bought me My God is True! by Paul D Wolfe a testimony to God's goodness in a time of cancer.