God blesses but does that mean he approves?

I ask this question because I have been studying Jacob this week in preparation for Sundays ministry.
The situation is this Jacob deceives his father - that's right he lies to him, in order to obtain the family blessing. He then subsequently has to flee from home, and as he spends the night with the stone for his pillar, he has that tremendous dream of the ladder from earth, to heaven. In that dream the LORD blesses him. This is no ordinary blessing but is the blessing of Abraham.
So do we take it that Jacobs actions in deceit, in sin, were approved of by God. We must not. As Paul will later write "shall we abide in sin that Grace may abound?"
The answer he gives is an emphatic no.
Abraham's sin is not to be excused because God blesses him, neither Joseph's brethren because that is the way they were naturally saved from the famine. We can think of those wicked hands that crucified Jesus. Some of them later believed.
It is not the sin but the grace of God. God blessing in spite of our wickedness and unworthiness.
I have heard this being used to justify all sorts of anti biblical and extra biblical practices in services of worship and church life.
So to answer the question. We can not take the blessing of God as an approval of our actions, especially when they go against his revealed holy standards. All we can do is be amazed at the grace of God towards us, upon which we depend.

We will remember them

A good number gathered to remember the fallen.

From the going down of the sun to the rising of the same

We will remember them

50 years

Not for me. We were invited to a 50th birthday party. Meet some old friends and had some good. Nice time had - the time went so quickly.
Nice plate of food.

Our days are like a tale that is told.

Ready steady Cook

My good wife set me this challenge

And this is what I produced

Not my best

Noah at the John Owen Centre

Appropriately it was raining on the first day of the Annual John Owen Centre conference, as the subject was Noah.
The first lecture by Steffen Jenkins was excellent in content and delivery. It lead us through the early text of Genesis building up to Noah. Our attention was drawn to the the two genealogies, Seth's and Cains line, or as Steffen called them the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. The crossing of these two line was noted in Genesis 6.
Noah was compared to Adam, Abraham, and Jacob. It brought the threads of family, land and food to the fore.
The next section was not for the faint hearted. Some integrate distinctions in covenant theology were drawn by Dr Gary Williams. For me personally I struggled to always see the flow of the argument and some of the distinction were semantic, but some good points were made. I look forward to re-listening to this when the MP3s are made available.
The Martin Lloyd Jones Lecture was delivered by Stephen Clarke, on Noah and the future, and was heart warming and challenging. Are we living for the future? Are we prepared for it?
The second day Tuesday brought better weather. The morning session, Delivered by Ian Hamilton from Cambridge was again excellent. He spoke on Noah and Faith. He was very careful to stick to what the text actually says, rater than what has been surmised from it. The particular focus was on Hebrew 11.
The afternoon season was a recorded lecture, followed by questions on skype by Dr Mark Garcia. All I will say about it was that the lecture was an exercise in theological vocabulary and obscure sentence structure, and I wouldn't have missed it if it hadn't been there. - Sorry it that offends but talking to others I am not alone in this.
The final lecture by retired pastor Geoff Gobbett was practical- Noah a preacher for preachers. I want to listen again to the five lessons he drew out. Interestingly he looked at what success at preaching is. A good end to the conference.
Overall it was good to meet up with friends and meet others who are in the ministry and discuss various issues. Discussions are always in good spirit, and that which unites brought to the fore, without compromising on the truth. It was well organised. Food was usual LTS standard. Price was too cheap.
Next years topic is Abraham. Looking forward to it already.

A John Owen Day - Covenant of Redemption

I have spent an taxing but enjoyable day at LTS London  John Owen Centre,considering the covenant of redemption. We looked at the parties, the terms and the benefits/ promises. Dr Gary J Williams presented his paper, which will need further digesting. Varies issues were raised and discussed. One area that was particularly beneficial was the application of the paper to ministry of, and the studying of various texts. Gary particularly focused on the assurance that the covenant of redemption gives. This was the forth such day Gary has given. I would thoroughly recommend them to anybody in ministry.

Romania Day 6 (& 7)

Today we travelled to Cluj, as the first part of our journey home. We called in briefly  at Tinaud, to give some books to the Faurs, to help them in their work with the children.

The journey is through some beautiful countryside. The road twists and turns and there are many climbs and descents but the road is good.

We arrived in cluj, and picked up another Pastor whose name was Paul. He knew the best way to the Hotel, and so he was our Sat Nav. unfortunately he spoke very little English so it was impossible to have any meaningful conversations.

After settling into Hotel Beta, we started to explore the city. I found a hotel I had previously stayed in. We looked at Catholic, and an Orthodox cathedral. What sad places they are!!.

Looking for a few gifts to the home, and a bite to eat we wondered around.  We finally found a shopping mall (Iulius) where we had a Doner Kebab and a cake.

After a bit more shopping we walked back to the Hotel and settled down to watch some Tennis from the French open. We reckoned that we had walked about 7 miles in total ( later measured to be 8.5 miles on Google Earth), which will have been good for us considering the amount that we have eaten, and that we have spent a lot of time sitting in houses

The hotel was 2 stars. It was clean, but basic everything worked, and it was reasonably priced. However, the shower, which was a good temperature and pressure, had a holder that was broken and the bus station was situated next door, which ran rather nosily through the night. There were hoots and shouts going on until the early hours. The remote controller for the TV was missing parts, although it worked and the numbers etc were rubbed out.

So while it was Ok, with a little more care, Hotel Beta could have been  well  better.

We got up at 4:45, and left at 5:05 for the airport. We boarded efficiently for the flight back to Luton, where we were met and driven home to start the washing!

Romania Day 5

On Day 5 we went to see the offices of Editurii Făclia, and our associates Dinu and Lidia Moga. It was interesting to see the process through translation and production.He is able to produce small runs efficiently as he has found otherwise he carries too much stock.  Dinu has a large number of books available. Some titles and authors we recognized and some we did not. Some were from the UK and some from the USA. There were also collections of sermons from Romanian pastors.

We were able to purchase some books for our host and for the work in Black Forest.

After a sandwich and pudding lunch, we went to catch up with Christi and Autillia who we had met previously  Christi was pastor at Cordau which I visited and preached at on my last visit to Romania. It was good to see them settled in thier home. Last time they were living with parents after having to move out of thier flat because it was too expensive for them. 

C&A - a much missed old friend

We went to a shopping mall. It was a pleasure to find a C&A store, much missed in England. i used to buy most of my clothes there. Then it was off to KFC for a taste of home. We got told off for taking photographs by the manger which seemed a strange rule. Our hosts had never had KFC before, and they enjoyed it. We returned to our base, and were offered another meal at 9:30 - more chicken. 

Romania Day 4

Day 4 was Sunday. We traveled to some village baptist churches in which we were due to speak. The countryside was beautiful,and the villages were traditional with a few modern houses.The road tough reminded me of the old Romania. A good mechanic should have no problem earning a living here!
For morning worship we went to Hincris baptist church. When we arrived most of the congregation were already there, and the children were reciting from Hebrews Chapter 4. I understand they had already been there for an hour, much of that time spent in prayer. There was about 120 people present, which is a little lower than thier usual numbers As usual they sang many hymns, and there was a male voice choir from the Baptist Church in Arad. I was asked to preach and Dinu translated for me.
I spoke from 1 Corinthians 15 v 3 "Christ Died for our Sins". A Romanian man who was visiting was also asked to speak and he spoke about resurrection.
We were then given dinner in a traditional Romanian house. The food was good, the soup was a little warm than Laodocian soup.
This was followed by chicken and Potatoes with Salad, and  then cake.
Next we were taken to the neighboring Village of Baleni. There is no church here of any description, not even orthodox and so the baptists are planting one. I will post more on its beginnings later.
On Sundays they met in a school in the afternoon. The school seems rather run down. Again we were treated to children reciting scripture, about the crucifixion of Jesus.
After some singing I was asked to preach. I used Acts 11 v 26 to ask the question what is a Christian?
We then headed back towards Oradea.
In the evening I preached at Cihei Baptist Church on Acts 12 v 5 "Peter was in Prison, but prayer was made by the church for him".
There were about 40 people present. Many were missing as they were attending thespecial graduation service at Emmanuel Church, Oradea,
After another meal of chicken, and this time rice, we retired after a busy day.

Romania Day3

We visited our Friends the Plumbas Family.It was Nelus birthday and we enjoyed sharing his cake, which was up to the usual standard. In the afternoon we went to the village, and observed the farming techniques still in use in parts of Romania.The sun came out and it got rather warm.
In the evening I went to the graduation ceremony at Emmanuel a University Oradea with our host. It was a pleasure to Congressman Jeff Miller speak after receiving his honorary Doctorate. In this day and age true Christians in high positions is so rare. He gave the students good advice and spake of his dependence upon his saviour.
We also caught up with some old contacts and and a good time of fellowship with them.
We returned to watch the champions league final, which was hosted by the FA at Wembley.

Romania Day 2

Day 2 started late as we weren't picked up by Pastor Faur until 11 am. We were then taken to the village of Sinteu. Sinteu is a collection of small farms spread over a large area. It is really beautiful. We saw though didn't get chance to photograph some oxen pulling a cart!! Most of the villagers are of Slovak origin, and are Catholic, rather than Orthodox
 Here Pastor Faur has been working for a few years trying to begin a gospel work. We went to the school where he had given out books at Christmas to the pupils. There is one family of believers and he is trying to encourage them.
He told us that he had been able to sing carols at various places around the the village. They were invited to sing and speak in the catholic church, which they did.
After returning to Tinaud for a late 4 course lunch ( the diet will have to wait until I get home), we spend about an hour relaxing.and then went to Black forest.

They had about 30 children to thier Friday Club, and 10 women to the woman's meeting. I spoke on names written in Heaven to the children, and children being a gift from the Lord to the ladies.
We returned to Tinaud for a late BBQ. We finally arrived back at our hosts at 11:55 rather tired.
Update: Photos now added

Romania Day 1

An early start yesterday morning as we headed via the train to Luton airport for as flight to Timisoara on Wiz. Flight was good, and touchdown perfect. We quickly found our host Vashil. Then we traveled 4 hours to Sin Martin. The roads seemed to have improved somewhat especially with a Motorway between Timisoara and Arad.
We were delighted find that prior to Vahsil going into the ministry he had been a chef for 15 years, and it showed.
Our associates Dinu and Lidia joined us for a delightful tea and we were able to discus our program for this visit, and make contact with the people we wish to visit.

The painful gospel message

From a testimony of  a dear brother in Christ, concerning his time in national service, during square bashing ...

There was one incident at the end of the six weeks training that I was there for. We had had six very hard weeks of marching and exercise and doing all those things we had to do to become a soldier first before we got back to our trade. Towards the end of the six weeks was over and everybody was so relieved, they were doing silly things, throwing things about the billet, having pillow fights and spraying people with a stirrup pump hose as they came in the door. One young fellow, fellow from London, I can still see him now. He was only a young, quite a small insignificant lad, he had got the hose, and somebody opened the door and he let them have it. He sprayed him with water, and it turned out to be the orderly sergeant!

To say he wasn't pleased was to put it very mildly. I can see him, he got him by the collar and he said “Lad I am going to teach you a lesson you will never forget.” He said” I am going to take you down the gymnasium, we are going to put boxing gloves on, and I am going to give you a beating you won't forget. The lad was terrified.  He literally was frightened, shaking he was. My friend John, the Christian lad came up, put himself between the sergeant and the little lad, and he said “ Sergeant , If you want to beat somebody pick somebody your own size I will come down and stand in his place.” He said I don’t care you are all as bad as each other."

So he took this lad , they went down the gymnasium.  John came back with black eyes, nose bleeding, tooth missing. All the lads in the billet crowded round him, and said” why on earth did you do that?”

And it was one of the most poinent Gospel messages I think I have ever heard. He preached the gospel to them and said somebody did something far, far more than that for me 2000 years ago. And he told the billet, all the men and they gathered round him and he preached that gospel to them and it was wonderful. 

Maggie Thatcher

Picture -Gettypicture

Maggie Thatcher - I doubt anybody who lived through the 80s will ever forget her. She provoked a reaction in everybody. You either loved her or hated her.
She will be remembered as the first female prime minister, the Iron Lady, The Falklands Victor, and the Lady who took on the unions.
She gave the appearance of  a woman of conviction, was a fine orator, and a dominate figure of the late 20th century.
She was of Methodist stock, and we can not deny that it had influence upon her. However at times she could be irreligious, and use the scriptures at in a derogatory way at times including speaking of the Pearly Gates as rusty. Her government in de-regulatory mode attacked the sanctity and advantage of the Lords Day. It is sad that many churches today have cast away this valuable gift God gives to his people. However she brought in section 28, and largely believed in a moral society.
A day after her death, the air waves having being full of recollections, opinions sort and given, we are non the wiser as to the most important question about her life - that is how did she die? We are told she died of a stroke, which is no surprise for a frail lady of 87, but did she die in the Lord or not?
History will judge her achievements - but what is fame and victory?
Paul says he counts all this as dung and dross - that he might win Christ.

Birthday at the Chequers

Went to The Chequers, Houghton Conquest for lunch on my daughters birthday.
Had a lightish lunch of sausage bap with side order followed by Chocolate pudding.

Good prices , service and food. Truly Child friendly.

Christ Died for our SIns

On this Good Friday, let us remember why Christ died. The suffering on the cross was no grandstanding, or setting an example. It was an event of real purpose of real  consequence. On that day nearly two thousand years ago, a great transaction was made.
Romans 6 tells us the wages of sin is death. Jesus died on our behalf, because of our sins. He received what was rightly due to us, and so paid the price of our sins, which was owed to God.
So it was for sin. Look and see how awful sin is. Observe and consider the consequences of sin, our sins. How can we then ever take sin lightly?
While the day is full of many gruesome details, the pain and the suffering, yet we can praise God for what happened. In death our Lord dealt fully with our greatest problem, reconciling us to God.

Easter Leaflets in the snow!

We spent some time this afternoon posting invitations to our Easter services round one of the local villages. In the bitter cold the snow continued to fall and I felt it would have been more appropriate to be putting round our carol service invitations.
Each Easter and Christmas we put  post over 1000 invitations to households  to come to our services, together with a simple message of hope. While we normally get some response at Christmas, it has been extremely rare that anybody responds. Nevertheless, I feel it worthwhile to put another message around, prayerfully, acting as a signpost to Christ and salvation
 I just hope that the message will last longer than our footprints. One thing we do know is that Gods Word will last for ever, even after heaven and earth have passed away.
The world needs this message of hope coming out of suffering. It needs to be told that there is more to this life than this life alone.
Isaiah in that wonderful commissioning in chapter 6 is then told he will go to a people who will not hear.Jesus in the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, says that They will not listen though one rose form the dead. But we must continue to spread the message we have been given.

New bishop of Rome - same head of the church

So we have a new Pope, Francis 1. being presented as a new head of the church.
Only problem is there was no vacancy. It was given to Jesus to be head of the church that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Jesus Christ the same yesterday today and for ever

Testing Times

This evening went to a quiz night in aid of pilgrim homes. A nice time spent with friends, only to find how little we knew. In round four we were fourth. By the end of twelve rounds we were last.

whoso findeth me...

This Sunday morning I preached from Proverbs 8 v 35 Whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord. Alas, not for the first time I didn't feel I managed to proclaim what I had got out of the text myself.
The me is wisdom and understand.. shown later to be the eternal son of God.
John Wesley in his notes says this supposes diligent seeking, so we thought of what might bring a fallen person to seek for something better. Surely it is as the person hears the cry of wisdom and the voice of understanding. Folowing his we looked at some New Testament verses showing Jesus to be life. Peter says "Thou hast the words of Eternal life".
I pray the Holy Spirit will apply this to some lost soul.

A little child shall lead them

Had the pleasure of witnessing the baptism of a 9 year old child today who had  a gracious testimony of her saviour.

Her favorite text is Psalm 16 v 11  Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

May she be the first of many, her testimony of word and example pricking the consciences  of others.

The LORDs Saints

Today we attended the funeral of a dear old lady who left this life well in her nineties. Psalm 23 and a few verses from John 10 concentrating on the Good Shepherd, who gives his life for the sheep were read.
The main discourse concentrated on the verse from Psalm 116 - Precious in the eyes of the LORD is the death of his saints. She died in peace, when her saviour came to receive her to himself.
Although every funeral is a sad occasion, there is also joy for us knowing that she had been gathered into the eternal presence of her dear Jesus, having been released from her sufferings. May our end be like hers.

Expected ..

The snow is here again. Forecast  by the Met Office, and given publicity on every news program, it duly arrived yesterday. Some have a lot, we have a couple of inches, despite seeming to snow all day. Today is a day to get the sledge out and enjoy it.
We live having taken a prediction of the future.The greatest prediction is that Jesus is coming again. Will we be ready to enjoy it?

Taking hold of the covenant

At the Lords Table this evening we thought of taking hold of the covenant, as we find in Isaiah 56 v 4.
In taking the symbols of his broken body and his shed blood ( the blood of the new covenant)   by faith we take hold of the covenant.
It s for the Eunuchs and the sons of the stranger - the who take hold upon the Lord. What is promised is a place in his house.

Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
It is very reminiscent of John 14 - In my fathers house are many mansions - I go to prepare a place for you.

Knowing God by Suffering.

Job was a man who is high commended not just of man - but by God himself.
But at the end of Jobs trials this is his confession

I have heard of thee with the hearing of the ear but now mine eye seeth thee.  
(Job 42:5).

 But Job you might say you even sacrificed for your children in case they had offended God in their actions, such was your view of Gods Holiness. Job learnt more of God through his sufferings than in his prosperity.

Paul tells the Philippians that they are called to believe and suffer for his sake (Phil 1:29). Perhaps not how we want to view our christian pathway, but we must expect to suffer. It may not be to the extent that Job had to , where he was left with nothing except his life.

In suffering we should seek Christ more, and seek to grow as we are drawn to him in our suffering and find their our comforter.

Ice Skating

A day off to look after the children and a chance to go skating in 8 degrees.Slipping and slidding all over the place but great fun and good value.

Preparing a Place

Rather inevitably at the end of one year and the beginning of another we think of the second coming. With that in mind preached Sunday afternoon on John 14:3 - I will come again.
On New Years eve we had a prayer meeting and I looked at I go to prepare a place for you.
We noted that this is what God did from Eden.. through the promised land and finished in Revelation 12 - where a place was prepared for the woman for 3 1/2 years.
We remembered that this place is in Jesus Fathers house .. not a connected village or in the same town, or even an out building  - but in our Father House.
A place is prepared for us .. but are we ready to be there?

A happy new year to you each .... maybe I will blog more often..