Sisters, Oregon, USA, my kind of village

I fell in love with Sisters. I love the charm of the village. Such a lovely place, with classy boutiques, neat houses, tidy streets, friendly people, a great bookstore, an outstanding coffee shop and store, a successful ice cream parlour, and good restaurants. I felt that this was a welcoming, thriving, confident community with strong cultural influences. I understand that the quality of life is excellent here.

And the weather on this July day was wonderfully warm and sunny.

I love this share and read book booth.

In search of the grave of Dr D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

When I went to Newcastle Emlyn some years ago I failed to find the grave of the beloved Doctor.

I have read his books, heard him preach at Westminster Chapel in the 1960s, listened to his sermons on audio tape and at an event in Birmingham in the 1970s. I have been influenced by those who joined his Westminster fellowship of preachers and others who rejoiced in his Calvinistic views.
I used to read and subscribe to the Banner of Truth Trust magazines. The BTT published a number of his books, and I read Iain Murray's biography in two parts. I was amused to read about his holidays in Wales and to look at the photograph of him at Cwm yr Eglwys sitting in a deck chair wearing a cloth cap and stiff collared shirt and a tie. Strange attire, in my opinion, for enjoying the lovely beach and seaside!

Last week I made a determined effort to locate and photograph the grave. It was not an easy task. It proved much harder than I expected. I started in Church Lane, Newcastle Emlyn. There is a graveyard by the parish church. But after looking at every grave, I discovered that Dr Lloyd-Jones was not buried there. Some internet sites link the Doctor with the non-conformist chapel in Church Lane and the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church. These are false leads.

I asked at the public library in Church Lane. The librarian on duty did not know where Dr Lloyd Jones was buried. I was the second person who had asked her for this information.

Then I hit on a good idea. The non-conformist chapel is now a chapel of rest, so I telephoned the mobile number on the notice board, and yes, the undertaker knew exactly where the grave was located. He described it perfectly. I should have written down his instructions carefully, because there are two cemeteries on the A484 Cardigan Road out of Newcastle Emlyn.


I first tried the one on the right hand side. It had a wicket gate, as the undertaker had said. But this was not the right cemetery. No, not at all. It was arguably the more attractive cemetery but the Doctor's grave was not there.

I went to the other side of the road, where my wife was sitting in the car by the main gate. There was a notice board with the words, in Welsh and in capitals, GELLI. There was also a wicket gate to the left of the main gate.  I knew that Dr D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones died in 1981, so I went to the area where people were buried at that time. I found the grave, which he shares with his wife Bethan, who died in 1991.  I took some photographs, and thanked God for the Doctor's life, ministry, works and deeds.
He was a great preacher, and a great preacher will speak about the Saviour. So we remember not just the sermons etc., but above all, that we have a great Saviour and Lord.

The grave of Dr D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

The cemetery where Dr D Martyn Lloyd-Jones is buried

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The cemetery near Newcastle Emlyn where Dr Lloyd-Jones is buried with his wife Bethan.

Our English language is being butchered!

In various places and among perverse people, our language is being changed and corrupted.  I was taught by my parents to discriminate between good food and wine, to discriminate and to discern between good and evil.  The New Testament mentions in Hebrews the importance of training one's faculties to discriminate between good and evil. Discrimination therefore means discernment.

My father was a personnel manager who discriminated between competent workers and incompetent ones. At times he would discriminate between workers on cultural and religious grounds, because he knew that usually certain people would not work well together, and there would be tensions, problems, prejudices and personal animosity as a result of cultural and religious views.

Many elderly Baptists, because of their roots in the Temperance movement and former antipathy to public houses, would not be able to discriminate between vin de Bourgogne, Burgundy, and vin de Bordeaux, Claret. Not only is the taste different but so is the shape of the bottle. Muslims also avoid and denounce the drinking of alcoholic beverages.

Some culture vultures aspire to be gourmets with a discriminating palate and exquisite taste.

I'm not going to let people discriminate in my town.
Stefan

 I think Stefan wishes to stop prejudice rather than discrimination!

The phrase "whiter than white" is about the laundry, not race. Blackleg has nothing to do with racial identity, but not striking during a coal mining dispute involving the removal of labour.

People talk about being offended and political correctness. But give a thought to those who find the whole racial/religious/sexual/cultural sensitivity issue offensive and downright stupid. And we can also talk about linguistic fascism by those who wish to re-write history. The remake of the Dam Busters has been filmed with the name of the squadron's dog being removed. Titles of books have been changed and references to children's toys have been censored. Very Orwellian! The thought and PC police are at hand. Will we have auto de fe trials and Inquisitions? No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!

P.S.

I guess the PC police will want this book removed from my bookshelf.

Peter Oborne fails to understand Christian theology

In the Daily Mail, Peter Oborne made a pathetic attack on Archbishop Welby's theology and position on God and mammon, that is God and money.

In the Judaeo-Christian tradition God has blessed people with money, wisdom and wealth. They can work together, but here is the crux of the matter. Money or mammon should never be a master, a god or a controlling influence. The doctrine of stewardship and the parable of the talents are relevant.

To some God gives talents etc. But it is in the handling of the money that matters. It counts! And we are accountable for it. We cannot deny that money matters. Even the most ascetic saint or missionary has to have the means to minister, to serve and to live. The church has had problems with money and the allocation of resources. See Acts 6, for example. The question is in its distribution, in justice and care for the poor, the needy, the weak etc. Caring and sharing are important. See also Acts 4: 32-35.

It is more blessed to give than to receive, but few apply that teaching of Jesus.

God and money do work together for good when God is in control, and hearts and minds are in tune with Him.

Russian Mission Impossible Force in action

Yes folks, the British press has identified the RMIF agents irresponsible for the Salisbury novichok attack. Boshirov and Petrov, associated with the GRU, have been active in the service of Vlad the appalling. There is no disputing the facts, though Russian political gangsters may say it is fake news. These agents of RMIF could come up trumps in mother Russia.

One of the wonders of Oregon : The Painted Hills

I went to see the Painted Hills in July 2018, and I was not disappointed.

Far from the madding crowd? You betcha! Right out in the boondocks, the boonies.

Oregon may be the best place to live in the USA

I love going to Oregon. What scenery! Such mountain grandeur. Gorgeous gorges. Great canyons. Rivers with salmon that attract fishermen from all over the States.

 The Columbia River Gorge, before the tragic fire started by an arsonist.

 The deliberate mistake! This is Mount St Helens in Washington.

Mount Hood, magnificent.

 On the Pacific coast at Cannon Beach. Haystack Rock on the left.

One day it will look like this again.

Multnomah Falls, a must see place in Oregon