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 July 20 2025


I was preaching once again yesterday in Penual Baptist Church in Roch, Pembrokeshire. This is the church where our former members, Mike and Ali, have joined. They live in nearby Solva and once again kindly entertained us over the weekend. On the Saturday we had a lovely time going around Pembroke Castle where Henry VII was born. We came to Trebanos first and ar back here now. We will go on to Cardiff next and one or two othr places. I preached at Penuel on Revelation 3:20 and Zechariah 4:6. The morning sermon can be found here.

Midweek Meeting July 16 2025


Seven of us were present to look last night at Psalm 70 and then to pray. Back in the parlour now Phase 1a of out building work is more or less over.

Death of John MacArthur

People will be beginning to hear about the death of the great preacher and commentator John MacArthur, great loss. My connections with John MacArthur and the Masters Seminary. etc, are almost non-existent but I am a talking head in that documentary film Grace To You made (The Essential Church) and in 2007 I met him when he spoke at the Banner Conference in Leicester and I appreciated his ministy at that time.
Tom Drion, a MacArthur man and now pastor of a MacArthur church here in London was at the conference and was then trying to get together some good brief audio-visual material for us on the Internet. He very kindly (though perhaps misguidedly) thought I could help and o he invited me over to his room (a student room in the university accommodation) where he had a makeshift studio set up. I remember his giving me choice of subjects then siting me in front of the camera where I burbled for a minute or two until Tom announced that he could see someone else he had asked heading to the room.
That someone else was, of course, John MacArthur, who had been staying off campus in order to keep up with his various regular duties withe Grace To You. So there are four us in a tiny room - the great and always immaculately dressed John MacArthur, his minder, Tom and me. I am briefly introduced to Dr MacArthur then he sits down and speaks clearly, succinctly and edifyingly into the camera on whatever subject Tom gave him. Of course, he had done it many times before and knew how to seize the moment to best advantage. So impressive.
When he had gone, Tom gave me another go but if anything I was worse again. How thankful we should be that God gave us such a gifted man for so long.

Lord's Day July 13 2025


It was very encouraging to see so many in church last Lord's Day. There were over 50 in the morning and double figures in the evening. There was a visitor but all the rest are fairly regular. I preached in the morning from Ephesians 6:10-12. It has been a real blessing to work through Ephesians again. In the evening I did a one off encouraging and warning verse from Zechariah. Good day.

Funeral Rev Dr John B Hall


On Thursday I drove down to Woodbridge in Suffolk for the funeral of Rev Dr John B Hall. It was at St John's and was an Anglican service. As I expected, I knew almost no-one there but was thankful to bump into J P Earnest, who was ther in a similar capacity to me. He was there as John had been many years a trustee of the Open Air Mission. I was there representing the Evangelical Library, which John also was a trustee for. John began life in the navy but was then converted during a terrible storm and soon began as an Anglican minsiter. He served in several places and then in retirement served as a chaplain in expat congregations in Amsterdam, Dusseldorf anf Kiev. I was surprised to learn that John was dyslexic. That didn't stop him gaining an earned doctorate from America, later in life. J P kindly stood me lunch before we headed off our separate ways.

Midweek Meeting July 9 2025


There were eight of us last Wednesday. We looked at Romans 9:6-13 then we chatted and then we all prayed one after the other. It didn't take long.

Day Off Week 28 2025


Another day off last Tuesday. Main things was reading the Tim Dieppe book, very interesting, and one or two other things. I also listened to some editions of More or Less from the Radio 4 archive, something I haven't done in a while. Also had a chipotle and a coffee.

Lord's Day July 6 2025


We began with communion. Once again numbers were down but I was encouraged that an Iranan lady and her daughter came again and a young woman who lives in the area was there in the morning and said she intends to come next week. I preached the next in the series in Ephsians 6 - on employees and employers and the next in the series on 2 Chronicles - the sad and salutary story of Uzziah.

Gari


 I enjoyed seeing this on the shelf at Sainsbury's Golders Green the other day. How wholesome.

Garden Frog


We spot frogs in the garden from time to time. My son snapped this one last week.

Day Conference on Islam


It was good to be back at the seminary in Finchley again last Saturday this time to hear Tim Dieppe on the subject of the Challenge of Islam. Tim heads up Christian Concern and over the years had gathered a great deal of information about Islam in this country and written on it many times (much of this has been put together in a recently piblished book). The pattern of the day was that Tim spoke in the morning and took questions and then after lunch (kindly provided) he did something similar but more on reaching Muslims rather than simply on Islam. At the end of the day we heard from a converted Muslim seeking to win others to Christ to this day, an appropriate way to close.

10 Songs that are actually about children



  1. Save your kisses for me/Brotherhood of man
  2. Clair/Gilbert O'Sullivan
  3. Isn't she lovely/Stevie Wonder
  4. Forever young/Bob Dylan
  5. Beautiful Boy/John Lennon
  6. Memphis Tennessee/Chuck Berry
  7. Precious/Depeche Mode
  8. Go home girl!/Gaelic Storm
  9. Lovin' you/Minnie Riperton
  10. Welcome to the world/Ed Sheeran


Seven Books Recently Read


Robert Stephenson: an illustrated life (Shire) D J Smith
Having recently read the books on Telford and Brunel, it seemed obvious to turn next to the one on Robert Stephenson, which once again is brief, well illustrated and to the point. There are passing references to Telford and Brunel, and also Trevithick and Peto for that matter. I have known Stephenson as the inventor of the Rocket since childhood but I still could not explain to you why it was important. There were so many advances being made in the world of railways at the time that it gets bewildering. Stephenson seems a quiet man, diffident even. Like Brunel, he loved a good cigar. I had no idea he had spent time in South America.

Wind in the Willows (Chiltern) Kenneth Grahame
Just finished reading this lovely Chiltern Classics edition. I must have read it before now and been informed by the various TV versions that have come along at regular intervals. Like so much children's literature it was originally Kenneth Grahame's bed time stories for his son. I like the way that the chief animals (mole, rat, toad, badger) are perfectly human without any explanation and toad especially can interact with humans without any problem. Grahame is clearly a careful observer of creation and writes well. It is a very English book I guess and while reflecting its pre-Great War time, there is a timeless quality about it to some extent. It is a little mystical but has more to say about friendship than animism, I guess.

The Abiding Presence Hugh Martin (Christian Focus)
All my Christian life I have heard people recommend the writings of the 19th century Scots Presbyterian Hugh Martin but somehow I have never got round to reading anything by him. Then last month I was at a conference where one of his books was being given away to some and was only £5 to others and so I bought "The abiding presence" (originally Christ's presence in the Gospel history) and read it. The book begins by making the point that no ordinary book of memoirs concludes with the promise, ‘I am with you always, even to the end of the world.’ But the biography of Jesus is no mere commemoration of the departed; his promise makes the Gospel account a living history. He explores things very carefully and helpfully and provides us with a brilliant book of teaching. I particularly liked the way he pointed out that when Christ was baptised, he identified with us sinners and when we are baptised, we identify with him. It has made me want to read his other books.

All the Knowledge in the World: The Extraordinary History of the Encyclopaedia Simon Garfield
I often enjoy books by journalist types and I have enjoyed other things by Simon Garfield. This cleverly written (he employs an alphabetical approach) survey of the history of encyclopaedias is right up my street. We never had Britannica though my mother would like to have bought it and we certainly had other things in the same sort of league (including some second hand Arthur Mees and some Grolier volumes as well as the Waverley one volume and the Collins modern). This paperback takes you all the way from the earliest books of knowledge through to Wikipedia which has come only in the last 25 years. It was so unpredictable and yet here it is. Truth is you can't cram knowledge into a bottle really and our ultimate need is wisdom not more knowledge. Very enjoyable read.

Life and Works of Munch Amanda O'Neill
I love this series of books. Somehow I missed this volume on Munch's existence until recently. The Norwegian is a fascinating artist well worthy of inclusion alongside Monet, Manet, Modigliani and the others. There is the usual three page introduction then a series of 40 or so wonderful reproductions with short comments for each. There is something rather sad about Munch's life and works and yet dignified and life affirming too.
Life and Works of Arcimboldo Diana Craig
Well illustrated and informative like the others in this lovely series of which there are over fifty. The formula is a three page intro and then short comments with the pictures that appear on every page practically. Arcimboldo is a sixteenth century artist who served the Holy Roman Emperors of his day and yet he is almost Surrealist in most of his works - no wonder they liked him. (There are also some pen and wash sketches that are quite different to the oils). Unusually in this volume there are some paintings not by the artist or dubious, demonstrating how he was often copied. One of his most famous surreal portraits may be of Calvin.

The Emotional Life of Our Lord (Crossway Short Classics) B B Warfield
With its William Morris cover and its bijou presentation, this work is a joy to hold and the content deserves such treatment. With a foreword by Sinclair Ferguson and the briefest of biographical notes, this piece by Warfield, which is not in his published works, is a real gem. In his usual surefooted style, he explores the Gospel references to Christ's emotions or affections and draws careful conclusions. It is a blessing to read such warm and sober reflection on matters that lie at the heart of the faith. I must check out the other items in the series.