John MacArthur, disgrace to you?

John MacArthur's position on the cessation of the spiritual gifts is against the evidence and ultimately not taught in the Bible itself.  I believe that some of his comments at the Strange Fire conference were shameful and divisive.  I have attached a link to a blog that rebukes Pastor MacArthur. It is worth reading. Within the blog there is a link to a YouTube video that reveals that C.H. Spurgeon, who founded the church were I now worship, exercised certain spiritual gifts, which Dr. MacArthur does not believe continued to exist beyond the apostolic age. Like his teaching on eschatology/dispensationalism John MacArthur has embraced man-made doctrines.

prodigalthought.net/2013/10/21/now-why-did-charles-spurgeon-have-to-go-and-prophesy/

Thank God for the fruits of Nelson Mandela's life

We should indeed thank God for the life of Nelson Mandela.  Thank God for his forgiveness of his enemies and the brutal apartheid regime under which he suffered.  Thank God for his humility and grace.  Thank God that he helped his country avoid civil war and much bloodshed.  Thank God that he worked so valiantly against apartheid, injustice and racism. Thank God that his life was an inspiration and great example to many people all over the world and for those to come. Blessed are the peacemakers. Nelson Mandela was a blessing in this evil and sinful world.

Barry Barnett has been released from Ramle Prison!

I have now discovered that Barry has been released from prison in Israel.  Great news.  Prayers have been answered.

Please see the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rv4_D2y3tV8

God looked after Barry.  May Barry's ministry go on from strength to strength in the power of the Spirit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CBazvN1eMM

Barry Barnett has been arrested and jailed in Israel

Today I heard the sad and disturbing news that dear Barry Barnett of Jews for Jesus UK has been arrested and thrown in Ramle prison by Israeli immigration officials.  Barry had a valid tourist visa and should have been allowed to exercise his rights of freedom of religion.  I pray that the Lord will use this situation for the good of the gospel and the ministry of Jews for Jesus. Shalom.

Please see the link for further information:

http://www.jewsforjesus.org/about-jews-for-jesus/press/jews-for-jesus-campaigner-taken-to-prison-in-israel-without-cause

Holy Fire rather than Strange Fire

Having heard Dr. John MacArthur talking about Strange Fire and re-hashing his views mentioned in Charismatic Chaos, I am delighted to know that Dr. RT Kendall has written Holy Fire, which will be published next month.  I am very familiar with RT's views on the gifts and work of the Holy Spirit, having read his books and having attended his Thursday lunch time meetings at Westminster Chapel at the end of the last century.  His ministry at Westminster Chapel was very helpful, edifying, spiritually nourishing, truly anointed and soundly scriptural.  RT argued from the Bible, from his personal experience and research,  that the gifts of the Holy Spirit operate in the present age and were in no way removed once the Bible was written.  I found his position convincing and compelling.

You may find the following link helpful:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xLh9IgnTq0

Dr Kendall has also written an open letter to Dr MacArthur, expressing his concern about John MacArthur's hostile views and scathing comments about charismatics and pentecostals.

http://encountergospelnews.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/r-t-kendall-writes-open-letter-to-john.html

Qatar 2022 is a blatant Blatter mistake

It is clearly a mistake to hold a World Cup final in Qatar during the summer months. This has now been admitted by the FIFA bureaucracy.  There are many reasons why Qatar is a bad location for the World Cup.  The infrastructure is evidently not in place. Even if, or rather when, the finals go ahead during the winter, and this now seems to be the most likely decision, then the disruption to many domestic leagues, like the Premiership, will be enormously inconvenient. The situation has been called "a farce" and" football's omnishambles". It stinks, like rotting meat in the summer heat! Sepp Blatter should have retired years ago. It's a pity he ever became involved in football. He should have stayed working for the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation and promoting suspenders for women. Has Blatter ever played for a good football team or to a consistently good standard? I doubt it, but you may be able to comment.

Columbia River Gorge, Oregon and Washington, USA

I wish to share some photographs of the beautiful Columbia River Gorge.  The north side is in Washington, and the south side is in Oregon, USA.  I went on a cruise from the Oregon side and enjoyed a very tasty breakfast while looking at the stunning scenery.  I also visited Vista House, Oregon, which is a place to see the magnificent panoramic views. The photographs, however, do not do justice to the sheer scale and grandeur.

David Luiz's sensational goal line clearance in Rio. Best ever?

David Luiz had a tremendous game in the final of the Confederations Cup in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday evening.  (I watched the match on BBC iPlayer yesterday evening.) Brazil beat Spain 3-0, and David Luiz ensured that Brazil kept a clean sheet with a wonderful goal line clearance that must rank among the best.  I have not seen a more spectacular and sensational clearance. I have looked at it several times on the BBC website. For me, it is the best ever goal line clearance. Such amazing anticipation and commitment! 

Time for God in prayer

What is this life if full of care we have no time for God in prayer?

Today I watched some videos on YouTube by RT Kendall and listened to his thoughts on prayer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9Qz_yhuhWY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IaPfMCTgTE

  I have now ordered his book, Did You Think To Pray?  He is very challenging on the subject of prayer, and mentions how little contemporary church leaders pray ( just a few minutes each day according to a poll that he refers to).  He points out that great men of God were men of prayer, and asks, where are the Luthers and the Wesleys of today?  Luther spent more time in prayer when he was busy. It is a very interesting observation.

He makes the point that God loves our company, and that we spend time with those we love.  Time with God is always   rewarding. Wesley believed that God works in answer to pray.

None of us can pray perfectly, but the Spirit of God helps us in our weakness.  May He help us to pray and teach us to pray.

The challenge is: how much time should you really be spending in prayer each day?  May we get beyond the guilt and really start praying and spending time with God in prayer. Love and time are linked.

Pastor Leroy Thompson, preacher of the false prosperity gospel

When it comes to bad teaching about prosperity Leroy Thompson is one of the best examples.  When I looked at some of the videos on YouTube I could not believe how stupid people are to follow him and to believe in his false teaching and pure heresy. It is amazing to see folk throwing money at him and supporting his "work". It appeals to people's greed; it fleeces the flock rather than feeds them!

His message is not about Christianity at all. It is a disgrace. Where is the message of true discipleship, genuine repentance and sanctification?  Leroy Thompson is concerned about serving mammon and the love of money.

Jesus, however, talked about the deceitfulness of riches. Paul mentions the love of money being the root of all evil. 1 Timothy 6:6-10 needs to be heeded.

Godliness with contentment is great gain. We brought nothing into the world and we cannot take anything out of it. We should be content with food and clothing. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap, and into many foolish and harmful lusts that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Alfred TB Williams, revival and Nigerian pastors

I note that Christ Faith Tabernacle website still refers to Alfred Williams' prophecy about a coming revival in the UK and his revelations.

We did not see a revival in 2011, as Alfred Williams predicted, and the situation in Nigeria is very bad at the moment (particularly in the north of the country).  According to one of my friends who is a Nigerian doctor, there are many difficulties when working throughout Nigeria.  And he has been working recently in the northern areas. Corruption, lawlessness and Boko Haram terrorism are evident.

Does charity begin at home?  I have noticed that some Nigerian pastors in England do very little to help the desperately needy Nigerian people who live in abject poverty. Some prosperity preachers in Nigeria have personal jet planes while their home town folk and tribes are living in terrible conditions.   According to my friend there are plans to tax these prosperity parasites very heavily.

I understand that Alfred Williams does minister from time to time in Nigeria.  I hope he sees the revival there that he has preached about. Nigeria clearly needs a revival, as does the UK.


 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_ivUMoCv9U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoEwPACFyiw

Endeavour Locations

Those who know Oxford well may have noticed that the outdoor scenes for the Moonlight nightclub in yesterday's episode of Endeavour were filmed in Pusey Street and featured a rarely used entrance at Regent's Park College.

Further details are available at

 http://oxford.tab.co.uk/2013/01/24/scoop-oxford-detective-series-filmed-in-oxford/

Photographs of London School of Theology, Northwood.

Last July I went to LST, which was London Bible College when I was an undergraduate during the 1970s. I hope that you like the photographs.

London School of Theology, looking west

Aldis Hall, London School of Theology

London School of Theology, outside the lecture rooms

London School of Theology, the dining hall

London School of Theology, residential areas

London School of Theology, Laing Hall quad

London School of Theology, looking north

LST: A Summer School Seminar Group held in the Guthrie Centre

Lovejoy locations

Lovers of Lovejoy, who are interested in locations used in the TV series, may wish to know that the recently shown episode Members Only was filmed at Briggens House Hotel, Stanstead Abbotts, Hertfordshire, SG12 8LD.  The episode was originally broadcast in 1992.  Briggens House, a grade II listed building, is now sadly in a sorry state of repair, but the golf course is still in use.

You may like to see the satellite view of the grounds in Google maps.  Put in the postcode SG12 8LD in the Google search facility and then click on the satellite view of the map.

Sir Alex seethes and sees red as Manchester United go out.

Manchester United are out of the UEFA Champions League after a home defeat by two goals to one at Old Trafford.  Real Madrid scored twice in the second half coming from a goal down, and won 3-2 on aggregate.  The turning point was the red card shown to Nani after his foot went into the chest of Real Madrid's Arbeloa. United were one nil up at the time.  Nani was a surprise choice to play in this crucial game, which marked Ryan Giggs' 1,000th appearance for United. Rooney was on the bench , another surprise, until well into the second half when United were losing.  Nani had played well in the goalless first half, but his night ended in disaster. Sir Alex was seething and did not speak to the press or TV channels after the match.

Roy Keane believed that the referee Cuneyt Cakir had made the correct decision in awarding the red card but other commentators thought that a yellow card should have been given.  Sir Alex will probably not sleep sweetly tonight. But Jose Mourinho will enjoy his success along with Cristiano Ronaldo who scored the final goal which ensured Real's progression into the quarter finals. Luka Modric scored the other goal for Real, which was a superbly struck against the inside of the right post and beyond the goal line. No United player managed to score as Sergio Ramos scored an own goal for United.

Bashar al-Assad continues to oppress the Syrian people

Despite so much opposition, a dreadful refugee situation and thousands dead from the civil conflict, Bashar al-Assad refuses to step aside and talk to the rebels.  He is unwilling to meet rebel leaders unless they lay down their arms.  Now that's "naive, confused and unrealistic."  Words he used to describe Britain's position and support for opposition fighters with non-lethal aid.  The US is also committed to providing food and medical aid to the opposition.  Sadly many more Syrians will die in this conflict, which does not seem to trouble Bashar.