Stopped off in Bristol today as it’s on the way to Wales. As I’m looking for some more violin music, I thought I’d raid my sister’s stash of music. I’d been given a small list of music to obtain by my violin teacher, including an ABRSM scales and arppegios book. Naturally, my sister had a copy of this, which is now mine. I also went shopping in Clifton and bought some baroque pieces for violin, and also bought copies of the whole of Mozart’s piano sonatas!
Met up later on with Chris and Jason to chat over a meal. We spent most of the evening catching up, and remarking on how we first came together as friends. It’s amazing to think I’ve known them for so long and we still keep in touch. We finished off the evening watching The Interpreter in Hengrove. An interesting film, with loads of shots in and around the UN buildings in New York, and an interesting story with a passing resemblance to that of a number of African nations.

This evening’s mid-week meeting was slightly different, as a representative from the Dorothea Mission visited us. He shared with us the great work God is doing in southern Africa. It was amazing to see, through the speaker’s words and photographs, how the Gospel is allowed to be openly shared, by Africans, with the receptive people from these countries. That many people will stop and listen, in comparison to Europe where people don’t even stop, let alone listen. It is not just the spoken Gospel which is shared, but the Gospel in practice, with the provision of free schools and other basic facilities. Yet, in comparison to Europe, while these people have very little money, they are spiritually rich. In some they even suffer political injustice, and from diseases long eradicated in Europe. Despite all these things, the Gospel is spreading and the kingdom of God is growing. The same Gospel which has been rejected by so many in Europe is being embraced by so many in Africa, even though everyone the whole world over needs it. Maybe one day, it’ll be Africa which sends missionaries to Europe?

After a fortnight hiatus, I had another violin lesson yesterday. Fortunately, I had managed some practice in the two weeks, so I was challenged to work out the scale of G major, which after a bit of thought – mostly to work out where C was – I managed to play, spanning two octaves and all four strings. Very cool!
I then had a go at playing Auld Lang Syne and the theme from Dvorak’s Largo from Symphony no. 9 (The New World), which both required the use of all four fingers on the D and E strings. I must say, this hand coordination is quite tricky – a bit of practice required I think!
Things appear to be progressing nicely though, as I have completed my first tuition book, and have been told to go and find some grade II level pieces as well as obtain the ABRSM scales and arppegio book for grades I-V.
Not sure I’ll be trying any Paganini for a while though!

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Rank Item Percent
1: Congregational/United Church of Christ (100%)
2: Baptist (Reformed/Particular/Calvinistic) (94%)
3: Presbyterian/Reformed (84%)
4: Anglican/Episcopal/Church of England (75%)
5: Eastern Orthodox (69%)
6: Baptist (non-Calvinistic)/Plymouth Brethren/Fundamentalist (60%)
7: Lutheran (60%)
8: Seventh-Day Adventist (60%)
9: Church of Christ/Campbellite (52%)
10: Roman Catholic (50%)
11: Methodist/Wesleyan/Nazarene (48%)
12: Anabaptist (Mennonite/Quaker etc.) (43%)
13: Pentecostal/Charismatic/Assemblies of God (34%)

Sounds about right. 🙂

Throughout the bible, God reveals himself as merciful. Whilst he is holy and cannot tolerate sin, he provided a way to deal with our sin. The unique and very costly, yet necessarily so, sacrifice of God the Son, who took on the punishment for our sin.
Will we be arrogant enough to think we make ourselves righteous, or will we accept the righteousness bought by the blood of Christ? Will we endeavour to find out more about this righteous which is available to us, or will we think it is for others, or is too much effort?

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable:
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Lk 18:9-14

Will we be like the Pharisee, mentioned by Jesus in Lk 18, parading our righteous acts before others, exhibiting an unjustified pride in our own abilities, thinking we are justified before God, or will we approach God like the tax collector who acknowledged his sin before God and pleaded for mercy?
Furthermore, if we have been shown mercy, should we not show mercy to others? Not that by showing mercy, we can earn mercy, but rather that God’s mercy flows through us to others.

Another one of those hectic weeks! So hectic, that I’ve had little chance to blog! I finally got my hair cut on Friday, after sojourning due to the closure of my regular barber. A work colleague suggested a barber near to my work premises, so I thought I’d give it a try. All my friends say it’s a vast improvement and looks so much better, so I guess the barber gets a thumbs up. 🙂 (Either that, or my friends aren’t telling me what they really think…or is that just me being paranoid?)
Given this week was the last week of the Easter holidays, I had the luxury of having Friday evening to myself. Given Sarah had recently had a birthday, Karen and I decided to make her the focus of attention and have a small ice-cream party in her honour. (Thanks Ruth for the idea!) We obtained copious amounts of ice-cream, a cake, some candles, a card and some gifts, all we needed was a venue and some bodies. After some negotiation, we all bundled round to Karen’s place, with Sarah apparently unaware of the true motive for the gathering. Once all were assembled, the cake made an entrance, accompanied with the melodious tones of “Happy Birthday”, with the cards and gifts in tow. The birthday girl was speechless, but quite evidently happy. Mission accomplished. 😀 The rest of the evening was spent playing party games and enjoying each other’s company. It was good to spend the evening acknowledging a remarkable young lady.
Saturday started off down the snooker hall with Alex, with me eventually coming out ahead by 5-2 frames. We then met up with the usual suspects for a wander around Osterley Park, although the weather was cold, windy and overcast, the conversation and fellowship was warm and bright. We finished the evening watching Fawlty Towers on DVD – I’d forgotten how funny they were! Definitely one of the finest television comedies ever!

I must admit to being rather bemused about how the world, particularly the media, view Roman Catholicism and the Pope. This has become particularly stark with the recent death of Pope John Paul II.

As as bible-believing Christian, I have grave concerns about the Roman Catholic Church, with its teachings on justification, and the Papacy in particular. When it came to spiritual leadership, Jesus himself said we shouldn’t refer to any man as Father, or Papa or Pope, but to only refer to God as our spiritual Father. (Mt 23:9) In the writings of the apostles in the New Testament, we are reminded we have access to God through Jesus Christ alone, not through priests on earth. (1Ti 2:5)

I am not denying that Karol Wojtyla, in comparison to other men, was a good man. He did many great things, but, like all men, he was not without sin. I am slightly irked when people say he must be in heaven because he’s a good man or because he’s the Pope. The bible says that none of our good works, nor our status amongst men, counts for anything before God. (Isa 64:6) Whilst the bible itself says that, before men, we are justified by our good works, for that is all that men can see. (Jas 2:24) The bible also says that, before God, none of us are holy enough, and that we are justified before God by faith in Christ alone. (Ro 3:22-24) For only God can see that faith in our hearts, and only Christ can make us holy. I do not know what Karol Wojtyla truly believed in his heart, so I do not know his status before God. Only God knows.

It was a joy to witness the marriage of Robin and Muno this morning, I’ve known both of them for a number of years, and could not think of a better match. The sermon given by the leader of Muno’s church and was on the Gospel of John, chapter 15.

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” Jesus Christ (John 15:12)

Love is often spoken about, but little understood. For many, the extent of love is feelings, infatuation, sexual attraction and so on. Whilst these things are necessary in a marriage, love in its true extent is necessary. As Jesus explained to his disciples, love also requires commitment, the will to stick through thick and thin, regardless of the circumstances. Love should be unconditional, not traded in some balancing act, but given without expecting something back. Love should be selfless, putting others before yourself. The husband should seek to care for his wife, sacrificing himself and his desires in order to please his wife. Love should be obedient, with the wife doing what the husband asks, as long as it is accordance with God’s commands. Above all, we should love, because Christ first loved us, and that by the power of his Holy Spirit working in us, we will be enabled to love.
I pray that Robin and Muno will be so blessed by God, so loved by God, that they will love each other for as long as they both live.

Saturdays should never start early, but should be a day of lying in and having bacon and eggs for beakfast. However, a worthy reason for sacrificing my lazy Saturday morning had arisen, Sarah’s birthday is looming and it had been decided we’d all go to Hot Shots, Thatcham for a day of paint balling to celebrate. This Saturday, being the first in April, was surprisingly pleasant, with beautiful sunshine, clear blue skies and a clement temperature. All the better for running around with a paint ball gun, shooting balls of paint at friend and stranger alike.
The day was broken up into eight games, each of ten to twenty minutes in duration, with lunch somewhere in between. The games were a lot of fun, although I was rather alarmed at the number of shots I had fired in the first few games, racking up a �10 surcharge for extra paint balls. The barbeque lunch was a little disappointing, as although everyone else got a bun to go with their burger/chicken, I had to make do with just a burger and salad sans bun. To cap it off, they had run out of forks, so I ate with two knives. Lunch aside, everyone appeared to enjoy themselves, especially the birthday girl, even though the amenities weren’t particularly endearing to feminine sensibilities!
After the paint balling, we all headed off for a well earned shower, which allowed me to discover quite a number of paint ball induced bruises!
In the evening we met up in Windsor to stroll along the riverside and sit and chat over a beverage and light meal in a cafe. A nice relaxing way to wind down after a long, but fun, day.
All in all, a great day for which I am grateful.

Q: What benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this life?
A: They that are effectually called do in this life partake of justification, adoption, and sanctification, and the several benefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from them.

Q: What is justification?
A: Justification is an act of God’s free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.

Q: What is adoption?
A: Adoption is an act of God’s free grace, whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges of the sons of God.

Q: What is sanctification?
A: Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.

(Questions XXXII, XXXIII, XXXIV and XXXV from the Westminster Shorter Catechism)

Went to the Imperial War Museum with the usual suspects today. I must admit to having a passing interest in the technology of war, and I marvelled at the technological achievements of mankind through history, as displayed at the museum. It never ceases to amaze me that the last battleships to roam the earth’s oceans could fire a 1.5 ton shell over 36km, or that the precursors to modern mobile phones were devloped to enable reliable communication on the battlefield. However, I am also greatly saddened that human nature has not changed, that these great technological advancements are abused to kill others, making it necessary for those wishing to defend themselves to also develop more advanced weapons. Yet, Easter reminds me that, although human nature will never change of its own accord, God has provided the solution.
We finished the day watching the Count of Monte Cristo at Nigel’s which was a fun film and a good way to wind down after a busy day!

Not surprisingly, being Easter, both morning and evening sermons were on the resurrection, so I’ll summarise in one chunk.

Without the resurrection, as the apostle Paul writes in his letter to the Corinthian church, there would be no hope for the Christian. There would be no Christianity without the resurrection. For, unlike almost every other religion, being a Christian is not about following the teachings of a dead man, but trusting in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the remission of sin and guilt as well as the resurrection of the believer, and knowing the living Christ for eternal life. The resurrection is crucial.

So how do we know the resurrection is true?

Paul starts off mentioning the eye-witness accounts of the apostles and many others, as well as his own encounter with the risen Christ on the Damascus Road. John, in his account, mentions how Mary Magdalene first found the tomb, which in first century Palestine you wouldn’t concoct, as women were considered unreliable, but John is sticking to the truth. He then goes into great detail how the burial clothes were arranged, mentioning how he and Peter had raced to the tomb on hearing Mary’s testimony. The fact that the clothes were arranged, rather than strewn about the grave, indicated the grave had not been plundered by thieves, but that they were left there deliberately. There was no sign of the Roman soldiers either who, as military men, would not have left their posts without good reason.

Later on, John and the other apostles encountered the risen Christ, not as an ethereal being, but as a living, talking, walking, eating body. The Gospels record how he invited them to touch him, to put their hands in his wounds, how he ate with them and appeared before many others.

In all of this, neither Paul nor John had to argue against those who had any evidence that Jesus was dead. There were no authorities, Jew or Gentile, who could claim to have evidence against the resurrection of Jesus Christ, even though they had every motive to discredit him.

Paul also remarks that, as Christians themselves demonstrate the love of Christ to those around them, they are living proof that Christ is alive and working through them. For if Christ were not raised from the dead, it would be our own effort which on its own is incapable of sustaining itself, yet the power of Christ constrains us to do his will.

It would require greater faith to believe that Christ were not raised from the dead, than to believe he is alive.

Let us then live our lives knowing Christ and serving him, for that ultimately is our chief end.

What a wonderful day! 🙂 For the first Saturday in quite a while I had a long lie-in, finally getting up some time past noon, feeling well-rested and relaxed, yet alert and awake. I did the usual routine of showering, teeth cleaning and preparing breakfast. Breakfast was slightly different with two quarter-pounders in baps. I spent the rest of the afternoon practising the violin, although I couldn’t keep that up and played a little on the piano as well which was slightly more tuneful and fulfilling, if not as challenging. I guess once I become proficient on the violin, it’ll be as enjoyable to play as the piano.
In the evening, I travelled down to the Pizza Express in Waterloo to meet with friends, both existing and future. In a bid to make sure I talked to people I didn’t know, I sat next to two complete strangers, although it transpired I had Rosie, Luna and Alexis sat opposite me. My bid stalled slightly as the two people either side of me had started talking to those away from me, so I caught up with old friends. This wasn’t a bad thing as I’d lost touch with them and so it was good to hear what they were currently doing in their lives. Eventually I got to talk to those either side of me, to discover I was sat between a financial journalist and an accountant! Was it a coincidence I was flanked by the financially minded? I don’t know. However it was good to get to know them. Oh and the food was excellent as well – I had a fine lasagne, followed by a strawberry bombe. I thank God for such a wonderful day.

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Saviour’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain�
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

‘Tis mystery all: th’Immortal dies:
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
‘Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.

He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace�
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray�
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Charles Wesley

Dyma gariad fel y moroedd,
Tosturiaethau fel y lli:
Twysog Bywyd pur yn marw�
Marw i brynu’n bywyd ni.
Pwy all beidio – chofio amdano?
Pwy all beidio – thraethu’I glod?
Dyma gariad nad ‘n angof
Tra fo nefoedd wen yn bod.

Ar Galfaria yr ymrwygodd
Holl ffynhonnau’r dyfnder mawr;
Torrodd holl argaeau’r nefoedd
Oedd yn gyfain hyd yn awr:
Gras – chariad megis dilyw
Yn ymdywallt ym� ‘nghyd,
A chyfiawnder pur – heddwch
Yn cusanu euog fyd.

Here is love, vast as the ocean,
Loving kindness as the flood,
When the Prince of Life, our Ransom,
Shed for us His precious blood.
Who His love will not remember?
Who can cease to sing His praise?
He can never be forgotten,
Throughout Heav’n’s eternal days.

On the mount of crucifixion,
Fountains opened deep and wide;
Through the floodgates of God�s mercy
Flowed a vast and gracious tide.
Grace and love, like mighty rivers,
Poured incessant from above,
And Heav’n’s peace and perfect justice
Kissed a guilty world in love.

William Rees
trans. William Edwards