The similar phrase 'Worldly Christianity' is one used by Bonhoeffer. It's J Gresham Machen that I want to line up most closely with. See his Christianity and culture here. Having done commentaries on Proverbs (Heavenly Wisdom) and Song of Songs (Heavenly Love), a matching title for Ecclesiastes would be Heavenly Worldliness. For my stance on worldliness, see 3 posts here.
Lord's Day August 3 2025
Behind with this but a good day last Lord's Day. We began with a well attended communion and then I preached to a decent number on Genesis 3:4 which I was inspired to do by some recent reading. A local girl who has come the last four weeks was nit there, which was disappointing. Hope she is back soon. In the evening I took four texts (Isaiah 38:17 and 43:25; Micah 7:18, 19; Psalm 103:12) each privifding a striking picture of what it means to be forgiven. We were just into double figures.
Crossway Short Classics
As stated previously I have been working my way through a set of ten short classics published in a series by Crossway a few years back. I hav enow read them all and here are my notes on the final seven.
First a sermon by Spurgeon on not despising the day of small things (with a shorter piece for ministers). It is classic Spurgeon and very encouraging - just as it says on the tin. Once again the beautfiful cover and presentation adds to the joy of the experience. Like others in this series I could find the text elsewhere but it was so good to read it through in one sitting or so. I was more than encouraged.
The J C Ryle also has the same beautiful presentation as the others in this series. Yes, it can once again be found elsewhere but once again it was a worthwhile exercise to sit and read it once more in more or less one sitting. Really enjoying this series.
These two sermons (the Lord's work in the Lord''s way and No little people) are not the sort of thing one immediately thinks of when thinking of Francis Schaeffer but such notes were sounded throughout his ministry and can be found elsewhere in his written works. I liked this quote “Often men have acted as though one has to choose between reformation and revival. Some call for reformation, others for revival, and they tend to look at each other with suspicion. But reformation and revival do not stand in contrast to one another; in fact, both words are related to the concept of restoration. Reformation speak of a restoration to pure doctrine, revival of a restoration in the Christian’s life. Reformation speaks of a return to the teachings of Scripture, revival of a life brought into proper relationship to the Holy Spirit. The great moments in church history have come when these two restorations have occurred simultaneously. There cannot be true revival unless there has been reformation, and reformation is incomplete without revival.” (No Little People).
Th next I read was the surprise contribution to the set. A litte longer than some, it contains four sermons by the dual heritage African/White American, Lemuel Haynes. The final sermon is against slavery and has a strength that comes from the author's own background. All the sermons are brief and to the point and well worth reading by all. This is an extract from the larger book "Lemuel Haynes: Black Puritan, Black Republican", also in my library but only partly read.
Martin Luther is always worth reading though his writings make up a vast library. This recent translation of The freedom of a Christian by Robert Kolb makes it very easy to read and this work is a basic one and short enough to read in no time. Nice intro by Carl Trueman.
Really loved the Jonathan Edwards one on Heaven a world of love though I must have read it before as it is found in Charity and its fruits. Edwards simply describes heaven as it must be in terms of it being a place of love. This has the effect of making you long for heaven and long to be more heavenly minded now. There is a short section describing hell in similar terms which works well. So glad to have read what was for me the ninth book in the seriies.
The life of God in the soul of man by Henry Scougal is the longest of the series and well worth reading. I have long been aware of it (see https://publishdarticles.blogspot.com/2018/03/books-in-history-scougal-on-life-o... ) Scougal seems to come at things from a different angle to many and this would be a great book for a religious person.
Four Books Recently Read
The first was a wonderful little biography that my father-in-law has put together with a brief losing piece by my oldest son. Both were Bud Mort's pastors. So glad the folk at the Met Tab were willing to publish it. They have made a vary good job of it. I knew about Bud but a lot of the details were unknown, however, and it is good to have read this delightful little story. Bud became profoundly deaf when young and his daughter, Linda, is mentally disabled. These and other tough issues were hard to accept but by the grace of God Bud not only accepted them but was more than conqueror through Christ. Every Christian could benefit from this book and it might make a good present for an unbeliever, especially if they are deaf or touched by the tragedy of disability in some way. Not feted by the high and mighty, here is another of whom the world was not worthy.
The second sadly has not been done half so well. The pictures are poor and the typos many. Better, however, that it is done at all than not. The content is excellent. It has been my privilege to meet Brian more than once but this little book gives his background in a way that could not be covered in that brief time. Here is the story of another hero of the faith, briefly told. I would urge all who have an interest in the gospel and in mission to read it. The book explains something of the history of Cubao Reformed Baptist Church and some of the works connected to it. Short contributions from others supplement the main body of the work which is by Brian himself.
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Then I have also been reading this Crossway Short Classics eries. I have now read all of them. I made notes about B B Warfield's one on the emotional life of Christ elsewhere. Anpther two I have read were by Thomas Chalmers and Jim Packer.
Chalmers. I have long known the phrase "The expulsive power of a new affection" and was aware that it is a work by Thomas Chalmers but it is only now that I have taken the time to read this very encouraging sermon or essay in this beautifully presented form. It is not brilliantly written and seems to be a little repetitive but the main point is hammered home effectively and is very worthwhile to keep in mind.
Packer. I was half expecting this to be the essay Packer wrote as a preface to Owen on the death of death but it What did the cross of Christ achieve? is a separate work originally given as a lecture. It is a very through piece of work and provides support for the orthodox position, support I am sure I have been leaning on for years without knowing it as others have imbibed the points he makes. Very well worth reading and digesting.
10 Things about God Paul says in Acts 17
2. Ruler of all creation. He is the Lord of heaven and earth
3. Self-sufficient. He does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything.
4. Life giving. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.
5. Creator and Ruler over humankind. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.
6.Tob esought by everyone. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.
7. Source of life and father of all. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
8. Not representable by an idol or image. Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone - an image made by human design and skill.
9. He commands everyine to repent In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.
10. He will judge the whole world. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed.
(Proven by the resurrection - He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.)
A Real Pain
The other thing we did with Gwion and Lydia yesterday was to watch a film. Being film buffs they had watched it before but gladly watched it again. A real pain has garnered loads of awards since its release in 2024. It stars the director Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin (not Jewish apparently - I would not have guessed). Two mismatched cousins reunite for a Jewish heritage tour to Poland in honour of their late grandmother. Old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history. Too much swearing for me but a very interesting and sometimes funny film that is very thought provoking on the Jewish question, mental health adn peronality and more broadly. I'm not sure if it is possible to think straight about matters Jewish unless you have a good Bible grasp. Glad to have seen the film. Great title.
Singer Sargent Exhibition
Nearby Kenwood House has a special exhibition on at the moment, so we went with my visiting son and his wifeyesterday. The small exhibition is made up almost exclusively of portraits. These are all the work of John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) who died a hundred years ago this year. Apparently, between 1870 and 1914, 102 American women married into the British aristocracy. Often dubbed "dollar princesses" these women, typically heiresses from wealthy American families, exchanged their fortunes for titles and social status within the British upper class. I recognised many of the names of the featured individuals, sometimes married more than once - Astor, Chamberlain, Colgate, Curzon, Playfair, Vanderbilt, etc. These portraits - many in charcoal but some full oils - have been pulled in from all over (Boston, Dublin, Houston, Washingtn, etc) and it is a rare treat to see so many gathered together like this. The exhibition goes on to October 5. (Nice to see the Vermeer, Rembrandt, Gainsborough, etc, again).
Death of Allan Ahlberg
I hear that Allan Ahlberg, the children's writer, has died aged 87. With his wife Janet he produced Funnybones, Peepo, Burglar Bill, the Jolly Postman and many other books that delighted our children growing up and many others. See here for the Guardian obituary.
Jesus and Zoology in the latest Banner Mag
You may be interested to know that amongst many other good things in the latest Banner Mag is an article I have written with the intriguing title, Jesus and zoology.
Midweek Meeting July 30 2025
Seven of us gathered this week to look at Psalm 75 and to pray. Most of us led in oprayer. Lots of subjects to cover.
David Copperfield
At long last I have finished Charles Dickens' David Copperfield. I am a very slow reader and so my Dickens intake has been very limited down the years. I think its only Christmas Carol, Great Expectations and Hard Times plus pretty much all of Oliver Twist that I've managed. I've now got through the biggest novel (880 pages). I mostly enjoyed it but Dickens really has all the time in the world. Quite autobiographical, it really is a masterpiece full of very memorable characters (Micawber, Uriah Heep, Mr Dick, etc). I'm sure a re-read would reveal all sorts of things I missed. I've also watched a version of the story that was on BBC many Christmasses back (Daniel Ratcliff, Maggie Smith, Trevor Eve, etc, etc). Such productions can only sketch over the story. Traddles, for example, disappears.
Golden Earring - Radar Love (Official Music Video)
I hear too that Dutch guitarist George Kooymans has also died aged 77
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