Banner of Truth Ministers Conference Tuesday Afternoon 2023

On Tuesday afternoon Jeremy Walker gave us a very helpful introduction to the Puritan John Flavel. He took us through the life and works of Flavel and then focused on the sermon The character of a complete evangelical pastor based on Matthew 24:45-47. Despite audio problems Jeremy was able to helpfully enthuse us about Flavel (perhaps Jonathan Edwards favourite writer) in a very helpful way.

Flavel closes his sermon with these words

You have heard what a variety of duty lies upon us, and what difficulty in every part thereof; yet all our labours would be light, and our pains pleasant, might we see more fruits, and success of them amongst you.

Your barrenness and un persuadableness, your divisions and instability cost us more, than all our other pains in our studies and pulpits. How easily and sweetly would the plough go, would you but set both your hands of prayer and obedience to assist us in that work.

You have now as blessed an opportunity as your souls can desire, yea, that very season of mercy some of you have a long time anxiously desired. You have confessed to God, that you once sinned us out of our pulpits; God forbid you should next sin us into our graves.

If you be wanton children at a full table, our enemies are not so far off, but God can quickly call them in to cure your wantonness, by taking away the cloth.

The stewards of Christ provide choice dishes for you, even feasts of fat things full of marrow; and serve it into your souls upon the knee of prayer in due season: have a care of despising it, if at any time the dishes be not garnished as you expect, with curious figures, and flowers of rhetoric.

The Lord give you hungry appetites, sound digestions, and thriving souls; then shall ye be our crown of rejoicing, and we yours in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ: To the word of whose grace I commend you all, which is able to build you up, and give you an inheritance among them that are sanctified.

In the evening Terry Johnson spoke again on the church, this time on what the church looks like. This was quite an emotional address that for me rambled a little but his main point I believe was how we react to the troubles and thr triumphs of the people of God. He quoted Lloyd-Jones, including the line "Have you got a zeal for the glory of God? Does it grieve you to see his Church as she is? If not, why not? If this is a burden that can come to anybody, why has it not come to you?"

Banner of Truth Ministers Conference Tuesday Morning 2023

We had two good sessions this morning, the first from Philip Eveson on the Old Testament church and the second from Warren Peel on the significance of public worship. Mr Eveson's emphasis was on the continuty of the Old Testament and New Testament church. He spoke of the church then as a redeemed church, an elect church, a holy church and a worshipping church.

Mr Peel took up David Clarkson's sermon on Public worship is to be preferred before private. Warren ended with this striking quotation from George Swinnock

“Prepare to meet thy God,’ O Christian! Betake thyself to thy chamber on the Saturday night, confess and bewail thine unthankfulness for, and unfruitfulness under the ordinances of God; shame and condemn thyself for thy sins, entreat God to prepare thy heart for, and assist it in, thy religious performances —

Spend some time in consideration of the infinite majesty, holiness, jealousy, and goodness of that God, with whom thou art to have to do in sacred duties; ponder the weight and importance of his holy ordinances; how they concern thy salvation or damnation, thine everlasting life or death, how certainly they will either further thine unchangeable welfare, or increase thine endless woe —

Mediate upon the shortness of the time thou hast to enjoy Sabbaths in; how near thy life may be to an end, how speedily and how easily God may take down thine earthly tabernacle, how there is no working, no labouring, no striving in the other world, to which thou art hastening; and continue musing and blowing till the fire burneth; thou canst not think the good thou mayest gain by such afterthoughts, how pleasant and profitable the Lord’s-day would be to thee after such preparation.

The oven of thine heart thus baked in, as it were, overnnight, would be easily heated the next morning; the fire so well raked up when thou wentest to bed, would be the sooner kindled when thou shouldst rise.

If thou wouldst thus leave thine heart with God on the Saturday night, thou shouldst find it with him in the Lord’s-day morning.

Banner of Truth Ministers Conference Opening Evening 2023

It's good to be hear once again at Yarndield Park for the Banner of Truth Ministers Conference. We began with a sermon from Hugh Collier. Hugh took us to Romans 15:13 (May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.) Great choixe of ttext and the preaching well executed. Great start. The rest of the evening was given over to a first session on the church from Banner author Terry Johnson. I would think Mr Johnson is preaching to the converted on this subject but the general neglect of this doctrine is definitely reprehensible.

Lord's Day April 16 2023

We returned yesterday to our studies in Luke with Luke 14:1-6. Quite a few missing all told. It was nice to meet three generations of Kenyan lady who have recently moved into the area. In the evening we had communion and then looked at a text from 1 Peter 1:3, 4.

10 Contributors to Beatles Tracks

1. Andy White Drums “Love Me Do” (1962)

2. Johnnie Scott Flute “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away” (1965)

3. Alan Civil French Horn “For No One” (1966)

4. David Mason Soprano Trumpet “Penny Lane” (1967)

5. Robert Burns Clarinet “When I'm 64” (1967)

6. Eric Clapton Guitar “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” (1968)

7. Chris Thomas Harpsichord “Piggies” (1968)

8. Nicky Hopkins Electric Piano "Revolution" (1968)

9. Billy Preston Electric Piano “Get Back” (1970)

10. Brian Jones Saxophone “You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)” (1970)

Midweek Meeting April 12 2023

 

We met as usual again last Wednesday and carried on with Glatians. We were around 10.

Good prayer time. All on zoom.

Lord's Day April 9 2023

People leave London if they can over Easter, generaly speaking. We had a decent morning congregation, however, with a new vistor and her young child, as well as a visitor with family. I had some sort of food poisoning the day before and so my wife didn't make it but I was thankful to be able to preach. We looked at John 20, 21, 20:1-23 in the morning and then 20:24-21:14 in the evening. Always great to be back to the theme off the resurrection and to sing those wonderful hymns. (On SUnday morning there were only three people in the congregation born on English soil).

Another grandson

Wonderful news. At 7.58 am ast Thursday April 6 a 7lb 7 oz little boy arrived in Cardiff to Esther and Dewi, my third son. The pregnancy and birth have not been without difficulties but he's here now and for that we thank the Lord from our hearts. This is a brother to Betsan and sixth grandson and eighth grandchild. His name is Solomon Dewi Liu Brady.

Solomon Dewi Liu

There's no-one quite like you.

We pray that as you grow

God's grace you'll always know.

Solomon Brady

Born on a Thursday

In icu on Friday

Better on Saturday 

Prayed for on Sunday 

With mum on Monday

Improving by Tuesday

Home by Wednesday.*

That is the beginning of Solomon Brady

*We hope

Five Good Books Recently Read

One tries to keep reading. Here are five I've recently got through and enjoyed. First, Nick Needham's superb fifth volume on church history. This time we are in the wonderful eighteenth century. Much of it I knew but a great deal I did not. I particularly enjoyed the section on Bengel the commentator. I don't recall seeing the bald statement that Wesley was happy about women preachers anywhere else. I bought Footnotes on spec when I saw going cheap in a local bookshop. A great bargain, it travels various parts of Britain in the company of Dickens, Blyton and others in a partly random series of trips. Its chief strength is that it is very well written. Most engaging. I got the book on animals in the same manner as the Fiennes' book. I thought it was part of another series but it is not. I would think it is fairly easy to write such a book but very enjoyable to read (if you ignore the evolutionary stuff).

When my father-in-law demobbed his vast library most of it went to Newcastle but I did get hold of the five volume Vos Systematic Theology. Recently I thought I had better start reading it and so took up Volume 1. It is hard going in parts but mostly just keeps going. There is no prolegomena so the first volume covers Scripture, God and his decree. I have already started on Volume 2. I actually paid full price for the McCall short stories in a different booksop (I'm not a complete skinflint - though rather impulsive). I've not read any Smith for ages and enjoyed these spy stories immensely, although the final story which touches on theology had a very disappointing section attempting to explain what orthodox catholic Christians believe about the Holy Spirit. It is unnerving when you see what a hash he makes of it, having been so impressed with everythhing else. I might hunt down some more McCall Smith; there's loads of it. I thought this was an interesting quote from one of the stories

Sides are often arbitrary - the result of historical accident: friendship can be much more important than allegiance and membership, and can, sometimes, outrank other, lesser loyalties. Where you are born, and the flag that flies over your birthplace, may turn out to be far less important than the promptings of the heart within.

Midweek MidWales for a wedding, etc

On Tuesday, we headed to Wales as we do. First stop was Cardiff where things were all go for the new baby (news on that to follow). Then back to Newport for a rare brief encounter with my niece Dom, who lives in N Ireland, and my brother-in-law. Then with my sister to good old Llandegfedd Reservoir for a nice lunch (which she paid for) and catch up. We then dashed into a Next somewhere, where I grabbed a new tie and shirt and I headed back to Cardiff. From there we travelled, with my son Dylan and grandson Gruff, via Hywel Harris country, to a lovely Air BnB my wife had found in the wilds near Erwood (Great House Farm).

The next day we (Me, Eleri and our two youngest sons) were at a family wedding in Tall John's House near Brecon. My wife's cousin's daughter, Megan, was marrying James, another Cheshire lad (her sister Anya married his friend). The weather was not great but otherwise it was a lovely day. I find weddings difficult in some ways but had some good chats with my daughter-in-law's brother and wife and with my wife's cousin and her husband plus many others. Great day.

On the Thursday we went into Hay-on-Wye, a favourite of my son Dylan's, and a had a nice time there. I'm always disappointed to come away without a book, however. I was looking for Alexander McCall Smith but didn't see any.

Then yesterday (Friday) we came home via a brief stop in Cardiff, seeing Eleri's youngest sister who have just begun fostering. What a lovely few days.

Lord's Day April 2 2023

We began on Sunday with communion, just a few of us. We then had a sermon on the cross from Luke 23:34-38, which went okay but was a little laboured. Numbers were down from last week unsurprisingly with some quite late. Immediately after the service, a Tunisian woman was there who had been looking for a foodbank (over the road and not on Sundays). Anyway,we gave her a cuppa and a Welsh cake, etc. Hope we see her again. Sorry not to get to talk to our friends from Cuba and St Kitt's who we've not seen for a while. Smaller congregation in the evening on the Passover from Exodus 12:1-20 but probbaly preached better.

Alffi

I've never written an eclogue

But if I did, I know,

I would write it about our dog -

In Autumn fog, in snow,

In Summer sun or Spring time rain,

When it's dark or frosty,

Alffi asleep or awake again,

Dull or Pentecosty,

In heat, in cold, when skies are blue,

Our ball of white and brown.

Good dog Alffi - cocking your head,

And bad dog Alffi - Down!

At the House of Commons

Last Thursday one of my deacons and I went down to the House of Commons and had a little tour of the place courtesy of our MP Mike Freer (Con). It was a clergy night so it was interesting to meet some of the local clergy and others, many in their dog collars. It was not an evening for politics, Mr Freer simply showed us around the place and explained some of the history and activity. A worthwhile evening.

Midweek Meeting March 29 2023

Last Wednesday night was slightly different as people were welcomed to join us in our front room as well as on zoom. We ended up with four of us here and a further six or seven on zoom. It worked well. I spoke on Galatians 1:6-10 and then we had a good prayer time.

Day Off Week 13 2023

Last week's day off was a bit of a damp squib. I needed to wait in for an oven repair - always frustrating when you're not sure when they'll come. I also spent time helping my son to pout up a roller blind in his bedroom. I did read a little but rather frittered the day aay I guess.