One difference between we French and the anglo-saxon mindset is that
I was chatting with the dad of a friend of Gwilym. He works for a multinational aeronautics firm, so he speaks pretty good English (though we stuck to French), he knows that Welsh culture is different from English culture (hurrah !) and ... wait for it ... he has visited Cwmcarn many times. He said, "Of course, one difference between the French and the Anglo-Saxon mindset is that we are very logical while you are very pragmatic." I think I looked puzzled and doubtful... "You must do something", he said, "and if that does not work then you will change and do something else until you find out what does work. We must reflect before we do anything." He's so right. Although the verb 'to reflect' exists in English I don't think I ever used it and I certainly never did it. I MUCH prefer to do SOMETHING than nothing, even if it is the wrong thing. After all, in a crisis to do nothing is usually the wrong thing. However here in France I find that w...
Comments
I too, love to read certain authors and knowing the biographies of some of those writers has certainly endeared me to them. I have actually heard the great Martin Lloyd Jones preach. All I remember about him is what an unassuming man he was. Obviously a clever man but so very humble with it. I'm sure he would be one of the first to admit his infalibility, nay his sinfulness and point us to Christ.
A very wise person once told me - "Never expect anything from anyone, and you'll never be disappointed". This may seem cynical and I'm not saying that loads of people have disappointed me, but you know, men are only men at best, bless them. The 'greatest' of them can falter.
The closest thing I have seen to idolatry (not that it was you understand) is when a very famous preacher came to church and the children's address was put to one side for that week to give the preacher more time. Shame! Christ thinks very highly of children. Remember the first shall be last and the last shall be first, these are only our labels for people, not God's.
So, lets be inspired and thrilled by the encouragement of others to contemplate Christ. Let's emulate their Christ-likeness, but let's exalt the Lord who created them and praise His name for his gift of great preachers, indeed for ALL preachers, for it is not the preacher who is the focus but the Word of God which they preach.
(just kidding... but I did hear him preach. 1980 in Aberystwyth)