Verses for today and time such as this?

Matthew 10


²⁷ What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.
  

Luke 8

¹⁷For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.

The current privacy laws and gagging orders are unsustainable.  Fornicating footballers who play away from home causing marital mayhem and domestic discord, and who also cloak and dissemble, will be found out.

Thank God for the freedom of the press.  Woe to those who try to suppress the truth and peddle lies plus poisonous rumours.

CS Lewis' house in Risinghurst, near Oxford

On my way home from Oxford I decided to see the home of CS Lewis.  Having read many of his letters and books, I wondered where The Kilns was situated near Headington Quarry.  When I was at Regent's Park College, as a postgraduate student, I met a young lady who was a custodian of CS Lewis' house in Risinghurst.  I recall that she wished to undertake postgraduate studies in apologetics and CS Lewis' thought.

Today I telephoned the number on the gate and spoke to one of the current custodians, who is a member of the CS Lewis Foundation.  I asked permission to take some photographs, gave her my card and expressed a keen interest in the CSL Foundation.  It was a very pleasant May evening and here are the photographs.

John the Baptist: some theological reflections

John the Baptist, who died a martyr's death, lived a remarkable life.

Although he came from a well to do priestly family, he chose to follow the true path of discipleship, humility, obedience and spirituality.  He could have enjoyed the comfortable life among the priests and leaders.  We know that he had great influence for he had disciples, had the ear of the mighty Herod and the Pharisees, and he attracted many to his baptismal area at Bethany (John 1:28) and Aenon near Salem in the River Jordan, where the waters ran deep (John 3:23).  I would argue that he used "much water" to give his followers much more than a sprinkling!

Unlike certain high profile prosperity gospel preachers, John the Baptist did not wear expensive garments.  His diet was not haute cuisine.  He did not travel, as far as we know, in the most expensive means of transport available. He did not pull his punches when it came to speaking the truth, even if it meant offending those in authority and those who had secular and religious power over the people.  He did not seek financial prosperity by toadying and asking for enormous contributions for his ministry.  He even advised the soldiers to be content with their wages.  He did not offer them a plan for career development, financial prosperity plus wonderful relationships with people who had status, wealth and honour in high places/luxurious palaces.

John's path took him to prison and death.  Properity preachers often plan a path to get ahead in this life.  John the Baptist lost his!

Blogger Problems and Current Concerns

 A result of problems with Blogger, which made blogging impossible for a wee while, I lost some information and work in cyberspace.  Consequently comments from Catherine about Pastor Odulele, who is now in prison, appear to have been lost with my response/thanks for the comments.

I had thought about writing something on the desperation, discord and death on the streets of Damascus and throughout Syria.  Government gunmen evidently are on the streets, and there is the lawlessness by snipers and secret policemen.  So many protestors have been killed for raising their voices against an oppressive and evil regime. Journalists and media crews have been banned, so there is no freedom of the press or expression.  For some in Syria, life is and has been a living gehenna.

Last Monday I went to the Tate Modern just by the Millennium Bridge and south of the River Thames.  Just by the riverside entrance, on the left hand side, is an exhibition on the photographic work of Burke and Norfolk.  Impressive. Moving. Challenging.

The video by Simon Norfolk, which lasts 17 minutes, is full of excellent insights.  I would say that because I agree with his analysis of what he calls "the fourth Anglo-Afghan war".  Afghanistan now looks far worse than it did in the 1990s.  Tens of thousands of Afghans have been murdered, and billions of pounds and dollars have been wasted. Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan is now the size of a small American city.  The carbon footprint and logistical trail are indeed colossal.  One scene that Simon Norflok filmed reminded me of the rest and recreation part, with the Playboy Bunny Girls and entertainment arena on the army camp, in Apocalypse Now. Will the decadent display help the war effort, raise morale and gain the sympathy of the local population?  Military madness continues.

Annual Prayer Walk in the Constable Country

The Annual Prayer Walk in the Constable Country is, D.V., on the third Saturday in May. That's 21 May! We start at Dedham, where we meet by the War Memorial in Royal Square at 10.30 a.m. BST.  We usually visit the churches of Dedham, Langham, Stratford St. Mary and East Bergholt. (All are dedicated to St. Mary.)  We pass the little (Datchet/Rural Ministries) chapel in Stratford St. Mary and the Congregational Church in East Bergholt, which is near John Constable's studio (in years gone by).  Constable was born nearby in 1776 and died in London in 1837.  (His wife died at the age of 41, after the birth of their seventh child.)

I am very interested in the life of John "Roaring Rogers", lecturer (not vicar as some scholars believe) of Dedham and puritan preacher.  He had an extraordinary ministry in the first half of the 17th century.  His grave is on the north side

of the Church of St Mary, Dedham, and there is a bust of him on the north side of the sanctuary. (Please see my blog of 26 March 2009 for further details.)  The church's muniment room has some of his works, which I hope to study some day.  I used to borrow John Rogers' Doctrine of Faith from the Evangelical Library near Baker Street and read his Commentary on the First Epistle of Peter in Dr Williams' Library in Bloomsbury.  These were 17th century books and very rare ones.  In 1918 the roles of lecturer and vicar were combined.  In John Rogers' day there was a clear distinction between the vicar and the lecturer. There is a board inside the church, by the north door, which records the vicars and lecturers of St. Mary's Church, Dedham.

This photograph, taken on 17 May 2011, of the list of vicars and lecturers was added to this blog on 19 May 2011.

It is hoped that we will end the prayer walk by the car park near the bridge and River Stour at around 5 p.m.

Psalm 84:5.

Another night out with Romford Street Pastors

Yesterday, after an enjoyable evening by the barbecue on a memorably warm day, I led devotions for Romford Street Pastors.  We started soon after 10 p.m. when five members of the team had gathered on premises belonging to St. Edward's Church. Sadly The Deeper Lounge was closed as a result of illness of the volunteer workers. (The DL is usually open on Fridays from 10 p.m. until 3 a.m. It provides a safe environment for people in need of food, fellowship and hot beverages on Friday and Saturday nights.)

 My devotional talk was on the stilling of the storm according to Mark (4:35-41). In the passage we find the wonderful words of Jesus: Hush! Be still! (There are only two words in the original text: σιωπα πεφιμωσο.) These words were spoken when He rebuked the wind and spoke to the sea (stormy water on the lake).  Even today scientists and others do not fully comprehend the wind's movements, especially its future manifestations,  and certainly they are completely unable to control it.  Who is this then that even the wind and the sea obey Him?  Jesus brings peace and blessing in the storms of life.  We are not exempted from them.  We can face them with confidence for the Lord is our helper, and if He is for us then who is against us? Many in Romford seek peace and pleasure in drink, drugs and other recreational pursuits, but God has made us for Himself, so there is no rest, no peace until we find our rest and our peace in Him.

Osama Bin Laden is dead after a raid by US special forces

Thousands have been outside the White House in the early hours of this morning celebrating the momentous news.  US Special Forces had carried out a successful raid at a property in Northern Pakistan, less than 100 miles from Islamabad. It was near a military academy.  There were no US casualties.

President Barack Obama announced the news of Bin Laden's death on television in Washington yesterday evening.  Former US presidents have sent their congratulations to President Obama and the US armed forces.

Bin Laden and his son were killed, and the special forces took the body of the terrorist away.   Images of a dead OBL have been put on hold, but they are expected to surface on the internet. Fresh terrorist activity and various reprisals, in response to this momentous event, are now expected. The US State Department is issuing warnings and travel advice.

OSB will be regarded as a martyr by Al Qaeda and supporters.  We live in dangerous times.

1 Peter 5:8.