Evangelical Holiness and other addresses

Evangelical Holiness and other addresses is the latest Banner book from Iain Murray. It contains five addresses - Evangelical Holiness (given at Keswick), The attack on the Bible (given to C of S ministers), Apostasy, The Benefits and dangers of controversy and Rest in God. The last essay repeats his booklet on the subject, previously published by Banner but it fits in here. As ever what you are getting here is clear thinking Reformed theology backed up by a vast knowledge of western history that sees him quote a massive range of writers and give some fascinating footnotes. The index is a real help but a select bibliography might have been worth adding too.

Bragg on the Talmud

Today's In our time on Radio 4 with Melvyn Bragg was an interesting one. It was on the Jewish Talmud. Details can be found here.

55 years old

I was 55 last week and my wonderful wife arranged for us to enjoy a lovely meal at a local pizzeria. It was a very nice time.

(My youngest was with us most of the time but seems to have been hiding when these were taken).

GT on mortification of sin

Reformation Heritage Books has a little series of booklets on Cultivating Biblical Godliness and my father-in-law Geoff Thomas has written a 30 page thing How do I kill remaining sin? He simply works though four propositions that apply to every Christian majoring on the one that says that every Christian is to be constantly killing remaining sin. You can get it here. I remember this material being preached at Aber either last summer or the one before.

Ware on the manhood of Christ

I have just finished Bruce Ware's Book The man Christ Jesus. By taking up this one aspect of Christology there is always the danger of imbalance but a book on the subject is probably needed. The teaching is quite basic really but is set out well and does help one to think through some of the issues. I won't say more as this is the book that will be discussed next at the Theological Study Group of the John Owen Centre, which meets June 16. I hope to be there. There's time to read the book and plan to join us may be, even if you weren't planning to before. The book is not long, just eight chapters.

Annual Lecture Evangelical Library 2014

Do note that the Annual Lecture of The Evangelical Library for 2014 will be held at 6:30 pm at the Library when Andrew Atherstone (Wycliffe Hall, Oxford) will lecture on “George Whitefield: Eulogies and Elegies in England and New England” All are very welcome.

Lord's Day May 25 2014

Vincent van Gogh, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Great day yesterday. My son, Rhodri, was preaching morning and evening. I have only heard him once or twice before so it was encouraging to hear him preach so well. He took us to Jonah 3 in the morning and in the evening to Mark 3 and 4. It was particularly nice to hear firstly, secondly and thirdly, which I still think are very helpful words in a sermon. He starts in LTS this coming academic year and I'm sure that will be a blessing to him. I can see why some would be happy to have him as pastor now but that thorough theological preparation will be for the
best in the long run.

Welshman scores crucial goal once again

Gareth Bale it was this time with the vital second goal that put Real Madrid ahead for the first time in their 4-1 win over Atletico in the Champions League final.

10 Biographies of Puritans

1. Henry Smith: England's Silver-tongued Preacher by Ronald B. Jenkins
2. Richard Sibbes by Mark E Dever
3. The life and times of Arthur Hildersham by Leslie A Rowe
4. A life of Gospel Peace: A Biography of Jeremiah Burroughs by Philip Simson
5. John Owen: Prince of Puritans by Andrew Thomson
6. Glimpses of glory: John Bunyan and English Dissent by Richard Greaves
7. Thomas Manton A Guided Tour of the Life and Thought of a Puritan Pastor by Derek Cooper
8. The life and times of the Rev Philip Henry by Matthew Henry
9. Life and death of the Rev Joseph Alleine by Alexander Duff
10. Samuel Rutherford by Andrew Thomson

Over 4000!

I notice with the last post that I have just gone over the 4000 mark with posts on this blog. Not all posts have been up to the same high standard I'm sure but we do aim to keep people informed and amused. We began at the end of 2006. Thanks for reading (if you have been).

Top five posts:

1. Lyrics London 20 Apr 2012, 6 comments 10154

2. 10 words beginning with 'X' 27 Jun 2007, 4 comments 9880

3. 10 Famous ducks (fictional) 15 Sep 2007, 5 comments 8097

4. 10 Hindi words we know 3 Oct 2007, 4 comments 4800

5. Moustache Styles 29 Jan 2007, 3 comments 4670

James R White on the Qur'an

We live in an area where there are many Muslims. Opportunities to speak are few and far between but I feel it is important to at least know something about Islam. James R White's book What every Christian should know about the Qur'an is probably a correct title as well as an eye catching one. He painstakingly works his way through the material writing about Muhammad and the supposed revelation of the Qur'an, what it says about the Trinity, the cross, salvation, the gospel and other matters such as supposed prophecies about Muhammad in the Bible and how the Qur'an reached its present form. He writes firmly but fairly and if any suitably educated Muslim would sit and read this book they would be forced to stop and consider many things. It is also very helpful to Christians in informing us on the things we need to know and showing where the argument needs to take place. This book is well worth getting hold of. For a proper review see Themelios 38:3.

10 people who died at the age of 55

I did something like this once before. Sobering.

1. Emily Dickinson, solitary Massachusetts poet who posthumously became a giant of American literature

(December 10, 1830 -- May 15, 1886)

2. Bill Haley, unexpected American rock pioneer who sang "Rock Around the Clock"

(July 6, 1925 -- February 9, 1981)

3. Johnny Ramone, guitarist and long time member of The Ramones, rock star

(October 8, 1948 -- September 15, 2004)

4. Will Rogers, affable Oklahoma-born humorist, entertainer and wit

(November 4, 1879 -- August 15, 1935)

5. Woody Guthrie, American folk musician

(July 14, 1912 -- October 3, 1967)

6. Lee Remick, American TV and film actress

(December 14, 1935 -- July 2 1991)

7. Tammy Wynette, Country and Western musician and singer

(May 5, 1942 -- April 6 1998)

8. Tommy Boyce, Ssccessful American popular song writer especially with Bobby Hart

(September 29, 1939 – November 23, 1994)

9. Jack Ruby, The man who killed assassin Lee Harvey Oswald

(March 25, 1911 – January 3, 1967)

10. John Gregson, English film actor

 (15 March 1919 – 8 January 1975)

Luther on being a pastor

Men who hold the office of the ministry should have the heart of a mother toward the church; for if they have no such heart, they soon become lazy and disgusted, and suffering, in particular, will find them unwilling … Unless your heart toward the sheep is like that of a mother toward her children- a mother, who walks through fire to save her children- you will not be fit to be a preacher. Labor, work, unthankfulness, hatred, envy, and all kinds of sufferings will meet you in this office. If, then, the mother heart, the great love, is not there to drive the preachers, the sheep will be poorly served.

10 famous people with sons called Gary

1. Racing driver Jack Brabham
2. Comedian Eric Morecambe
3. Golfer Jack Nicklaus
4. Entertainer Bing Crosby
5. Comedian and actor Jerry Lewis
6. Criminal Charlie Kray
7. Comedian Bob Monkhouse
8. Banjo player Earl Scruggs
9. Soccer player Ian Bowyer
10. Actress Julie Goodyear 

10 Famous people called Gary

1. Gary Brooker
2. Gary Moore
3. Gary Numan (born Gary Webb)
4. Gary Lightbody
5. Rev Gary Davis
6. Gary Lineker
7. Gary Neville
8. Gary Player
9. Gary McAllister
10. Gary Wilmot