London Underground
A blog featuring whatever I fancy, often on the Christian faith but not exclusively
Henry?
The Kids Trivia game we got at Christmas is good but this reference to the explorer Dr Henry Livingstone is off the mark.Book Buys January
I've been busy reading the Affinity papers but in the last month or so I've also bought five books. These are they:
(Studies in Baptist History and Thought)
TWTWTW
I must admit I'm half glad that the snow has come as I'm incredibly busy at present. It started last Monday with an evening committee meeting for the London Inreach Project in Covent Garden. Prior to that the day was fairly easy. Managed to go for a run round the park. On Tuesday I was out all afternoon continuing to pursue the matter of where the Evangelical Library should move to. As reported, I spent Tuesday evening at Grove Chapel listening to jazz.
Wednesday was dominated by my regular visits to take services at Spring Court and Heath Grove Lodge (on Philippians 1 and Jonah 4). In between that I popped into central London to meet up with my good friend Chris Buckingham. In the evening it was our regular midweek meeting (looking at Deuteronomy 18).
In the midst of all this I found myself sheltering from the rain with my i-pod on. A live version of Sylvia (my all time favourite) came on and although I've listened to that song thousands of times it struck me once again how good it is. As I looked up there was the word Sylvia across the road in front to me (good job I'm not religious, eh?).
By Thursday I had so much to do I had to get up an hour earlier. I fitted most of it in, including writing a tract, preparing various other things and an afternoon Greek session at LTS on participles and the opening verses of the Sermon on the Mount. In the evening we had our bi-monthly church members meeting. It's always a good time but I wish we could have more present.
On Friday I was in Welwyn at the EMF lecturing on JWs and Mormons. I had some business at a bank near Goodge Street en route home plus a visit to Finchley to read from Lloyd-Jones' masterful Preachers and preaching with Richard Raven a student at LTS who is one of our mentoring students. (He preached for us yesterday and quite acceptably too). We celebrated Dylan's birthday in the evening with fahitas and krispy kreme doughnuts. Also that evening, of course, it was the clubs for children and young people where I spoke about this current ad on the buses suggesting there is no God and we had a quiz.
Saturday morning we were giving out tracts in Golders Green in the bitterly cold wind - not the best weather for it. In the afternoon most of the family went to Aldenham Country Park and had a nice time there despite the cold.
Sunday morning I preached in the Welsh church, as reported. The three older boys were in Childs Hill to hear Richard. We went for a walk in Kenwood in the afternoon. I took communion in the evening adn then Richard preached on Psalm 145.
Eira eto
No school, no Westminster Fellowship and not much else today. When the snow comes Britain pretty much closes down.
Seion Ealing Green
I preached today in Ealing Green Welsh Presbyterian Church near Ealing studios. It is one of a tiny handful of Welsh speaking churches still left in London. I didn't attempt to preach in Welsh but we sang in Welsh and I at least tried to give my text in Welsh. We know several people there through the Welsh School connection. Most of the mothers headed out to Sunday School before I preached. They were practising something on Moses for the eisteddfod. It's hard to know what to make of the whole phenomenon or how best to handle it. I preached from Isaiah 1:18 and hope it made an impact. I would think others go and do the same sort of thing.
52 JC No 5
Providence
Moreover, as men’s dispositions are inclined to vain subtleties, any who do not hold fast to a good and right use of this doctrine can hardly avoid entangling themselves in inscrutable difficulties. Therefore it is expedient here to discuss briefly to what end Scripture teaches that all things are divinely ordained.
Three things, indeed, are to be noted. First, God’s providence must be considered with regard to the future as well as the past. Secondly, it is the determinative principle of all things in such a way that sometimes it works through an intermediary, sometimes without an intermediary, sometimes contrary to every intermediary. Finally, it strives to the end that God may reveal his concern for the whole human race, but especially his vigilance in ruling the church, which he deigns to watch more closely. Now this also ought to be added, that although either fatherly favour and beneficence or severity of judgement often shine forth in the whole course of providence, nevertheless sometimes the causes of the events are hidden. So the thought creeps in that human affairs turn and whirl at the blind urge of fortune; or the flesh incites us to contradiction, as if God were making sport of men by throwing them about like balls. It is, indeed, true that if we had quiet and composed minds ready to learn, the final outcome would show that God always has the best reason for his plan: either to instruct his own people in patience, or to correct their wicked affections and tame their lust, or to subjugate them to self-denial, or to arouse them from sluggishness; again, to bring low the proud, to shatter the cunning of the impious and to overthrow their devices. Yet however hidden and fugitive from our point of view the causes may be, we must hold that they are surely laid up with him, and hence we must exclaim with David: “Great, O God, are the wondrous deeds that thou hast done, and thy thoughts toward us cannot be reckoned; if I try to speak they would be more than can be told” [Ps 40:5]. For even though in our miseries our sins ought always to come to mind, that punishment itself may incite us to repentance, yet we see how Christ claims for the Father’s secret plan a broader justice than simply punishing each one as he deserves. For concerning the man born blind he says: “Neither he nor his parents sinned, but that God’s glory may be manifested in him” [John 9:3 p.]. For here our nature cries out, when calamity comes before birth itself, as if God with so little mercy thus punished the undeserving. Yet Christ testifies that in this miracle the glory of his Father shines, provided our eyes be pure.
But we must so cherish moderation that we do not try to make God render account to us, but so reverence his secret judgments as to consider his will the truly just cause of all things. When dense clouds darken the sky, and a violent tempest arises, because a gloomy mist is cast over our eyes, thunder strikes our ears and all our senses are benumbed with fright, everything seems to us to be confused and mixed up; but all the while a constant quiet and serenity ever remain in heaven. So must we infer that, while the disturbances in the world deprive us of judgement, God out of the pure light of his justice and wisdom tempers and directs these very movements in the best-conceived order to a right end. And surely on this point it is sheer folly that many dare with greater license to call God’s works to account, and to examine his secret plans, and to pass as rash a sentence on matters unknown as they would on the deeds of mortal men. For what is more absurd than to use this moderation toward our equals, that we prefer to suspend judgment rather than be charged with rashness; yet haughtily revile the hidden judgements of God, which we ought to hold in reverence?
Therefore no one will weigh God’s providence properly and profitably but him who considers that his business is with his Maker and the Framer of the universe, and with becoming humility submits himself to fear and reverence.
Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book I, Ch. XVII, Sec. 1-2a
Heavenly nightclubness
Went with Rhodri last night to see the Heaven in a night club presentation at Grove Chapel. We'd hoped to bring someone along but he couldn't come. Travelling south of the river is always an adventure with me but we were only 10 minutes late and in time to see the whole concert.
Apologetics professor (and that's what he looks like) Bill Edgar (piano) has been making these sort of gospel angled presentations using mostly jazz and spirituals for years. He was accompanied by two fine young African Americans on vocals and saxophone. The concert was followed by a question time, which we could not stay for. A number of things bothered me (I'm not a jazz fan I discover - the two blues numbers were like oases; they were too quiet; they didn't seem to sweat, no drums, the setting, a white man telling us about African Americans and their struggle, etc, etc). One just hopes that someone was helped. I'd be very surprised if anyone was genuinely hindered. The idea is much like the Steve Nicholls book on Blues mentioned here a while back. Probably a book works better but a concert is the logical extension. May be a change of venue would have been enough. Ah, Brady you old fuddy duddy.
52 JC No 4
Third use of the law
The third use of the Law (being also the principal use, and more closely connected with its proper end) has respect to believers in whose hearts the Spirit of God already flourishes and reigns ... For it is the best instrument for enabling them daily to learn with greater truth and certainty what that will of the Lord is which they aspire to follow, and to confirm them in this knowledge ... Man is retarded by the sluggishness of the flesh, and make's less progress than he ought. The Law acts like a whip to the flesh, urging it on as men do a lazy sluggish ass. Even in the case of a spiritual man, inasmuch as he is still burdened with the weight of the flesh, the Law is a constant stimulus, pricking him forward when he would indulge in sloth.
From Instititutes Book 2.17.12
Life's ironies
Three things in mind here.
You may have seen the clip of Barack Obama revealing that he was unsure of how many states he is now President of. The irony, of course, is that Bush would have known that one (I guess).
Then there is Obama's mess up with the Presidential oath (whoever's fault it was). Apparently in an effort to undercut conspiracy theorists it was decided to do it again (as two previous presidents have). For some reason, however, there was no Bible available and some newspapers are already saying that there is conspiracy keen internet traffic asking why Obama did not swear on the Bible the second time round!
The other thing is this debate over whether the BBC is going to show an appeal for Palestine. The whole facade of the BBC reporting on the BBC gets me. (It's like me doing a report on my own blog - now there's an idea). The real irony here, though, of course, is that far more publicity has been generated for the appeal than would ever have been given had the BBC simply broadcast it. (Perhaps another irony is that IMHO the BBC has been rather biased towards the Palestinians).
(There is some argument about what qualifies as ironic, but all senses of irony revolve around the perceived notion of an incongruity between what is said and what is meant; or between an understanding of reality, or an expectation of a reality, and what actually happens.)
More than seven
Enjoyed watching University Challenge on the iplayer tonight. There was a reference to the phrase "Nobody can remember more than seven of anything". I'd heard that before but hadn't known the source. It is the response Cardinal Robert Bellarmine 1542-1621 made to criticism of a catechism he made that omitted all reference to the eight beatitudes. The traditional way of testing this is with the seven dwarfs - Doc, Dopey, Sneezy, Happy, um, er. See!
PS You'll notice that in the shot above Bellarmine hasn't even got as far as me!
Suffolk Collection
I'm always meaning to get up to nearby Kenwood House and today for once I managed it. I had a nice little walk in the winter sunshine and popped into the house to see the portraits on show from the Suffolk Collection. These include full-length Jacobean portraits by William Larkin and royal Stuart images by Van Dyck and Lely. Also had a cuppa and a read. Cold but okay in the sunshine.
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