Three weeks in Blighty
We just spent three weeks in the UK. The first week was spent at our mission, UFM's, Summer Conference. We've always enjoyed these times - the conference centres are always clean and comfortable and you get catered for - our children used to think they were hotels. In addition you get some preaching and teaching - this time from an old acquaintance from Northern Ireland - and reports from people who serve in amazing places. We always feel like weaklings alongside the folk who paddle their way up the Amazon, or who work in remote parts of Central Asia. We had to do a seminar on preparing for retirement, which was well-received. Ella took us quietly and smoothly up to Caen for the ferry and we stayed overnight near the terminal before taking the early morning crossing. To get to the conference centre we had to use the M25, and it lived up to its promise. The second week was spent with my sisters and a nephew in a holiday cottage in Tenby. This was a straightforward trip down t...
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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)