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Latest Blog Posts

• Voting intentions
  on May 1, 2015 in Politics
  I can't make up my mind whether I'm Red Tory or Blue Labour. I'm a South Walian and so should be Red Labour, I suppose, but I can't be doing with all that Leftist identity politics drivel. My views are progressive in terms of wanting the St...
• You want the truth? You can't handle the truth
  on Apr 27, 2015 in Christian faith Politics
   All we want from our politicians is that they tell us the truth about all the bad stuff they plan to do to the country when we vote them into power. I mean, we'd be more likely to elect a Conservative government if we only knew which poor slack...
• Bible-centred church: Running a church in the biblical way by John Temple
  on Apr 19, 2015 in Book Review church life
  Bible-centred church: Running a church in the biblical way, by John  Temple, Day One, 2014, p. 144Someone or other sent me this book for free in the post. Can't remember who it was, or why, but it seems I'm not the only one. A friend a...
• Banner Conference 2015 Report 1
  on Apr 17, 2015 in Banner Conference Reports
  Banner speakers and grandees The theme of this year's Banner Conference was 'The Sufferings of this Present Time' and in one way or another most speakers addressed the theme of suffering and the Ministry. My notes are a little threadbare and pat...
• Eight days later
  on Apr 12, 2015 in poem
  We saw him.He is risen.Don't believe you.Dust remains dust.But it was him.He lives.I must see to believe.Dust remains dust.Thomas,Probe my wounds,It is I.See and believe.My Lord andmy God.The first man was of dust.The second man was of heaven,A life-...
• Banner Ministers' Conference 2015
  on Apr 11, 2015 in Banner Conference
  I'm very much looking forward to next week's Banner Conference. Always a great time of fellowship and ministry. Here's the rather appetising 'menu': Monday, 13th, April5.15pm – Opening Sermon – Christ, Precious to Believers – Gary Brady8.15pm...
• Jesus: A Reason for Hope
  on Apr 2, 2015 in Christian Hope Easter Resurrection
  Hope realised ‘Well, you can always hope’ we sometimes say. Especially when things look quite hopeless. Hope can sometimes seem such a fragile thing when set against the stark reality of life with its disappointments and disasters. ‘You’re ho...
• Coming soon: The Pastor as Public Theologian by Kevin J. Vanhoozer & Owen Strachan (and me)
  on Mar 23, 2015 in Kevin Vanhoozer Pastor Preaching Theology
  I've long been an admirer of Kevin Vanhoozer's work and look forward to the publication of this title in August. Includes a contribution by yours truly on The Drama of Preaching, see here. ...
• Affinity Theological Studies Conference 2015 Report
  on Mar 3, 2015 in Affinity Conferences Theology Union with Christ
  Last Wednesday to Friday I attended the Affinity Theological Studies Conference. Many conferences aimed at Ministers and theological students take place annually. The Affinity one is biennial, which kind of makes it seem special. But that is not its...
• On free speech, satire and faith
  on Jan 12, 2015 in Christian faith Politics Society
  Probably like many people I'd never heard of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and its controversial cartoon depictions of the prophet Mohammed. We all have now since Muslim extremists gunned down twelve people at the magazine's office...
• The Theory of Everything
  on Jan 9, 2015 in Film Review
  Stephen Hawking famously concluded his bestselling A Brief History of Time with these words, "If we do discover a theory of everything...it would be the ultimate triumph of human reason—for then we would truly know the mind of God."...
• 5 Flicks: brief film reviews (and a review preview)
  on Jan 2, 2015 in Film Review
  We've seen a few films in recent months/weeks/days. Look no further for in-depth and insightful reviews. From art house to blockbuster. Mr. TurnerWell acted, esp. Timothy Spall in title role. Visually stunning in parts. Fighting Temeraire scene...
• A Biblical Case for Natural Law by David Van Drunen
  on Dec 31, 2014 in Culture David VanDrunen Natural law Theology
  A Biblical Case for Natural Law by David Van DrunenActon Institute, Kindle Edition. I very much appreciated the author's Living in God's Two Kingdoms, and thought I'd have quick look at this brief monograph on natural law. In the work just...
• Christmas antonymns
  on Dec 21, 2014 in Christmas poem
  When the Word was made fleshThe omnipresent One was enclosed in spaceThe omnipotent One embraced weaknessThe omniscient One became ignorantThe eternal One entered timeThe invisible One appearedThe unchanging One became transient The impassible O...
• Good tidings we bring
  on Dec 16, 2014 in Christmas
  The title is borrowed from the seasonal song, ‘We wish you a merry Christmas’, which kind of begins OK and then degenerates into a repeated demand for ‘figgy pudding’. Whatever that is. The ditty promises, ‘Good tidings we bring to you a...
• Affinity Theological Study Conference 2015: Union with Christ
  on Dec 11, 2014 in Affinity Conferences
  Next February 25-27 the conference will be considering the theme of 'Union with Christ' with the help of papers provided in advance by Cor Bennema, Tim Ward, Bob Letham, John Fesko, David McKay and Paul Wells.The format of the conference is considere...
• Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones and Evangelicals in Wales by Dr. D Eryl Davies
  on Dec 1, 2014 in Book Review Evangelical Movement of Wales Lloyd-Jones
  Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones and Evangelicals in WalesBala Ministers’ Conference 1955-2014,by Dr. D Eryl Davies, Bryntirion Press, 2014, 442ppDr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' influence on Evangelicalism in Wales did not wane when he moved from the Land of His Fat...
• Stourhead Fall
  on Nov 1, 2014 in Life Photos
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• A Day at the Tower of London
  on Oct 31, 2014 in Life Photos
  White TowerBlood-red moatTraitor's GateCanon ShardDragon's roarNight lights...
• On promoting 'British Values'
  on Oct 20, 2014 in Education Governance Politics Society
  Talk of 'British values' is making waves in the world of education. Great Britain has often prided itself on its moral superiority over 'lesser breeds without the law'. But perhaps our 'values' haven't always been as pure as the driven snow. One tawd...