Growing Leaders

We are back from the short conference in County Cavan. Two good sessions today from our speaker – one on the idea of living a blended (rather than balanced) life, including a discussion on expectations; the other on finding and fulfilling God’s call on our lives, with a look at strengths, gaps, limitations and [...]

A day away

I’m writing this at the Slieve Russell Hotel in County Cavan, just across the Irish border.  We’ve been invited here for a short break for ministers and wives, hosted by Ken (Fanta) Clarke, formerly of Coleraine and now the Anglican Bishop in this area.
The aim in Ken’s words is relaxation and inspiration.  There are around [...]

Preaching to the Heart

This morning a friend pointed me to a blog on preaching. I found this article reflecting on some thoughts from Tim Keller.  What does it take to preach to the heart?

Imagination
Reasoned logic
The gospel

To read more – Preaching to the Heart: A Recipe « Biblical Preaching

Sunday at Portstewart Baptist

We are heading into winter here on the North Coast. We’ve had a few chilly days. At PBC, we got to the end of the Nehemiah series yesterday. The last chapter overlaps thematically with chapter 10: the issues of temple upkeep, sabbath and family are to the fore. You can download [...]

Everton 7-1 Sunderland

BBC SPORT | Football | Premier League | Everton 7-1 Sunderland

John Piper on gratitude to God

This week it has been Thanksgiving across the ocean in America. John Piper has been writing in response to two men – a bishop and an atheist – who don’t like the concept of gratitude to God.
Ganging Up on Gratitude :: Desiring God Christian Resource Library

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Happy Birthday, Westlake!

Here is Pauline’s piece on 17 years at Westlake.
Happy Birthday, Westlake! « Coastal Reflections

Happy birthday Gemma

Today we have one less teenager in our family. Gemma turned 20. Happy birthday to a gifted and beautiful young woman.

Anniversary weekend at Westlake

We got home this evening from our weekend back in Switzerland. The event was the 20th anniversary of Westlake Church where we worked for 17 years. Saturday evening was a celebration meal which included a look back at the past in a number of ways. We talked about how we had come [...]

Back in Switzerland

This weekend we are all back in Switzerland.  We flew over to Geneva from Dublin this afternoon.  The occasion is the celebration of twenty years of Westlake Church where we worked for seventeen years.  There is a meal on Saturday evening, complete with a look back on the past, and then the two congregations (Lausanne and Nyon) [...]

“Elizabeth” and Protestantism

At the weekend we watched the recently released film Elizabeth which is set at the time of the Spanish Armada. There has been criticism of the film from some Catholic writers who see it as anti-Catholic and, more broadly, part of a movement to de-Christianise Europe.
I actually wondered about its portrayal of Protestantism. [...]

Sunday at Portstewart Baptist

Michael Williams, one of our elders, preached in our morning service as I was involved in the Remembrance Day service in town. He preached on the theme of remembering in a service that included a moment of silence in memory of those who had fallen in war, but also the remembrance of the Lord [...]

The Tim Cahill factor (part 2)

Chelsea 1, Everton 1 (Cahill).

Remembrance Sunday

At 11 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, the First World War ended.  Across Britain today (11th day of the 11th month) many people observed a 2 minute silence in memory of those who fell.  In Portstewart I represented PBC at the local ceremony at the seaside cenotaph.  A crowd [...]

Now it is 5 in a row

Two years ago Everton made an unfortunate mess of their first involvement in European competition for some time.  This time it is looking a lot better.  Two wins out of two in the UEFA Cup group stage and last night’s win was the fifth in a row in all competitions.
(Next up Chelsea)
EVERTONFC.COM: | Match | [...]

A unique ministry

Last night at our midweek prayer time at PBC we had some guests from a ministry called Glory Road.  Some of them talked about their unique ministry which aims at reaching the thousands of lorry and coach drivers across Britain.  You can read more about this work on their website -
Glory Road Ministries.

Sunday at Portstewart Baptist

Our Sunday morning service was well attended as I preached the penultimate message in the Nehemiah series. We were looking at some of the characteristics (celebration, purification and jubilation) of the dedication ceremony on the completion of Jerusalem’s walls. I wonder what it would be like if (like Jerusalem) the sound of the [...]

Why talk to us when you could phone someone?

This morning Pauline and I had to call at a bank to take care of some business. At the far end of the waiting area was a sign that invited people to “contact us”: below that was a telephone that customers can use to contact the bank’s call centre. I wonder why they [...]

Everton 3-1 Birmingham

Four in a row – some form.
BBC SPORT | Football | Premier League | Everton 3-1 Birmingham

There is a new book from Paul Tripp

(From the blurb)…Paul David Tripp expertly traverses the deepest recesses of the human heart and compassionately invites fellow Christian travelers to journey with him into God’s bigger kingdom. The author promises readers that they will be encouraged, excited, and motivated by hope as they learn how to set aside their “little kingdom” attachments which can [...]

The Tim Cahill factor

So that’s three wins in a row now.
EVERTONFC.COM: | Match | Fixtures & Results | Luton Town v Everton